Alonzo King LINES Ballet

Alonzo King LINES Ballet is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 and guided by Artistic Director Alonzo King. The organization nurtures artistry and creative expression in dance through collaboration, performance, and education. It includes a professional ballet company, the LINES Summer Program, a joint BFA Program in Dance with Dominican University of California, and community programs. The company is a member of the International Association of Blacks in Dance and has collaborated with composers, musicians, and visual artists from around the world.

The organization is located at 26 Seventh Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. Performances are held in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts' Blue Shield of California Theater and at Fort Mason Center for the Arts & Culture, Cowell Theater.

The organization offers a professional ballet company, open Advanced/Professional ballet classes, a Summer Program with Pre-Professional and Advanced tracks, a joint BFA Program in Dance with Dominican University of California, community programs including school residencies for PreK through 8th grade, and independently run classes by Bay Area teachers. The Dance Center studios can host auditions, rehearsals, or photo shoots.

Community members ages 16 and older can attend open Advanced/Professional ballet classes. Summer Program participants ages 11 to 25 can apply by audition. Students in PreK through 8th grade can participate in school residencies. Professional dancers can audition for company positions. The BFA Program is available to qualifying students through Dominican University of California.

The organization caters to ages 11 to 25 for the Summer Program, with a Pre-Professional Program for ages 18 to 25 and an Advanced Program for ages 14 to 17. Open ballet classes are available for community members ages 16 and older. Community programs serve PreK through 8th grade students. Company auditions seek highly proficient and professionally trained dancers.

The organization offers company auditions for male and female-identifying dancers of soloist and principal caliber who are highly proficient in classical ballet technique. Female-identifying artists should be 5 feet 7 inches or taller with strong pointe work and male-identifying artists should be 6 feet or taller. The company offers full-time, seasonal employment with benefits and world travel.

Programs are rooted in the philosophy of Alonzo King. The Pre-Professional Program includes ballet technique/pointe, LINES repertoire, modern techniques, contemporary partnering, improvisation, the GYROTONIC Method, and choreography. The Advanced Program includes ballet, LINES repertoire, contemporary styles, the GYROTONIC Method, and improvisation. Community Programs follow the HeART with LINES curriculum emphasizing humility, empathy, artistry, ritual, and truth.

The organization performs bi-annual home seasons in San Francisco and conducts global tours reaching 50,000 plus audience members worldwide annually. The company has been featured at venues including the Venice Biennale, Monaco Dance Forum, Edinburgh International Festival, and Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. Productions include collaborations with composers, musicians, and visual artists.