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 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) and trained at the Joffrey Ballet Chicago after being selected as a children’s cast member Joffrey Nutcracker in 2006.
Daryl had an extensive competitive dance career, and trained under Gil Mata, Zachary Heller, Sarah Burney, Sam & JC Renzetti, Alvin Ramirez, and Jacquie (Tietz) Renzetti. She had the opportunity to work with several professional dancers and industry choreographers including, but not limited to, Jennifer Grapes, Darren McIntyre, Karl von Rabenau, Laura Edwards, Matt Cady, Jesse Santos, 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, and Les Sylphides. Ms. Barnes has originated roles in various contemporary works by Susan McGuire, Derek Reid, 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, taught modern classes, and performed 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 2019, Ms. Barnes performed in RAWartists Chicago under the direction of Melissa Lobes.
Daryl Barnes has an extensive teaching background with all ages & levels in the Chicago Suburbs in ballet, pointe, classical variations, private instruction, and contemporary dance. Daryl was commissioned by DeForest Dance Academy in December 2019 to create and direct “Clara’s Dream”- a brand 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. Ms. Barnes is newly certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), a cross training program for dancers.
