At age 5,  Daryl  Barnes started training in all styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop throughout the Chicago suburbs. She trained at the Joffrey Ballet Summer intensive (Chicago) after being selected as a children’s cast member Joffrey Nutcracker 2006. 
 

She took part in intensives with top commercial choreographers in addition to a long career in competitive dance. She trained consistently with Avnun Yakubov (Moscow Ballet Theater- Russia), Ted Jackson, Zachary Heller, Sarah Burney, Sam Renzetti, Alvin Ramirez, and Jacquie (Tietz) Renzetti.  She also had the opportunity to work with several choreographers including, but not limited to, Darren McIntyre, Karl von Rabenau, Laura Edwards, Matt Cady, and David Moore.

 

Ms. Barnes decided to exclusively study ballet and contemporary at age 16 under the wing of Jennifer Grapes (of Milwaukee Ballet) and competed both classical and contemporary works in Youth America Grand Prix in 2013.  

 

Ms. Barnes graduated from Butler University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance in May of 2017 Cum Laude and with Honors from the Jordan College of the Arts Department of Dance.   She’s performed as Choleric in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments in addition to numerous lead roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake,  Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Paquita, along with excerpts from Les Sylphides, and La Esmerelda.  Ms. Barnes has originated roles in various contemporary works by Susan McGuire (Martha Graham, Paul Taylor), Derek Reid (Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Ballet Met), and Cynthia Pratt.  

 

Ms. Barnes performed in and contributed choreography to the Indianapolis StreamLines Project, a Multimillion-dollar art and science collaboration with The National Science Foundation and Butler University for environmental awareness and education.  In May of 2016, Ms. Barnes toured with the Butler Ballet, teaching and performing original contemporary works throughout Poland, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. 

Ms. Barnes attended the LINES Ballet Summer Intensive in 2018, and recently performed as a Company Trainee with Charlottesville Ballet in the 2018-2019 season. Upon Returning to Chicago in 2020, Ms. Barnes performed in RAWartists Chicago, and is continuing her dance education at Visceral Dance Center.

 

Daryl Barnes has an extensive teaching background with all ages & levels in the Chicago Suburbs in ballet, pointe, classical variations, and contemporary dance. Daryl was commissioned by Deforest Dance Academy in December 2019, 2021, 2022 & 2023 to create "Clara's Dream"- a new production of The Nutcracker made for young suburban families to enjoy. She is CPR and CDC Heads-Up certified, and earned her 200 Hour Yoga certification in 2017,  and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique(PBT), a cross training program for dancers.

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Daryl's students have gone on to BFA programs at Oklahoma City University, Indiana University, University of Western Michigan, Illinois State University, the training Program at CLI Conservatory, and multiple collegiate Dance Teams Including U of Illinois, U of Iowa, Butler University, and U of Michigan. 

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Ms. Barnes Currently teaches Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, and PBT at DeForest Dance Academy,  and Expression Dance Studio. She was also recently appointed as the President of Steppin' Out Dance Company at DeForest Dance. 

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