LaTasha Barnes – Historical Talk Social Dance
Long before she was born, LaTasha Barnes was already moving to music. In this historical talk social dance at Amare, the multiple Bessie Award winner and internationally celebrated dance artist brings together her story, her craft, and the rich tradition of Black American Social Dance. A lecture and dance, all in one.
LaTasha Barnes grew up surrounded by dance and music in the most literal sense. Her father played the music as a DJ, her mother sat beside the speakers, and Barnes was already moving along before she even entered the world. That early connection to rhythm and movement runs through everything she does.
Bessie Awards, the New York Times and a life in dance
Barnes won the prestigious Bessie Award in both 2021 and 2023, the highest honour in the American dance community. The New York Times called her the 'Queen of Social Dance', and in 2021 she also received the title of Best Dance & Breakout Star. Alongside her work on stage, she is an associate professor of Dance at Arizona State University and a decorated US Army veteran, having served as Sergeant First Class and SATCOM Engineer.
Keeper of a tradition
Barnes sees herself as a representative of Black American Social Dance, a tradition she actively keeps alive within social, academic, and artistic contexts. That role is one she takes seriously. Her collaborations with artists and organisations around the world stem from that same mission: to represent and pass on the culture.
