Dancer, Choreographer, Producer, Master Teacher, and Fitness Coach - Erin Barnett

Today's guest is sure to inspire you! Erin Barnett is a Dancer, Choreographer, Producer, Master Teacher, and Fitness Coach, Erin Barnett is a native of Chicago, IL.  She began her formal dance training at Mayfair Dance Academy at the age of six and has never looked back.  Erin was exposed to every form of dance but by age nine decided to focus on her attention to ballet. In 1987, Erin was selected to be the first African American “Clara” is the Chicago Tribune Charities Production of the Nutcracker. Choreographed by Ruth Page and directed by Larry Long, Ms. Barnett was fascinated by the pulse of live art. While under the tutelage of Larry Long, she had the opportunity to perform in “Etudes” with American Ballet Theatre.​As much as she adored the technical challenges of classical ballet she was equally exhilarated by jazz, tap, & cheerleading winning several first place Showstopper Awards as well as first place USCA awards. The positive competition gave Erin the confidence she needed when competing for Miss District of Columbia.Continuing her academic studies as a dance major at Howard University opened the door to the world of modern dance.  Upon graduation, Erin earned a position with Garth Fagan Dance traveling and performing original works all over the world.  Working with Bessie and Tony award winning Fagan, Erin, “a ballerina in disguise” Dance Magazine Feb 2001, didn’t go unrecognized by patrons and critics nationally and abroad.  Toby Tobias of the New Yorker Magazine wrote, “Erin Barnett, born to dance, is striking…every movement she makes is physically charged with feeling.  I could watch her forever, doing anything.   Once you lay eyes on her even when she’s operating on the outskirts of the action you can barely see anyone else on stage” (November 2000).  Erin enjoys sharing her experiences with young dancers and was very proud to have taught at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy while living in Los Angeles.  Ms. Barnett returned to the concert stage with The Philadelphia Dance Company for three years.  She danced with Karole Armitage in the Lincoln Center Outdoors Series and was an original cast member of Disney’s The Lion King in Las Vegas from March 2009 - December 2011.  One of the highlights of Ms. Barnett’s career is when she danced in the 2011 Billboard Awards with Beyonce! Ms. Barnett returned to Chicago in 2012 where she taught at the Lou Conte Dance Studio and served as the Artistic Director for the Mayfair Performing Company.  She is an adjunct professor of dance at Northwestern University (Evanston), adjunct professor of Ballet at Roosevelt University, and founded her own company Black Girls Dance®, whose mission is to showcase and mentor dancers of color. Instagram: @erinbarnettofficiallyFacebook: FacebookWeb site: Erin Barnett | Fitness coaching (erindbarnett.com)Support the showThanks so much for listening! Get all the info here: LinkTreeInstagram & Facebook: @spandexandwineWeb Site: www.spandexandwine.com