About Clive Barnes

Clive Barnes decided at the age of 14 to become a critic, and four years later, he chose dance as his specialty. In 1967, he replaced Walter Kerr as The New York Times’ drama critic while continuing to cover the world of dance. He describes the role of the critic as a “stimulator of thought and opinion, a catalyst or bridge between the artist and the audience.” In addition to his work as a critic, he is an author, lecturer, and professor of journalism and critical writing at New York University.