Chris Pierce & the Lineage Dancers (Photo – lineagepac)
Sometimes the most surprising combinations of people are the ones most meant to be together. The story of the Lineage Performing Arts Dancers and American folk singer-songwriter Chris Pierce could be called one of those duos.
By Melanie Hooks
According to the concert notes, “[the two groups] first began their collaboration in 2007, after meeting while performing at a concert supporting those affected by cancer. Deeply moved by Pierce’s music, Lineage founder Hilary Thomas approached him about choreographing original dance works to his songs, an idea Pierce immediately embraced. From the outset, the two discovered a shared artistic instinct: a belief in art as a way to process pain, share joy, and create meaningful connection.
Their first full concert together was presented in support of Pasadena’s Living Beauty Cancer Foundation, setting the foundation for a long-running creative partnership rooted in community and service. Within a few years, Lineage and Pierce developed an original collaborative work titled Defining Moments, which premiered at Lineage Dance in 2010.
With more than a dozen original songs by Pasadena native Pierce now in their shared repertoire, Lineage and Pierce have continued to perform together throughout Pasadena for years. The longtime collaborators reunited during the pandemic, adapting their work to the moment through intimate Zoom performances, backyard concerts, and drive-in shows staged from parking-structure rooftops. Most recently, last February, they joined forces once again for a benefit concert supporting those impacted by the Eaton Fire — reaffirming their ongoing commitment to using music and movement as tools for healing, resilience, and community connection.
“Working with Lineage has always felt like a conversation without words,” says Chris Pierce. “There’s a deep trust and shared understanding there, about how art can hold pain, joy, and healing all at once. When music and movement meet in that way, something opens up, not just for us onstage, but for everyone in the room.”
Their upcoming performance brings this long-standing collaboration full circle, offering audiences an evening where live music and contemporary dance intersect in real time. Featuring original songs by Chris Pierce paired with expressive choreography from Lineage Dance, the concert reflects nearly two decades of shared artistic language. At its heart, the performance is a celebration of connection — between artists, disciplines, and community and invites audiences into a space of reflection, movement, and collective experience.”
Tickets are $30 general, $20 student/senior. Tickets available here.
Chris Pierce and Lineage Dancers in Performance February 7, 2026 7:00 pm Location The Lineage Performing Arts Center 920 E. Mountain Street Pasadena, CA 91104
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