Contemporary Intensive 2017

Artistic Director, Grand Rapids Ballet

Patricia Barker, former principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, is considered one of the world’s most gifted ballerinas. She received her early ballet training from Lynne Williams in Richland, WA, studied on scholarship both at Boston Ballet School with E. Virginia Williams and Violette Verdy and Pacific Northwest Ballet School with Francia Russell, Perry Brunson and Janet Reed. Ms. Barker has danced in many of the great full length ballets and contemporary works from renowned choreographers. She performed with Pacific Northwest Ballet extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. She appeared as a guest artist with national and international ballet companies and performed in many galas throughout the world. Ms. Barker danced the lead role of Clara in Nutcracker the Motion Picture, and starred as Titania in the BBC’s film, A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a celebratory re-opening of the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. She graced the covers of Dance Magazine, Danser, Pointe Magazine, Dance Australia, Dance Teacher, Dance Pages, Ballet Review and Dance International. She stages, rehearses and coaches ballets for professional companies including staging works for the Balanchine Trust on the Slovak National Ballet and the Hungarian National Ballet. In her role as Artistic Advisor for the Slovak National Ballet, she also advised on programming and fundraising. Ms. Barker is a judge for international ballet competitions and teaches at nationally renowned ballet schools. She collaborated with Freed of London, producing an instructional video answering dancers’ most frequently asked questions about the art of wearing Pointe shoes. As a member of the artistic team of Broadway Bound, she choreographed full scale productions performed by children between the ages of 5 to 18. Ms. Barker’s entrepreneurial and management experience includes product design and development for her own dancewear company; a patent award while consulting with a leading dancewear manufacturer; and product development consulting for a dance accessories company. Ms. Barker’s involvement in fundraising includes Capital Campaigns, Endowments and Scholarships. She is currently a board member of the Tateuchi Center, a performing arts center in Bellevue, Washington and on the advisory boards for Pointe Magazine, CriticalDance.com, California Ballet and Broadway Bound. She has previously served on the advisory boards of The Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle’s premiere performance hall, and Minnesota Dance Theater. She is also dedicated to bring greater awareness to bone and joint health by acting as a spokes person for the United States Bone and Joint Decade. Ms. Barker has been instrumental in creating Fit to a T programs for young dancers to spread awareness about bone health and osteoporosis.