Julian Barnett was born in Tokyo, Japan, and has lived in Germany, The Netherlands, Vermont, and New York, where he has primarily been based.

Julian works collaboratively across disciplines to create performances that examine the social-political possibilities for transformation and empathy. His works have been presented internationally throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and extensively across Europe.

Commissions and venues include Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Jacob’s Pillows (MA), Juilliard, Gibney Dance, Danspace Project, The Joyce Theater (NY), Performática (Mexico), Tangente (Montreal), Kampnagel (Hamburg), Dansehallerne (Copenhagen), La Briqueterie - CDC Val-de-Marne (Paris), Dansateliers (Rotterdam), La Visiva (Barcelona), Body Arts Lab (Tokyo), and the i-Dance Festival (Hong Kong), amongst others.

As a performer, Julian was a founding member of Larry Keigwin’s Keigwin and Company, as well as Johannes Wieland’s Staatstheater Kassel. He recently received a New York Dance and Performance "Bessie" Award nomination for Outstanding Performer. Julian was a danceWEB scholar at the Impulstanz Dance Festival in Vienna.