Alonzo King

Alonzo King, Founder and Artistic Director of Alonzo King LINES Ballet, has been called a visionary choreographer who is altering the way we look at and think about movement. King calls his works “thought structures”, created by the manipulation of energies that exist in matter through laws that govern the shapes and movement directions of everything that exists. He was named a choreographer with “astonishing originality” by The New York Times, and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet has been guided by his unique artistic vision since 1982. King’s works have appeared in the repertories of the world’s leading ballet and modern companies, and he has collaborated with distinguished visual artists, musicians, and composers around the globe. His work has been recognized for its impact on the cultural fabric of the company’s hometown of San Francisco, as well as internationally by the dance world’s most prestigious institutions. Named a Master of Choreography by the Kennedy Center in 2005, King is the recipient of the NEA Choreographer’s Fellowship, the Jacob’s Pillow Creativity Award, the US Artist Award in Dance, a Bessie Award, and the National Dance Project’s Residency and Touring Awards. In 2015, he received the Doris Duke Artist Award for his ongoing contributions to the advancement of contemporary dance. Joining historic icons in the field, King was named one of America’s “Irreplaceable Dance Treasures” by the Dance Heritage Coalition. He is a former San Francisco commissioner and a writer and speaker on humanity and art. A recipient of the SF Arts Medallion Award and inductee into the California Hall of Fame, King holds honorary Doctorates from Dominican University, California Institute of the Arts, and Juilliard.