About the Company
Founded in 1991 by Ronen Koresh, this troupe presents its audiences with an exciting and emotional blend of ballet, modern and jazz, molded into a style of choreography that is both eloquent and explosive. In addition to the exhilarating sweeping movements, Koresh combines infectious rhythmic patterns and very effective and theatrical lighting to please the audience. Critics often laud the company for its technical prowess, and the “in your face” style of the company keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Koresh's reputation for passion and outstanding technique regularly results in sold-out performances.
The company’s critically acclaimed work attracts a continually increasing audience across the nation, and it has just started reaching out for more international exposure. Koresh Dance Company has received numerous grants and awards since its inception, including funds from the Dance Advance, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and support from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour.
Ronen (Roni) Koresh: Choreographer & Artistic Director
Ronen (Roni) Koresh was born and raised in Israel. He began his dance education as a youth as he trained and danced with his mother, a folk dancer in the Yemenite tradition and with a local Tel Aviv folk dance group. At seventeen, he moved on to more comprehensive study with Martha Graham’s Bat Sheva Dance Company. Following a three-year enlistment in the Israeli army, during which he was able to continue with his dance training, he decided to pursue a career in the field.
Immigrating to the United States in 1983 at age 21, Koresh trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City and in 1984, he settled in Philadelphia. Koresh embarked on his teaching career while continuing to train and perform. In 1991, Koresh accomplished a lifelong dream of forming his own dance company, now in its fifteenth anniversary season. In 1993, Koresh fulfilled another dream and opened the Koresh School of Dance in Center City Philadelphia.
Koresh has become an integral member of the Philadelphia arts community; focusing on his goals to sustain and increase the artistic reputation of Philadelphia. Roni contributes to this effort by initiating numerous inter-disciplinary projects with other local artists.
Koresh continues to create two to three major new works each year. His repertoire now numbers over fifty pieces, most of which have been video archived and can be recreated readily. All have the stamp of stylistic synergy that epitomizes his entire body of work.
Performances at Northrop
2007
Critic's Comments
“The Koresh Dance Company is a vibrant ensemble that offered non-stop dynamism throughout its performance.”
–The Denver Post
“Dance needs more of this kind of programming. It’s all dance, and it’s all art.”
–Dance
“Just when you think you’ve seen most of the variations possible in modern-type dance, along comes Koresh, who finds extraordinarily imaginative new movements and gestures that leave you shaking your head in pleasurable wonderment.”
–The Virginia Gazette
“The real connection is how these little narratives show how most of our motivations in life can be quite petty and base. People are motivated by the desire to hurt, the desire to possess, by the illusion of control, the illusion of security in things, the fear of making any sort of real, human, emotional connection. The nine dancers of the Koresh Dance Company…did a superb job at giving the audience a glimpse at these usually not well hidden wants, and the disturbing and sad results they produce.”
–Tulsa World
Evening's Program
Looking Back: Music of the '40's and '50'sArtistic director Ronen Koresh digs deep into America’s musical roots to weave the many styles, beats, fashions, and metaphors of this time period into one fantastic performance. It is a swing/pop/rock/soul dance extravaganza that will keep you humming along and tapping your toes to familiar tunes.
Part of this piece was commissioned by Dance Celebration, a co-presentation of Dance Affiliates and Penn Presents. It premiered on April 20, 2006 at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA as part of the From Lindy to Hip Hop: The Music That Made Us Danceprogram.
Choreography: Ronen KoreshLighting Design: Robb AndersenMusic: Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee, Julie London,Louie Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Dinah Washington, Three Sons, Perry Como, Frank SinatraDancers: Full Company
INTERMISSION
Hidden DrivesA piece with four parallel narratives at work, Hidden Drives explores one couple whose relationship is bound up in violence; another whose interactions are of a spoiled child and impatient parent; two women whose lives (and bodies) literally revolve around a bench; and a fellow with a suitcase on wheels who finds much of what’s around him to be laughable.
When I asked my friend, Bart Brooks,“What does Hidden Drives mean to you?” he replied, laughing,“All my drives are hidden. That’s why I’m so unhappy.”
Choreography: Ronen KoreshLighting Design: Robb AndersenCostumes: Hiroshi IwasakiMusic: Amon Tobin, Mychael Danna, Hamaza el Din, Yair Dalal, Brian Eno & Jon Hassell, Jon HopkinsDancers: Full Company