Meet new LINES Ballet company dancer Mikal Gilbert before our Fall Season! A former dancer with The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!), Mikal discovered his passion for dance while studying music performance at the University of the Arts. He later became a member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program, as well as a full scholarship recipient for The Ailey School. Learn more about Mikal, his favorite performance, and his interest in LINES Ballet—all before he makes his company debut this season, September 26–29 at YBCA.
Get your tickets to see Mikal in our Fall Season, featuring a world premiere celebrating legendary spiritual leader, composer, pianist, and harpist Alice Coltrane.
Interview by Erin McKay
What compelled you to dance?
Growing up, I was a visual artist and musician, but dance was not a part of my world. That changed when I saw a photo of Jamar Roberts leaping in a phone book ad. The image was breathtaking—he looked like me, and, as an artist, I was struck by the beauty of the human form in motion. The lines and shapes created in the photo captivated me. I began doodling figures in various poses on my homework, and I was hooked!
Eventually, I wanted to embody the elegance and strength I saw in that photo myself. When I started dancing, I realized that the human body is an instrument—one that can be fine-tuned and transformed with dedication. Through hard work, I’ve strived to become the art I once admired.
Which performance meant the most to you?
My most meaningful performance was when I danced Mating Season by Christopher Rudd with Philadanco. This physically demanding ballet pushed me to my limits, requiring intense preparation to build my strength and stamina for the intricate acrobatics and partnering work involved. But it was not just the physicality that challenged me; I also had to tap into my artistic expression to bring the primal character at the heart of the piece to life. Inspired by courtship in nature, Mating Season depicts the raw, instinctual dance of attraction and survival. The connection with my partner was crucial, demanding a level of focus and trust I had never experienced before. The sense of accomplishment I felt after performing this work was immense. It was a true test of my physical and artistic abilities, and I was proud that I rose to the challenge.
What drew you to LINES Ballet?
Alonzo King’s visionary approach drew me to LINES Ballet. He pioneers new frontiers in contemporary ballet, and his innovation resonates deeply with me. I’m particularly inspired by his musical choices, incorporating jazz, hymns, and eastern styles of music to create an unconventional yet captivating soundscape for his ballets. Alonzo’s willingness to push boundaries and challenge traditional norms aligns with my own artistic aspirations.
“I’ve always felt an inner dancer waiting to be unleashed, and I believe LINES Ballet is the ideal place for me to discover and explore my true artistry.”
BIO: Raised in Virginia Beach, VA, Mikal Gilbert developed a love for dance at the age of 19 while studying music performance at the University of the Arts. It was there that his passion grew upon encouragement from several dance faculty members. He then went on to formally train at Norfolk Academy under the tutelage of Elbert Watson, where he studied ballet and modern. In 2017, Gilbert was an inaugural member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program. In 2018, he continued his studies at The Ailey School as a full scholarship recipient.
Mikal has attended intensives and workshops at Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Complexions, and BalletX. Mikal is a “Dancer of Philadelphia” and has been a member of Koresh Dance Company (2019–2022), Dance Iquail (2022), and PHILADANCO! (2022–2024), where he performed works by Bernard Gaddis, Milton Myers, Christopher Rudd, and Tommie Wheed. Mikal joined LINES Ballet in 2024.
LINES Ballet’s Fall Season
This Fall Season, LINES Ballet presents a world premiere to the music of legendary spiritual leader, composer, pianist, and harpist Alice Coltrane. Her transcendental music has inspired Alonzo King since his childhood. Also on the program is King’s latest work for the San Francisco Symphony set to Maurice Ravel’s enchanting Mother Goose suite. San Francisco Classical Voice called it “a marvelous visual feast.” Performances run for four nights only—September 26–29, 2024, at YBCA.
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Dancer: Mikal Gilbert | © RJ Muna; Koresh Dance Company | Dancer: Mikal Gilbert | © Contingo Photos; PHILADANCO! | Dancers: Mikal Gilbert and Brandi Pinnix | © Julianne Harris; Mikal Gilbert | © Michael Pilla, Mikal Gilbert | © Michael Pilla; Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Dancers: Adji Cissoko and Shuaib Elhassan | © RJ Muna.
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