Dr. Tinka Barnes, Md.

Dr. Tinka Barnes, MD. began her West African dance training in 1999 while in medical school at the University of Kansas medical school in Kansas City, KS, during which time she became a principal dancer with the Traditional Music Society and Soundz of Africa under the artistic direction of master percussionist Bird Fleming. Artist in Residence Baba Danny Diallo Hinds of Sundance Production groomed her dancing skills using the dance forms of Blkdance-Tek, West Afrikan, and Afro-Caribbean and while in Kansas City, she also danced with Grupo Axe presenting Samba.

 

While completing her medical residency in New Orleans, she toured with Zulu Connection (founded by Naimah Zulu and Shaka Zulu master stilt dancer), and also had the unique opportunity to study dance from Papa Abdoulaye Camara of Senegal.

With her award-winning author husband, Derrick Barnes, and their four sons Dr. Barnes relocated to Charlotte, NC where she performed with Shae Movement dance company and was a principal dancer with YAPRE Puerto Rican folkloric dance performing Bomba, Rumba, and Plena.

 

Tinka is passionate about the importance of “movement as medicine” as well as introducing the youth to the expression of cultural arts through West African Dance and dances of the diaspora. These passions have led her to establish CADDC’s children’s dance classes to do her part to help develop the next generation of West African dancers in the Queen City.