GUSTINE — When Monica Barnes leads Gustine’s Independence Day parade as the 2026 grand marshal on Saturday, she will do so as a hometown native whose life in dance and community service has spanned more than two decades.
Barnes, the owner and founder of Cornerstone Dance, began dancing at age 5 in Turlock. She trained for 13 years, including three seasons on the Advanced Dance Team at Central Catholic High School. After graduating, she expected her dance career to end as she pursued a degree in education at Stanislaus State. Instead, dance continued to follow her — first through the Warrior Dance Team, then through work with Power Cheer as an instructor, judge and competitor.
Barnes said she believed she was headed toward a career as an elementary school teacher until she felt called in a different direction…