Alonzo King LINES Ballet

The innovative work of the San Francisco LINES Ballet—founded by choreographer Alonzo King in 1982—is sampled in this compilation of three recent premieres, two dating from 2009 and the third from 2011. Triangle of the Squinches, set to a predominantly synthesizer-based score by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, offers lots of thumps, rattles, and gurgles, while featuring the talented company (in various combinations) exploring contact with exterior forms—including dangling ropes and ladders—on an imaginative set by Christopher Haas. Scheherazade, backed by an eclectic score from Zakir Hussain that freely adapts themes from Rimsky-Korsakov's titular orchestral poem and combines Western and Eastern instruments, draws on Arabian Nights to illustrate the power of transformation. Finally, Dust and Light—musically the most conservative of the trio, set primarily to pieces by baroque master Arcangelo Corelli supplemented by brief snatches of sacred music by Francis Poulenc—offers a succession of small ensemble dances marked by graceful, ethereal motion. All have been elegantly filmed in the studio, which allows director Andreas Morell the freedom to indulge in camera moves that match the performers' virtuosity. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include Marita Stocker's documentary short “Alonzo King—Poet of Dance,” which provides an overview of the troupe. Particularly for collections specializing in modern dance, this is recommended. (F. Swietek)