Alonzo King LINES Ballet

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The Verdict

"One of the most respected contemporary ballet companies in the country. Performances at YBCA and other Bay Area theaters. Tickets $30 to $95. Check the season schedule online. The technique blends classical ballet with global influences."

What you need to know

Alonzo King LINES Ballet was founded in 1982 and has spent four decades building a reputation as one of the most distinctive contemporary ballet companies in the country. The company is based in SoMa, where it runs both a performance program and the LINES Ballet School, a pre-professional training center that draws dancers from around the world.

What to Expect

This is not classical ballet in the Nutcracker sense. Alonzo King’s choreography uses classical technique as a foundation but takes it somewhere different. The work is athletic, fluid, and often collaborates with musicians from outside the Western classical tradition. Performances have featured live accompaniment by Pharoah Sanders, Zakir Hussain, and Edgar Meyer, among others.

The dancing is technically demanding and visually striking. The company is small, usually around 12 dancers, which means you can see individual artistry rather than watching a uniform corps. Performances typically happen at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts or other Bay Area theaters rather than in the company’s SoMa studio.

Visiting

School and Studio: 26 7th Street, SoMa
Performances: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, and touring venues
Season: Several programs per year, typically spring and fall
Cost: $30 to $95 depending on venue and seating
Tickets: Available through the LINES Ballet website or the hosting venue

Getting There

The SoMa studio is near Civic Center BART and several Muni lines. Performance venues vary. Check the specific theater for directions when you buy tickets. Most Bay Area performance spaces where the company appears are transit accessible.

Skip this if you want traditional story ballet with sets and costumes. LINES is abstract, movement focused work that is closer to contemporary dance than Swan Lake.

📍 Location: This activity is in SoMa. Explore the neighborhood →

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