Clive Alexander Barnes (13 May 1927 – 19 November 2008) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977, he was the dance and theater critic for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', and, from 1978 until his death, ''

The New York Post The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com, and the entertainment site Decider.com. It was established ...

.'' Barnes had significant influence in reviewing new Broadway productions and evaluating the international dancers who often perform in New York City.

Life and career

Born in Lambeth,

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, Barnes was educated at Emanuel School in Battersea and

St Catherine's College, Oxford St Catherine's College (colloquially called St Catz or Catz) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford and is the newest college admitting both undergraduate and graduate students. Tracing its roots back to 1868 (although t ...

. He was the dance and drama critic at the ''New York Post'' from 1978 until 2008, and senior consulting editor at ''

Dance Magazine ''Dance Magazine'' is an American trade publication for dance published by the Macfadden Communications Group. It was first published in June 1927 as ''The American Dancer''. ''Dance Magazine'' has multiple sister publications, including '' Point ...

'', where he wrote a monthly column called "Attitudes." He also contributed regularly to the British journal ''Dance Now;'' he edited and wrote for British newspapers such as ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...

,'' ''

The Daily Express The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first published as a broadsheet ...

'', and the weekly magazine '' Spectator''. Barnes authored and contributed to numerous books related to theater and the performing arts, particularly dance. These include four volumes of ''50 Best Plays of the American Theatre'', nine series of ''Best American Plays'' (with

John Gassner John Waldhorn Gassner (January 30, 1903 – April 2, 1967) was a Hungarian-born American theatre historian, critic, educator, and anthologist. Early life and education At birth in the town of Máramarossziget, Hungary (today in Romania), he was ...

), ''American Ballet Theatre: A 25 Year Retrospective'' (with Elizabeth Kaye), the foreword to ''Masters of Movement: Portraits of America's Great Choreographers'' (by Rose Eichenbaum), ''Ballet in Britain Since the War'', ''New York Times Directory of the Theater'', ''Ballet Here and Now'', ''Dance Scene USA'', ''Inside American Ballet Theatre'', as well as biographies of

Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the thr ...

and

Rudolf Nureyev Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev ( ; Tatar/ Bashkir: Рудольф Хәмит улы Нуриев; rus, Рудо́льф Хаме́тович Нуре́ев, p=rʊˈdolʲf xɐˈmʲetəvʲɪtɕ nʊˈrʲejɪf; 17 March 19386 January 1993) was a Soviet ...

. The British writer was known for his "lively and enthusiastic approach to criticism" which contributed to an upswing in dance criticism in New York City media. Writing for ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'', Gordon Cox claimed that Barnes "helped nurture the explosion of the form in Gotham in the 1970s." Regarding television, Barnes once wrote: "It is the first truly democratic culture, the first culture available to everyone and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want."

Honours

He was made a Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, and appointed a knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1972 by

Queen Margrethe II Margrethe II (; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is Queen of Denmark. Having reigned as Denmark's monarch for over 50 years, she is Europe's longest-serving current head of state and the world's only incumbent femal ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

Marriages

He was married four times. His wives included ballet writer Patricia Winckley, news columnist Amy Pagnozzi, and

Royal Ballet The Royal Ballet is a British internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the five major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in ...

dancer Valerie Taylor.

Death

He died from liver cancer on November 19, 2008, in New York City, aged 81.

Clive Barnes Awards

The Clive Barnes Foundation was established in 2009 to administer the Clive Barnes Awards.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, Clive 1927 births 2008 deaths Alumni of St Catherine's College, Oxford Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Critics employed by The New York Times Dance critics Deaths from liver cancer English critics English male non-fiction writers English emigrants to the United States Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog New York Post people People educated at Emanuel School 20th-century English male writers