Alonzo King LINES Ballet to Close Eccles' 2014-15 Season

The 2014-2015 Eccles Center season comes to a close with the "gripping, urgently beautiful choreography," (San Francisco Chronicle) of Alonzo King LINES Ballet on Saturday, April 25. The San Francisco-based troupe comes to the stage with a mixed repertory performance, including King's newest work "Biophony" (which premieres on the company's home stage just three weeks prior to its Park City debut). Performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 435-655-3114 or online at EcclesCenter.org.

Since 1982, Alonzo King has redefined ballet-based contemporary dance. Named a "Master of Choreography" by the Kennedy Center, his work, brought to life by the "fierce and supple, precise yet powerful" (Pointe Magazine) LINES ballet dancers, is renowned for connecting audiences to a profound sense of shared humanity. Over the past three decades, King has collaborated with an array of composers, musicians and visual artists; most recently, he teamed up with bio-acoustician Dr. Bernie Krause for the troupe's nature-inspired piece "Biophony."

Eleven dancers strong, the LINES troupe performs three pieces in its Park City debut: "Biophony," a collection of soundscapes from five rare habitats, marine and terrestrial, from the Equator to the Arctic and underscored with musical instrumentation derived from the textures of the biophonies and geophonies; "Concerto of Two Violins" set to Bach's Concerto in D Minor; and "Men's Quintet" with music by Edgar Meyer and Pharoah Sanders.

King's sense of interconnectedness translates into flowing movement, linked by soaring arabesques and pirouettes. In a recent review of "Concerto for Two Violins," the Miami Herald writes, "the troupe ricochets along with the vertiginously fast score; long reaching legs and arms flowing in and out of familiar classical shapes, combined with dizzyingly elastic movements of torso and arms, the dancers rippling and curving with uncanny fluidity."

While King has been touted for his creation of "the most sophisticated modernism in classical dance" (Los AngelesTimes), his dancers also come to the stage with prestigious ballet pedigree. Lithe and technically exquisite, these contemporary-classical performers come from the likes of Julliard, National Ballet of Canada, American Ballet Theatre, Ailey, Hubbard Street and Complexions.

"This world-renowned company marries gorgeous classical ballet technique - yes, the women are en point - with soul-nurturing, innovative choreography," says PCI executive director Teri Orr. "We are delighted to end our season with such a beautiful and inspiring performance."

Park City Institute wraps up the 2014-2015 Eccles Center season with Alonzo King LINES Ballet on Saturday, April 25. The stunning mixed repertory performance takes place at The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City). The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $69* (20-percent discount for seniors, ½ price tickets for children ages 16 and under; $5 seats are available in the Copper Section for Summit County students (K-12). Tickets and information are available at The Eccles Center box office, 435-655-3114 or www.ecclescenter.org.