Detroit Opera’s 2022-2023 dance season opens Oct. 21-22 with an inaugural presentation of “Deep River” by San Francisco-based ballet Alonzo King LINES.

“Deep River” is a “soulful and powerful” new work that fuses dark spirituals with dance, to a score by jazz pianist, composer and MacArthur Scholar Jason Moran, and sung by Grammy-winning singer Lisa Fischer. The ballet was developed for the 40th anniversary of the dance company ^e anniversary tour.

“We are thrilled to kick off our first full season of dance since the pandemic with the Alonzo King LINES Ballet,” said Jon Teuwissen, artistic advisor for dance at Detroit Opera. “Its fusion of spirituality and dance is punctuated by exquisitely talented dancers who are among the most famous names in the world of dance.

“King’s collaboration with Lisa Fischer and Jason Moran results in an experience that pushes the boundaries. Bending the lines between classical and contemporary ballet, King builds on his strengths, changing the way we look at ballet today.

Wayne S. Brown, President and CEO of Opera Detroit, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Ballet Alonzo King LINES to Opera Detroit as it commemorates its 40th anniversary. We invite everyone to attend “Deep River”, a powerful work by such a visionary choreographer. »

Alonzo King LINES Ballet is a contemporary ballet company guided since 1982 by the artistic vision of choreographer Alonzo King. Collaborating with renowned composers, musicians, writers and visual artists from around the world, King draws on a diverse set of deeply rooted cultural traditions, imbuing classical ballet with new expressive potential.

He has received numerous accolades such as a 2020 dance review Award. LINES Ballet’s national and international tours allow the company to share its vision of “transformative and revelatory” dance through performances around the world.

“Looking back over 40 years of working in the community, in ourselves, programs, classes and performances, both live and on film, we recognize that it is the same vision and belief that have carried us to this point and continue to carry this organization into the future,” King said.

“We have endeavored to make it evident that art is the heritage of each individual, that art activates evolutionary growth, is an intellectual virtue, and the principle for the advancement of all that is done, done, or known. The intention behind the artwork is to remind me, the artists and viewers that love is the ocean we came out of, swam in and will one day return to, and that love, if listened to and deeply cultivated, can bring us to liberation. »

Performances at Detroit Opera will take place October 22 at 7:30 p.m. and October 23 at 2:30 p.m. The duration is approximately 60 minutes without intermission. Tickets are available online at DetroitOpera.org and from $29. Orders for groups can be placed by emailing [email protected] Passes for the 2022-23 season can also be purchased online or by calling 313-237-7464.