Alonzo King's Lines Ballet

Sculptured shapes, enticing silhouettes, and the glorious manipulation of the human body are seen through a kaleidoscope of modern ballet. Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet is all about the evocation of a mood and the desire to capture the audience member at a visceral level. A New World of shape and form is created as choreography, music, and light move and interact with limpid fluidity. The innovative use of recorded sound, and live music is a hallmark of Alonzo King’s classically modernist vision.

About the Company

Founded in 1982, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet of San Francisco thrives on the re-definition of classical ballet. Along with pushing the physical boundaries of the classical tradition, King also explores new musical frontiers through collaboration with musicians and other artists with a range of diverse backgrounds and experience. In 2003 this award-winning company celebrated its 20th anniversary season with “Before the Blues”, reinforcing its commitment to the creation of innovative dance.

Critic's Comments

“ A deeply personal, unstintingly intense type of music poetry…the most sophisticated modernism in classical dance”-LA Times

“Hip and hot, looking good and dancing deliciously on the edge…”

-San Francisco Chronicle

Evening's Program

Alonzo King’s Before the Blues is a new work premiering in the fall of 2004. This program will bring to life the unique oral and musical traditions of the early south through dance, examining the essence of past and present African American culture. Performer and composer Pharoah Sanders has composed an original score to be performed live with sound excerpts from raw field recordings captured in the earliest days of slavery. Bessie-award winning lighting designer Axel Morgenthaler will create the visual effects for this performance groundbreaking performance.

Performances at Northrop

1988, 2001, 2005