About Rai

Rai Barnard (they/them) is a queer Dallas-based choreographer, performer, and arts organizer committed to cultivating community-oriented arts experiences grounded in accessibility, sustainability, and constantly asking why (not)?
 
Their training began with 12 years of competitive dance before earning a B.A. in Performing Arts and a B.S. in Biology from UT Dallas in 2021. While studying, they expanded upon their training through opportunities with Orlando Ballet School, Sidra Bell Dance NY, b12 (Berlin), and the Pina Bausch Foundation. These experiences cultivated a profound interest in dance-theatre, queer dance, and somatic dance modalities that catalyzed their first long-form work, “The Cost of Visibility”- distinguishing Rai as the first-ever UT Dallas student to present a choreographic capstone project. 

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Since then, they have created and performed choreography throughout Texas, including opportunities with Arts Mission Oak Cliff (2022 artist-in-residence), {254} Dance Fest, Agora Artists, Garage Arts Project, Aimed Dance, and Meow Wolf. They simultaneously developed a unique roster of performance credits, cross-pollinating dance and theatre - including works by Jennifer Mabus, Christie Bondade, Lyric Stage, Dallas Children’s Theater, Stage West, and Prism Movement Theater.

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They remain an active contributor to the DFW arts community:

• producing community programs with public support - serving both residents and professional artists (Collective Reflection, Choreo Lab)

• serving on grant panels (TACA - The Arts Community Alliance) and organizational leadership committees (Agora Artists).

• consulting on production, management, and development/fundraising for independent artists and local organizations.