Alonzo King's Lines Ballet
April 9-18, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater; April 29-May 1, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts

EXCEPT FOR PROKOFIEV'S Romeo and Juliet, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is the most choreographed ballet score in the world. I mean, who can resist the pounding rhythms and the story of the virgin maiden who's to be sacrificed for the common good (no sacrifice = no crops this year)? Now Alonzo King is applying his cool style to this hot topic, using the San Francisco Symphony's recording and bringing in additional performers to fill out the ranks of his formidable Lines Ballet dancer-athletes. Though the monumentality of Rite may feel eternal, the piece is only about 40 minutes long, so in this show King also premieres two smaller-scale works – both pas de deux – to scores by saxophone legend Coleman Hawkins and composer-bass player-MacArthur "genius" grant winner Edgar Meyer. Completing the ranks of world premieres is an ensemble piece set to the husky tones of some of Josephine Baker's most popular songs. April 7-18, Fri.-Sat., and April 14-15, 8 p.m.; April 18, 7 p.m., Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard, S.F. $20-$50. (415) 978-ARTS, www.yerbabuenaarts.org. April 29-May 1, 8 p.m., Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro, Mountain View. $25-$35. (650) 903-6000, www.mvcpa.com. (Rita Felciano)