We had the good fortune of connecting with Eugene Barnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eugene, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
There have been many life events that, when walking through them, seemed difficult, but in hindsight, what has been the most pivotal for my professional and personal growth was my stopping my usage of drugs and alcohol and the start of my recovery journey. For almost a decade, my life paralleled “Dr. Jeykel and Mr. Hyde.” I have found success in both the arts (I’m also a retired professional ballet dancer with an eighteen-year career) and the corporate employment sectors. However, in my twenties, I was genuinely motivated by the “Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll” lifestyle, and while thrilling, I quickly learned the destruction and despair that comes with dancing my addiction.

Towards the end of my “run,” I knew I had a problem, but admitting that I had a problem was another mountain that seemed impossible to climb. After years of not showing up and presenting myself to the world as unreliable, my mother confronted me to make that change. That was in June 2016! That moment of honesty changed the course of my life for the better—better than I could’ve ever imagined.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My professional career began as a professional ballet dancer. Ballet has taught me the value of hard work, preparation, tenacity, discipline, adaptability, and the gift of receiving criticism (without taking it personally). Although I am a retired ballet dancer, I retired in 2022 after an eighteen-year career; one factor I carry with me is my yearning for learning. My professional ballet and teaching career has contributed to my success as a leader at renowned companies such as 7-Eleven, Macy’s, and Gap Inc. Combining my foundation as a dancer with my life in recovery has taught me that failure is simply an act of redirection.

In my life, I have had tremendous success and equal setbacks. The beauty of these life milestones is that they show me that fear is inevitable, but I must continue to take one step at a time, trust my instincts, and that I can’t do it alone. These life milestones have taught me that I always find the best outcome when I am open-minded and willing to take different perspectives. These life milestones have taught me to remain humble and remember that humility’s essence is that I am not greater or lesser than others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Whenever my friends come into town, I must take them to Beyond the Bar in Richardson. Beyond the Bar is the only non-alcoholic bottle shop/ bar in the Metroplex. If you are in recovery, sober-curious, or not in the mood to drink, I recommend everyone check it out. Beyond that, my go-to spot for coffee is Union on Cedar Springs, my go-to burger is Hudson House, my new go-to restaurant is Culinary Dropout, and my go-to place to walk and be outside is alongside the Trinity River. You MUST go to Restaurant Beatrice on Beckley if you want a great dining experience and phenomenal dessert.

Beyond that, I always suggest that my friends and I do something arts-related. I have been fortunate to have been raised in a highly artistic-inclined family, and I know when my soul yearns for art. My favorite places are in the Arts District, i.e., the Nasher, DMA, the symphony, and the TIN district.

Recently, I have been reconnected to ballet through the adult ballet community at Contemporary Ballet Dallas. Being connected to this ballet community post-career is reigniting my love for ballet. It’s been a joy to dance because I want to, not because I have to. My suggestion to everyone reading this is to try a dance class. Even if you think you have two left feet, there is nothing better than moving your body to music! Just Dance!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I adore this question. We rarely have a chance to give those who helped us on our journeys their flowers. Since I started my journey in recovery, I have been blessed to learn that I have many of my friends and peers in my life. One person who has helped me tremendously was my late mentor and friend, Michael Arties. Mike had walked alongside me through many major life events, spoke life into me when I felt defeated, and called me out on my BS when I tried to pull one over on him. One quote that will always stick with me is that “humility is simply being, not greater or lesser than.” I often have to come to this quote to keep me grounded.

Currently, I am the Volunteer Manager for The Phoenix, supporting Volunteers in North Texas and Oklahoma. At The Phoenix, we’re fueling a movement that builds on the power of community and belonging to change how society approaches addiction and recovery. Through hundreds of weekly sober events and activities, we’re creating safe spaces for all individuals to connect, build friendships, find support, and have fun. The greatest thing about this movement is that our events are free with 48 hours of sobriety. You also don’t have to be a person in recovery to experience The Phoenix. All you have to do is visit us at thephoenix.org or download The Phoenix’s app to enjoy the fun!

As for books, I am currently reading Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Mrs. Ajayi Jones is a brilliant author and truth speaker; I came across her work during the ‘shelter-in-place’ period of the pandemic, and she has inspired me to believe in my talent, gifts, and voice.

Website: https://eugeneclifford.com

Instagram: @eugeneclifford

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-c-barnes/

Image Credits
Black and White dance photo- Richard Hill
Ballet performance photo- Tim Lytvinenko (featuring Lara O’Brien Munoz

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.