For the last 15 years Michael has traveled and taught throughout the United States, Canada, England, France, Australia, Japan and Korea. Some of his dances that came to be well known are, Black Dresses, What’s Your Name, Hey Bruce, Doors of Life, Rain Against My Window, etc.
2010 saw the return of Jo Thompson Szymanski to the dance scene and with that Michael has a new found energy. “We all have that one person who can truly inspire us, and Jo is that kind of person for me. Being able to work with Jo (instructing for the Dancing for the Dream seminars and other events) makes my job such a great learning experience.” As Jo takes her journey in 2011 to heal from her stem cell transplant Michael feels a strong responsibility to keep that energy going forward.
Michael comes from a show biz family. His father was a pianist and made a wonderful career playing the music he loved. His mother was a dancer and singer before the “kids” came along and put it aside to keep the home secure and nurturing. Michael’s father and mother met during the heyday of Broadway. Something rubbed off from his parents and we are glad he found the venue of line dance to spread his fun.
2011 will be the busiest year yet for Michael and his partner Michele Burton. “We are on the road a lot this year and love all the connections we have with people around the world. Now if the airlines and ‘mother nature’ will just cooperate getting us to the events that would be a plus. We have learned to expect the unexpected”.
Michael lives in Corning, California with Michele Burton and their cat Twinkle Toes (-_-).
Michael Barr has choreographed 152 dances, of which 69 have been co-choreographed. Their first published stepsheet on CopperKnob is Last Days Of Disco from October 2007, with their most recent stepsheet of Eric's Angel in April 2024.
Choreografin Stepsheets
32 Count 4 Wand Improver Musik: Angel - Eric Clapton : (Album: Old Stock)
32 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: Spending Every Minute In Love - Neal McCoy
64 Count 2 Wand Intermediate Musik: Sweet Talkin' Man - Delbert McClinton : (iTunes or Amazon - Single)
32 Count 4 Wand High Beginner - Slow WCS Musik: You Should Probably Leave - Chris Stapleton
32 Count 4 Wand Improver Couples Musik: Lucky in Love - Ronnie Beard : (CD: Lucky In Love - 3:48)
32 Count 4 Wand Improver Musik: Lucky in Love - Ronnie Beard : (CD: Lucky In Love - 3:48)
32 Count 2 Wand Improver Musik: Despacito x Shape Of You - Pentatonix : (Album: PTX Presents: Top Pop Vol. 1)
32 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: I Feel a Sin Comin' On - Pistol Annies : (CD: Annie Up)
32 Count 4 Wand High Beginner Musik: I Ain't Never - Scooter Lee : (CD: Midnight Hauler)
64 Count 4 Wand Improver / Intermediate Musik: Midnight Hauler - Scooter Lee
32 Count 4 Wand Intermediate NC rhythm Musik: Good As You - Kane Brown : (CD: Experiment - 3:13)
64 Count 2 Wand Phrased Easy Intermediate Musik: I'm Sticking With You Baby - Catherine Russell : (CD: Bring It Back - iTunes/Amazon)
32 Count 4 Wand Low Intermediate Musik: Don't Mind If I Do - Scooter Lee
32 Count 4 Wand High Beginner Musik: To Love Somebody - Michael Bublé
32 Count 4 Wand High Beginner Musik: Brazilian Soul (feat. Sofi Tukker) - The Knocks : (CD: New York Narcotic)
32 Count 4 Wand Intermediate Musik: Ride or Die (feat. Foster the People) - The Knocks : (CD: New York Narcotic)
32 Count 2 Wand Intermediate NC Musik: Take On Me - a-ha : (CD: MTV Unplugged - Summer Solstice - 4:13)
32 Count 2 Wand Beginner Musik: Dancing Feet - Dave Sheriff
32 Count 4 Wand Easy Intermediate Musik: Them Changes - Thundercat : (CD: Drunk - 3:08)
32 Count 4 Wand Easy Intermediate Musik: Hide the Wine - Carly Pearce : (CD: Every Little Thing - 3:28)
