In the heart of Pasadena, a small dance company that once traversed the country in a Volkswagen is now celebrating 25 years of artistic growth and community impact. Lineage Dance Company, founded in 1999 by Hilary Thomas, has become a cornerstone of the city’s vibrant arts scene.
The company’s journey from modest beginnings to establishing a dedicated performing arts center epitomizes a quintessential local success story. This September, Lineage will showcase its remarkable evolution through “Lineage Live,” a retrospective performance at their own venue.
“For 25 years, we’ve been gathering some of the most wonderful and talented humans I’ve ever known and adding them to the family of Lineage artists,” said Thomas, founder and artistic director. She added, “These artists have inspired and shaped our repertoire over the decades, challenging us to constantly create and grow.”
Lineage’s inception traces back to a benefit concert for Young and Healthy, a local Pasadena nonprofit. This initial event sparked Thomas’s vision to harness dance as a tool for community engagement and support for charitable causes.
Over the years, Lineage has presented more than 500 concerts, raising funds for organizations such as the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance and Habitat for Humanity. In 2006, the company formed a Board of directors and became an independent 501(c)(3) organization, marking significant milestones in its development.
Lineage’s commitment to accessibility in the arts has remained a driving force throughout its growth. In 2008, the company collaborated with Kidspace Museum and the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission on “A Day of Dance,” funded by the Tournament of Roses Foundation.
In 2010, Lineage opened the Lineage Performing Arts Center in Old Pasadena, providing a permanent home for its performances and community programs. In 2020, with support from the Ahmanson Foundation and numerous donors, LPAC relocated to a large, beautiful, well-equipped new site in Northeast Pasadena.
“Lineage Live” will run from September 20 to 22, featuring a six-piece band and over fifteen dancers and singers. The production promises to be a celebration of the company’s extensive repertoire and community impact.
The show will highlight pieces from popular productions like “Healing Blue” and “Matter of Time,” while also offering previews of upcoming performances. Audiences can expect a mix of Broadway tunes, pop songs, and original compositions.
Beyond the performances, “Lineage Live” will provide insight into the company’s history through anecdotes shared by the Lineage family. The theater lobby will feature an exhibit of archival materials curated by Theresa Kennedy, offering a visual journey through the company’s past.
Lineage’s growth reflects its deep roots in the Pasadena community. Thomas, who trained with The Pasadena Dance Theatre under Philip and Charles Fuller and Cynthia Young, has maintained a strong connection to her hometown throughout the company’s development.
The company continues to offer programs like “Dancing with Parkinson’s,” launched after training from the Mark Morris Dance Group, and “Dance for Joy,” providing free classes to those with neurological challenges.
Lineage Dance Company is a testament to the power of combining artistic vision with community engagement. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a local arts institution, Lineage’s story continues to unfold through movement and music.
Lineage Live is a live, in-person song, dance, and storytelling performance to be staged September 20 at 7 p.m., September 21 at 7 p.m., and September 22 at 5 p.m. at Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E Mountain Street Pasadena, CA 91104 (Next door to CVS). Tickets from $40, For more, click here.
