While finishing his degree at the Alonzo King LINES Ballet/Dominican University BFA Program, Michael Montgomery was asked to join the company. In his initial rehearsals, he learned to speak up—and how to push his limits.
“At first, I got caught up in trying to please the director. I was working on Rasa, and Alonzo had me do this specific phrase over and over again. I was beyond exhausted. I said, ‘I’m really tired, but I don’t know if I’m allowed to stop.’ He replied, ‘You’re human—do what you want. But I’m human, too, and I’m going to push you.’ I decided to keep going.”
See Montgomery perform in the company’s fall home season, tonight at 8 pm through Sunday, November 15, at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Photo by RJ Muna, courtesy of Alonzo King LINES Ballet
