Wickenburg, here we come!

There’s much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving week. At the top of our list is the generous $350,000 grant that we recently received from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support the creation of a new work and fund an artistic residency in Wickenburg, Arizona.

Made specifically for film, the new work will explore a cinematic approach to LINES Ballet’s choreographed art form and advance the core of Alonzo King’s artistic practice – the exploration of universal truths relevant to today’s society. While in Wickenburg, the company will additionally film an inside view into Alonzo’s choreographic process, illuminating how he cultivates and nurtures the unique artistic voice of each LINES dancer.

After being separated from one another for eight months, our company dancers have traveled from around the world for the creation of this landmark work. The project will give this diverse and tight-knit family the opportunity to work in a creative community with one another once again, nurturing them spiritually and physically.

Rehearsals for the new ballet have already begun! The Company just wrapped two weeks of rehearsals in San Francisco, following the guidelines set forth by the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Next week, they’ll travel via private bus to the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts for a three-week “COVID-bubble” residency. All dancers and staff will be tested weekly throughout the residency and will be following strict safety protocols.

“The Mellon Foundation has generously afforded the artists of LINES the opportunity to create again after eight months of separation. Our gratitude goes out to them and to our audience who has been so supportive through these times. The arts provide common ground, reminding us of that which connects us in a shared humanity.” said Executive Director Robert Rosenwasser.

The “Made in Wickenburg” Artist Residency Program is a project of the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts. Each residency is designed to foster creative, collaborative and performance projects of established performing artists and empowers artistic companies to pursue new projects, mount work, or collaborate with other artists, free from everyday pressures. Previous residents include the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Jessica Lang Dance, ODC/Dance, and BODYTRAFFIC, among others.

Keep an eye on LINESConnected and our social media accounts for behind-the-scenes content from this exciting adventure!