THANK YOU
Last week, we wrapped up our 2025 Fall Season at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, featuring Deep River. And what a season it was! The outpouring of love and generosity from our entire community of friends and supporters was simply remarkable.
We are immensely proud of our amazing company of artists and our hardworking staff for bringing this inspiring ballet to Bay Area audiences.
Here’s a brief look back at a season filled with joy, reflection, and reminders of the power and immense value of live art!
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Dancer: Theo Duff-Grant | © RJ Muna
OPENING NIGHT
LINES Ballet banners adorned the lobby walls at YBCA, and our audience enthusiastically lined up to snap photos. Patrons mingled, enjoyed drinks and snacks, and perused LINES Ballet merchandise, including branded attire, mugs, exquisite photo books, and vintage posters.
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Deep River Audience Fall 2025 | © Philip Mayard
A SPECIAL GUEST
We were so honored to once again have the legendary Rita Moreno join us for opening night, along with her lovely daughter, Nandy.
Before the show began, Rita graciously welcomed the audience from the stage, offering her joy and admiration for our artists, and encouraging the audience to support the arts during these difficult times. After the performance, Rita and Nandy greeted and engaged with our dancers backstage.
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Rita Moreno with Company | © Byron Roman
MAKE AN IMPACT
Ticket sales only cover 11% of LINES Ballet’s costs. With changes in the funding landscape, we need the generosity of donors now more than ever. Only with your support can we continue to touch the lives of tens of thousands of people of all ages through our internationally acclaimed productions and educational and community programs.
As a donor, you will have access to a host of exclusive benefits, from tier-one access to performance tickets to opportunities for more intimate engagement with our artists. Join the LINES Ballet donor family, and get even closer to what moves you!
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Dancer: Josh Francique | © RJ Muna
IN THE MEDIA
San Francisco Chronicle highlighted the season with this beautiful feature about our beloved company dancer Adji Cissoko
With the situation (in the U.S.) and the arts, I feel like, ‘How can I help? … Sometimes it feels like dancing is a small contribution, not meaningful. But then I’ll talk to an audience member, and she says ‘(That performance) just healed me.’ That’s what I want to do.
LINES Company Dancer Adji Cissoko
Read the full article here.
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Alonzo King and dancer Adji Cissoko | © Jamie Lyons
Deep River received countless accolades, including this review in CultureVulture
Each component [—choreography, production, lighting, music, costuming—] is fully realized, fitting harmoniously with the others like separate strokes of genius… Deep River is King’s timeless legacy, a work that will seem new with each revival, allowing future audiences to reconnect with—or newly discover—his creative essence.
David e. Moreno
Read the full review here.
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Dancer: Lorris Eichinger | © RJ Muna
More media coverage from this season:
Diving in deep with LINES Ballet in San Francisco
Andrew Gilbert, Mission Local
Alonzo King LINES Ballet Transforms Grief Into Movement
Melissa Hudson Bell, Classical Voice
FAMILY EXPERIENCE
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Community Programs | Family Experience | © Brian Wilk
Before our Sunday performance, 44 youths and caregivers/parents joined us for a dynamic dance lesson co-taught by our talented Teaching Artists. The session explored levels, balance and counterbalance, lines and shapes, and locomotion. Attendees also had the opportunity to observe an open company rehearsal, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at the dancers’ work. We had a blast! What an incredible afternoon!
MORE THIS SEASON: ORIGINS Screenings
ORIGINS was born alongside Deep River – don’t miss this second half of the story!
SFMOMA Wattis Theater
2:00 PM – SOLD OUT
4:30 PM – SOLD OUT
5:45 PM – limited tickets remain; reserve today!
Directed by Emmy Award winning filmmaker Drea Cooper, ORIGINS is an intimate portrait of Alonzo King and LINES Ballet, blending breathtaking performances with personal stories and insights.
Image: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Dancer: Michael Montgomery | ORIGINS | © Drea Cooper
COLLABORATORS
Take a deep dive into Deep River with this stunning footage of acclaimed collaborators Lisa Fischer and Jason Moran recording a section of the score for the ballet.
To learn more about the artists of LINES Ballet, Alonzo King’s inspiration for Deep River, and all of the educational and community programs we offer, take a look at our 2025 Fall Season digital program.
Image: Lisa Fischer and Jason Moran | © The LFFC
Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Deep River Standing Ovation Fall 2025 | © Philip Mayard
Banner Photography: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Company Artists Fall 2025 | © Philip Mayard
Compiled by Katie Roy
LINESConnected 