Happy February! The month of love! The month of celebrating black excellence! The month of… freezing! Honestly. And hopefully the month of lots of love.

Looking at freezing and love, I’m feeling incredibly energized by today’s conversation with someone who says freezing, not being cold but being still, actually can lead to more love among us all.

I feel so honored to introduce you to Alonzo King…

Alonzo King is a dancer, choreographer, teacher and true thought leader. Born in Georgia to civil rights activists and now thriving in San Francisco, Alonzo remains a beacon of artistic innovation and social consciousness, especially in the world. Founding Alonzo King LINES Ballet in 1982 and the San Francisco Dance Center in 1989, he has tirelessly championed the transformative potential of movement, believing that dance is a universal language capable of fostering human connection.

With his choreography, King seamlessly blends classical technique with contemporary vision, captivating audiences with works that delve deep into the human experience. His impact extends globally, as his artistry enriches the repertoires of prestigious dance companies around the world. Recognized with accolades such as the Kennedy Center Master of Choreography and the Dance Magazine Award, he holds Honorary Doctorate Degrees from The Juilliard School, California Institute of the Arts, and Dominican University of California.

Alonzo’s brilliant thoughts took me to a joyful place and I hope they do the same for you. I honestly could listen to him speak all day.

Good news east-coasters! If you want to see his work, you have the chance in NYC February 22 through 24 at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater. See more in the show notes.

Please stay tuned after the interview for your kindness tip of the week and find us on social media @artofkindnesspod/ @robpeterpaul for more…

Now without further adieu, please welcome the kind Alonzo King…

Kindness tip - February brings about Random of Acts of Kindness day and week… it’s our time to thrive, friends! I want to encourage you to not be random with your acts of kindness, but very intentional. Think about how you want to spread kindness this month. The randomness can come into play with who you spread that kindness to. For example, when I go into a grocery store, I’m going to intentionally give someone kind words… a complement. I don’t know who, but I am challenging myself to pay at least ONE random person a compliment while I’m in there buying my nutella… As Alzono said in today’s episode, choosing kindness is innate. It’s in our DNA. It’s within you.

Thank you for sharing this audio space with me…