LINES Ballet at Edison Theatre

Saw Alonzo King's LINES Ballet perform on Friday night. The show was a mix of classical ballet and African dance forms. As I have just recently taken up ballroom dancing, I thoroughly appreciated the dancers' amazing technique and artistry. Dancing is hard work, and they made it look effortless, the way it's supposed to be done :) Way to go, LINES Ballet dancers.

According to the program:

Alonzo King's LINES Ballet is one of San Fran's oldest and most respected contemporary dance companies. The Company was founded in 1982 for the creation and presentation of original ballet in partnership with contemporary musicians and artists from distinctive and diverse cultural traditions.

LINES has collaborated with legendary jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, India's national treasure Zakir Hussain, founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock Bernice Johnson Reagon, actor Danny Glover, Japanese classical composer Somei Satoh, celebrated Polish composer Pavel Syzmanski, and Nubian oud master Hamza El Din. One of the highlights of LINES's performing career was bringing sixteen musicians and dancers from the Lobaye Forest of Central African Republic -- the Baaka -- for the People of the Forest project. LINES Ballet is an annual invitee of Mikhail Baryshnikov to his White Oak residencies.

The Company performs extensively throughout the United States and internationally. In the past year LINES was featured at the prestigious Venice Biennale and the Maison de la Dance in Lyon.


dancers in motion


woman against the wall (of men)


curtain call


the ushers