12 WELCOME
THEA NERISSA BARNES BY AKOSUA BOAKYE BEM WITH KAMILAH CUMMINGS
“I believe those who choose dance should be rooted to the past and connected to the future no matter what area of dance they pursue.”2 – Thea Barnes Very little is known about Thea Nerissa Barnes. H owe ve r, t h e d a n c e r, t e a c h e r, m e n t o r, choreographer, researcher and writer known to many as Ms. T, Ms. Barnes or simply, Thea, left an inimitable legacy in the world of dance. Barnes was born in Columbus, Georgia and raised on Chicago’s South Side by her grandparents.
