The collaboration between choreographer Alonzo King and Chicago-based Hubbard Street Dance culminated with the Chicago premiere of two new works in Hubbard Street’s Spring Series in March of 2013.
Dancers from King’s own LINES Ballet, based in San Francisco, began the performance with Rasa, a work by Alonzo King that highlighted the interdependence of dance and music and incorporated elements of 18th century Tabla music from India. Rasa was followed by a performance of Little mortal jump, choreographed by Hubbard Street’s resident choreographer, Alejandro Cerrudo. Cerrudo skillfully blended genres with overtly theatricalized stage action and relationships shot through with dark humor. In the third part of the performance, dancers from both companies performed AZIMUTH, choreographed by Alonzo King and supported by the Joyce Award. The piece shows the dancer as both navigator and heavenly body.
Hubbard Street + Alonzo King LINES Ballet
The collaboration between Hubbard Street and LINES Ballet received very positive reviews:
“The sterling company collaboration, coupled with King and Cerrudo’s radiant choreography, results in a wild energy that can’t be contained, and three epic stories for the ages.”–Chicago Theater Beat
“If the simple sight of 28 of the world's most incredible dancers standing on stage at once isn't enough to leave you breathless for the remainder of the 40 minute spectacle, the effortless melding of the two companies' styles will be.” –Examiner
“After watching contemporary dance for 30 years, it’s blissful to be surprised: to recognize new possibilities for how a head can bear weight, to giggle with delight at a perch or position, to understand and see, as if for the first time, the negative space between a torso and an arm.” –Berkeleyside
AZIMUTH was developed through a multi-year artistic collaboration to create new choreography to further diversify the repertoire and audience of Hubbard Street, and enhance the professional development of both companies’ dancers. In addition to performing this vital work together, each company will have the opportunity to perform this repertory addition separately throughout the coming years.
Alonzo King has created works for companies throughout the world including the Swedish Royal Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Hong Kong Ballet. Seminal works include People of the Forest (2001) choreographed with Baka artists from Central African Republic and Long River High Sky (2007), with China’s Shaolin Monks. Mr. King has been guest ballet master for dance companies around the globe. In 2012, King was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Corps de Ballet International Teacher Conference.