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birth
Alonzo King, son of Valencia King Nelson and civil rights activist Slater King, spent part of his childhood in Georgia, later moving to Santa Barbara, California, where he began his dance training with June Lane. -
background
Alonzo King, Founder/Artistic Director/Choreographer of Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet in San Francisco, California, is a world-renowned contemporary ballet choreographer for stage, film, opera, and television. King has created works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Frankfurt Ballet, and Swedish Royal Ballet, among others. -
Choreography introduced
Alonzo's fist choreographed piece was called "Maya" and the other was "Zulu". These excellent pieces striked many viewers and professioanls of the dance world to consider looking into who he is. -
New York to San Francisco
King’s early performing experiences include an apprenticeship with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and brief engagements with the Harkness Youth Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Bella Lewitzky, Donald McKayle, and several European companies before leaving New York City in 1981 for San Francisco. -
Lines ballet
upon his arrival in San Francisco, King decided his passion lay in creating works of choreography and he founded Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. -
prestigious awards
He is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the NEA Choreographer’s Fellowship, Irvine Fellowship in Dance, 2005 Bessie Award for Choreographer/Creator. -
growth of Lines Ballet
Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet formed a partnership with Dominican University of California and created the West Coast’s first joint Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. This program is the only BFA offered in the United States that is led by an active master choreographer. -
Prestigious awards
2008 Jacob’s Pillow Creativity Award, and the San Francisco’s 2nd Annual Mayor’s Art Award in 2008. King holds honorary Doctorate degrees from Dominican University of California and California Institute of the Arts.