Clive Barnes (1927 - 2005)

Clive Alexander Barnes was born in London in May 1927 to a Hungarian Jewish father and an English mother.  He was, in his own words, “a working class over achiever.”  His education, all on scholarship, was at Emanuel School in London and at Oxford University.  Before Oxford, as this was wartime England all young men had to undergo mandatory service; although the fighting was over, Clive chose the Air Force for two years.  After graduating, with honors from Oxford, he enrolled as a medical student at Kings’ College Hospital in London.  Unfortunately, the fact that he could not tolerate the sight of blood brought that venture to a hasty halt.  Growing up he had been introduced to the theatre by his mother, secretary to a theatrical agent, and while at Oxford he and his lifelong friend, John Percival, had revived the Oxford Ballet Club and Arabesque, its magazine.  After graduation he accepted a position as Dance Critic at the Times of London and he also wrote for The Daily Express, The Spectator, Dance and Dancers [Assistant Editor] and Music and Musicians.  His writing was regarded as innovative and a breath of fresh air as formerly most dance criticism had been written, rather stuffily, by music critics.  

Clive’s American life began in 1965 when he was invited to the post of Dance Critic for the New York Times, doubling as full time Theatre Critic in 1967.  This lasted for ten years at which time it was deemed that too much power was in one person’s hands and the position was once again divided.  Undeterred Clive accepted an offer from Rupert Murdoch at The New York Post and enjoyed 31 years of writing as the Theatre, Dance, Opera, Broadway and TV Critic which only ended two weeks before his death on November the 19th 2008.  His last review glowingly noted two junior recruits at American Ballet Theatre.

He was a man of the theatre, sharp eyed, erudite, warm, loving, and a force to be reckoned with.  His great and everlasting passion was theatre in all its forms, and to honor him with gratitude, respect and love the lights were dimmed on Broadway on November the 20th 2008.  

Among his Honors, he was made a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog in 1972 and a Commander of the British Empire, CBE, in 1975.   

Valerie Taylor-Barnes (1933 - 2019)

Valerie Taylor-Barnes, a protégé of Dame Margot Fonteyn, danced as a soloist with The Royal Ballet in London for fifteen years and touring extensively, including New York and many other cities in the USA. At the end of her dancing career, she became a Major Examiner and Teacher for the Royal Academy of Dance and conducted examinations throughout the world. She came to New York in 1980 and continued teaching until her marriage to Clive Barnes, the well known Dance, Theatre, and Opera critic. On his death, she formed The Clive Barnes Foundation, which is well known for encouraging young professional actors and dancers with its Annual Award, given for outstanding performances in Theatre and Dance.