We are so excited announce the return of the LINES Ballet Summer Program, this year welcoming 234 dancers from across the United States, Canada, and Sweden for a 3-tiered program offering an intensive season of artistic exploration, technical training, and creative discovery in San Francisco from June 8–August 1, 2026.
Guided by the groundbreaking vision of LINES Ballet Artistic Director and Co-Founder Alonzo King, one of the most influential and critically acclaimed pioneers of contemporary ballet, the LINES Ballet Summer Program—now in its 26th year—has become an international destination for emerging dancers seeking a deeper connection to movement, artistry, and personal expression.
One of my favorite things is to work in the summer program with the young minds who come from all over the world. We change together and it’s so much fun!
—Alonzo King
In-person auditions for the highly competitive program were held January through March, attracting 715 applicants in 12 cities across the United States, in addition to video auditions.
2026 Summer Program Sessions
June 8–27 | Pre-Professional Program (ages 18–25) | 68 participants
LINES Dance Center
June 29–July 10 | Junior Program (ages 11–14) | 70 participants
July 13–August 1 | Advanced Program (ages 14–17) | 92 participants
Newly appointed Summer Program Director, Ilaria Guerra brings a deeply personal connection to the program and the organization’s artistic philosophy. The Italian-born dancer was a member of LINES Ballet from 2018–2025 and is an alumna of both the Summer Program and the LINES BFA Program at Dominican University of California.
My summer at LINES was the first time I felt that I was being encouraged to move big and use all of my length and to not be scared of my height. The teachers were constantly asking us to consider what our dancing was saying. What kind of artist did we want to be? What did we want to say with our movement? That summer changed the course of my career and my life.
—Ilaria Guerra
An exceptional roster of artists and educators has been assembled for the 2026 Summer Program, including Alonzo King; LINES Ballet Associate Artistic Director and Company Dancer Adji Cissoko; and former LINES Ballet dancers Meredith Webster, David Harvey, Brett Conway, Maurya Kerr, Gregory Dawson, Carmen Rozestraten, Babatunji, and Kara Wilkes. Additionally, current LINES Ballet dancers Lorris Eichinger and Marusya Madabuko will be teaching, while LINES Education alums Liv Schaffer, Jordan Drew and Nick Korkos will return for teaching and choreographing. For a full list of 2026 Faculty, visit our website!
Summer Program Public Showcases
Pre-Professional Showcase | Saturday, June 27 at 8 PM
Cowell Theater, Fort Mason
Choreography by Gregory Dawson, David Harvey, Carmen Rozestraten, Kara Wilkes
Advanced Showcase | Saturday, August 1 at 8 PM
Choreography by Nicholas Korkos, Dexandro Montalvo,
Carmen Rozestraten, Liv Schaffer, Erin Yen
Learn more about our Summer Program.
Images: Alonzo King LINES Ballet | Alonzo King with Summer Program students | © Chris Hardy; LINES Ballet | Alonzo King with Summer Program students | © Liza Voll; LINES Ballet | Ilaria Guerra | © RJ Muna; LINES Ballet | Alonzo King with Ilaria Guerra | © Quinn Wharton; LINES Ballet | Summer Program | © Rob Kunkle; LINES Ballet | Education Dancers | © Jon Bauer; LINES Ballet | Summer Program | © Andy Mogg; LINES Ballet | Summer Program, Company Dancer Anna Joy | © Steve Disenhof; LINES Ballet | Summer Program | © Rapt Productions
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