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 154 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 Nashville TN in September 2024.
Choreographer Stepsheets
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: Ride or Die (feat. Foster the People) - The Knocks : (CD: New York Narcotic)
64 Count 4 Wall High Intermediate Music: I Am - Leona Lewis : (Album: I Am)
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: Give It to Me Right - Melanie Fiona : (CD: The Bridge)
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Can't Sleep Love - Pentatonix : (Album: Pentatonix or Delux Version - 2:53)
64 Count 2 Wall Improver Music: Take These Chains from My Heart - Lee Roy Parnell
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: I Feel a Sin Comin' On - Pistol Annies : (CD: Annie Up)
64 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: Spooky - Classics IV
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner Music: That Don't Impress Me Much - Shania Twain
64 Count 2 Wall Improver Music: Soul Man - Sam & Dave
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate / Advanced NC rhythm Music: New York to California - Mat Kearney : (CD: City of Black & White)
48 Count 4 Wall Intermediate - Hustle rhythm Music: Blackout - Breathe Carolina : (CD: Hell Is What You Make It - 3:30)
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Mad Love - Rick Tippe
48 Count 2 Wall Improver Music: Juke Joint Jumpin' - Barbara Carr
48 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: I Got You - Thompson Square
32 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: I Like It, I Love It - Tim McGraw
60 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: Sunset Red and Pale Moonlight - Pam Tillis
64 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: Act Right - Blue Harlem : (CD: Jump Jack Jump)
64 Count 2 Wall Intermediate / Advanced Music: Valentino - Diane Birch : (CD: Bible Belt)
32 Count 2 Wall Intermediate NC Music: Take On Me - a-ha : (CD: MTV Unplugged - Summer Solstice - 4:13)
