Mary Lou Barnes

Owner, director, teacher, choreographer, judge, teacher of teachers.

Mary Lou began her  dance training in Detroit at the age of six at the CYO center. She then moved to East Detroit and started classes at Novak music and Dance. She started as an assistant at eleven years old. By the age of fourteen, she was a full time teacher with over 200 students. She then taught in her parents’ home and built up a clientele. In 1971 she married and moved to St. Clair Shores and continued to teach in her home. She gained so many students that they had to be placed on a waiting list. In 1984,she opened her own school and within a short time outgrew the building and moved to the present location at 12 and Harper. Her school has grown to be one of the most popular in the area. This enviable reputation continues today.

Many of her former students have gone on to achieve their own success in the dance world as performers on Broadway, Disney, Cruise lines and dance companies as well as teachers and choreographers. Through the years her local reputation has expanded all across the United States, teaching for Dance Caravan and numerous dance organizations. Mary Lou is a certified member of Dance Masters of America and Michigan and the Cecchetti Council of America. She has been on faculty for Joel Ruminer’s dance camp throughout the country. She had donated many hours along with her students to entertain convalescent homes, churches, schools, and various other organizations.