New ballet debuts at Lincoln Center as part of Black History Month

MANHATTAN (PIX11) -- During black history month, celebrated and accomplished African American choreographer Alonzo King is having huge success. 

Sold out performances at his Lincoln Center debut of his new ballet, Deep River, a contemplative, heartbreaking, and deeply moving ballet by the founder of Lines Ballet that was created during the pandemic. 

Deep River combines spiritual music from Black, Jewish, and Indian traditions. 

Alonzo Kings’s father was a civil rights activist in Georgia. His mother was a dancer. Deep River tells the story of all our lives and how we overcome obstacles. 

“No matter how painful it is, no matter how dark it is there is the possibility to overcome this and be lifted up,” Alonzo King, choreographer, and founder of Lines Ballet, told PIX11 News. 

Audience members seemed deeply moved.  

“It’s about the struggles and coming through the hard times,” Soyinka Rahim, an audience member, told PIX11 News. 

 “It started during the pandemic, and they all worked remotely overcoming obstacles,” Rene Bentine, another audience, told PIX11 News. 

This performance of Deep River is part of Lincoln Center’s initiative called Choose What You Pay. There is a suggested ticket price of $35 but audience members can pay as little as five dollars. 

“Choose what you pay was started At Lincoln Center two years ago to invite all of New York to come to Lincoln Center. It is one of the ways to welcome a more diverse community.” Jon Nakagawa, Senior Director of Lincoln Center programming, told PIX11 News. 

“As long as the artists are compensated, it’s a great way to get people to see the arts,” Ebenezer Bond, an audience member, told PIX11 News. 

For Juana Perrin, another audience member, it was her “first ballet and I am very excited,” she added.