Birmingham Dance Theatre hires accomplished hip-hop instructor for 2013-2014 season
From New York to Paris, Allison Barnes has danced alongside some of the world’s biggest names in music including Beyoncé, Kanye West and Jennifer Lopez. However, no matter where her travels lead her, Barnes’ hometown stays fresh on her mind.
“Birmingham has always had a special place in my heart,” Barnes said. “We have such rich history that has shaped each one of us into who we are.”
Barnes has signed on as a dance instructor for the current season at Birmingham Dance Theatre in Vestavia. Studio Owner Joni Scofield asked Barnes to teach a hip-hop workshop in June, and after seeing the students’ reactions, she decided to bring Barnes on board as a faculty member.
“She came and taught a class this summer, and the students were just bouncing off the walls,” Scofield said. “Their energy level was really fun to watch.”
Barnes will teach hip-hop, ballet, contemporary and jazz and help choreograph dances for when the studio travels to area competitions. Scofield believes Barnes’ presence will bring a new level of energy to the dance community.
“The parents and kids are just excited for a great year,” Scofield said. “It’s so neat to have someone who’s traveled all over the world be able to come and teach with us.”
Barnes trained in ballet and jazz at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where she received the Excellence in Dance Award in 2004. She went on to dance in various dance ensembles and teams at The University of Alabama. Following college, Barnes moved to New York where she danced for the New York Jets during the 2008-2009 season.
“My love of dance started with ballet,” Barnes said. “My older sister took ballet, and because I wanted to do everything she did, I took [ballet] too. The rest is history.”
That history includes appearances on a variety of television shows such as “Saturday Night Live” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” She performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards and alongside Beyoncé at the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Barnes said her all-time favorite dance experience was the first time she performed with Beyoncé at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall.
“We performed ‘Single Ladies’ the same year the video won best choreography,” Barnes said. “It was completely surreal.”
When she is not traveling and performing, Barnes enjoys teaching dance classes and judging dance teams across Alabama. She said her favorite part of teaching is seeing a reflection of her younger self in her students.
“I was such a determined little girl, always thirsty for more knowledge and exposure,” Barnes said. “Seeing progression and passion in my students reminds me of ‘Little Ali.’”
Barnes’ biggest piece of advice for her students is always do the homework and realize that improving as a dancer requires more than just showing up to weekly classes.
“Don’t just depend on your time at the dance studio to get better,” Barnes said. “Stretch and work on your technique at home.”
She wants her dancers to realize their dreams can become reality through hard work and a willingness to try new experiences. She encourages people to learn as much as they can about the art of dancing, which could be anything from watching choreographed dances on YouTube to traveling to new places to gain fresh insight. The dancer’s advice applies to anyone chasing a dream.
“I want to encourage every dancer, every person, to take what they’ve learned here and see the world,” Barnes said. “You would be surprised at the similarities and differences.”