Eugene Barnes was born in Louisville, Kentucky but was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He studied dance for five years at Baltimore School for the Arts before joining Carolina Ballet. He spent two summers at Miami City Ballet Summer Intensive; one summer with San Francisco Ballet and one summer with the Dancer Theatre of Harlem. Carolina Ballet artistic director Robert Weiss invited Mr. Barnes to audition for the company after he participated in a master class Weiss was teaching in Baltimore in 2003. In 2009 he was promoted to soloist.

Originated Featured Roles
by Timour Bourtasenkov
Dance for Piano and Violin

by Lynne Taylor Corbett
Nine by Twelve

by Robert Weiss
Wolf, Peter and the Wolf
Moving Life
A Dancerly Response

by Tyler Walters
Kick

Featured Roles with Carolina Ballet
Balanchine
Divertimento #15
Phlematic, The Four Temperaments
Puck, Demetrius,
   A Midsummer Night's Dream
Who Cares?

Lynne Taylor Corbett
Picnic on the Grass
King Winter, Ugly Duckling
Count Dracula, Arthur Holmwood,
   Dracula
Code of Silence

Robert Weiss
Dancaire, Carmen
Prince Charming, Cinderella
Kastchei, Firebird
Tybalt, Paris, Romeo & Juliet
Symposium
Caliban, Tempest Fantasy
Grosse Fuge
Time Gallery
Cavalier, Candy Canes, Chinese,
   Rat King, Nutcracker