A rare mix of artistry and magic
Dance Philadelphia Debuts Philadelphia Premieres
Alonzo King
King was born in Georgia to Slater King and Valencia King Nelson, who were both social activists involved in the Civil Rights Movement. “My parents were willing to die for what they believed in,” said King. “That became my template for how to behave and create in the world.” King discovered choreography and dance in high school after his family moved to California. He trained at Harkness School of Ballet, Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theatre and the School of American Ballet. He danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem from 1980 to 1981 before founding his company in 1982.
Since then, Alonzo King LINES Ballet has been at the forefront of innovation, pushing the parameters of contemporary ballet to new realms. King’s prolific body of work has appeared on world stages, in film, at festivals and in the repertoires of Ballet Frankfurt, Royal Swedish Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance, San Francisco Ballet and others.
A sense of freedom of expression is integral to King’s artistry and life. He calls his work “thought structures” created by the manipulation of energies that exist in matter through laws. Perhaps, King was inspired by distinguished scholar and author Dr. Richard Paul’s critical thinking theory. Paul’s Universal Thought Structures offer a framework for understanding how minds make sense of the world and is similar to King’s artistic process. Naming his company LINES Ballet suggests (as in its geometric definition) a one-dimensional figure that extends endlessly in both directions, filled with infinite possibilities. This idea is apparent in the company’s decades of work.
LEGACY
The company’s powerful program opens with LEGACY, King’s collaboration with composer esperanza spalding. A nod to the urgency and value of memory, inheritance and lineage, spalding’s original musical composition incorporates singing and fragments of poetic text that serve as a conversation between the aural and physical worlds and the interplay of the dancers. King’s riveting, earthy choreography responds to the score in dynamic solos and group sections, where his highly technical and expressive dancers shine.
Expressing unity and connection, a recurring motif in the work is fall and recovery. The movement vocabulary is grounded and weighted, with bodies repeatedly falling, collapsing, being caught and lifted. This idea is central in the standout duet, “Through Two Not Two.” Performed by Adji Cissoko, the company’s associate artistic director, and Shuaib Elhassan, the couple explores stunning lifts, wraps, falls and the need for codependency.
Ode to Alice Coltrane
Mesmerized by Alice Coltrane’s music since childhood, King created his first dance to Coltrane’s music in 1982 for LINES Ballet’s inaugural performance. Forty-two years later, Coltrane’s children invited King to create Ode to Alice Coltrane. It is a homage to their mother’s transcendent artistry as a pianist, harpist, composer, band leader, singer and spiritual visionary, often in the shadow of their famous father, saxophonist John Coltrane.
This stunning 47-minute production features 15 jazz tracks by Coltrane—a sultry East-West mix of harp, organ, bass, electronica, vocals and new age music—superbly matched by King’s inventive stylistic choreography. Creative Director Robert Rosenwasser’s flowing, sheer, Earth-colored costumes and Seah Johnson’s striking lighting design and projections magically complement the work. Dancers crawl, swim, fly and stretch with heart-stirring emotion. There are soaring jumps, arched backs, flexed arms and feet, unbelievable balances, dazzlingly effortless pirouettes, deep lunges and spectacular extensions. The solos, small groups and full company moments reflect themes of reverence, devotion and cultural legacy made visible.
A Philadelphia debut
Despite performing in our city for the first time, Alonzo King LINES Ballet has deep Philadelphia connections. Company dancer Mikal Gilbert studied at the University of the Arts and performed with Koresh Dance Company (2019–2022), Dance Iquail (2022) and PHILADANCO! (2022–2024). Company dancer Shuaib Elhassan also performed with Dance Iquail. And LINES Ballet Associate Artistic Director Adji Cissoko choreographed her first work, AZIZ (2021), for BalletX.
As someone who has not seen this incredible company live, I cannot wait for this much-anticipated Philadelphia debut.
Anne-Marie Mulgrew, MFA, is the Artistic Director of Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company and the Education/Marketing Consultant for Penn Live Arts.
