Koresh Dance Company’s 20^th Anniversary Season, a Pathway to the Future

 In 1991, Ronen (Roni) Koresh founded Koresh Dance Company in Philadelphia.  Twenty years later, the company has gained recognition as one of Philadelphia’s most well known dance companies. Roni has developed a vast repertoire of work that ranges from explosive and passionate, to intimate and restrained. In its first home season of 2011-2012, Koresh will celebrate its twentieth anniversary with a program featuring excerpts from a range of works that Roni has created over the years.  Audiences, both old and new, will have the opportunity to see how Roni’s choreography and movement style have transformed over time.

Roni was born and raised in Israel but 30 years ago decided to make Philadelphia his home. After 10 years as a widely recognized dancer and sought after teacher, he made a commitment to the city by forming Koresh Dance Company. His Israeli heritage has continued to differentiate the company since the beginning and they have become a leading force on the dance scene – locally, nationally and internationally.

With a gift for movement creation, Roni refuses to settle on a technique, instead defining himself by a signature style of ever evolving movement. The raw passion that is infused into his movement leaves audiences dazzled year after year.

What stands out even more is the mark that Koresh Dance Company has left on the city of Philadelphia. With the help of his two brothers, Alon and Nir, Roni has built the most successful professional dance school in Philadelphia. He has personally launched hundreds of dance careers through his tenure at The University of the Arts and the company continues to bring dance to many segments of our great city. Whether it is the school’s outreach program in Philadelphia public schools, opportunities for area dance companies to present work, dance classes that are open to adults of all levels, or the pre-professional training program for aspiring youngsters – Koresh has become the fuel in Philadelphia’s creative economy.

Roni’s commitment to Philadelphia over the past 20 years is significant and has coalesced in a moment of reflection on what has brought the company to where they are today, and what has inspired their growth and direction. Help Koresh celebrate this momentous occasion at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre with five performances to be held from Thursday, December 1 to Sunday, December 4. The program will include excerpts from the following pieces:

Facing the Sun (1992), Negative Spaces (2004), Standing in Tears (2005), Looking Back: The Music of the 40s and 50s (2006), Hidden Drives (2007), Theater of Public Secrets (2008), ev•o•lu•tion (2009), Somewhere in Between (2010) and Through the Skin (2011).

Koresh Dance Company’s 20^th Anniversary Season
December 1-4, 2011
at The Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia

SHOWTIMES

Thurs, Dec 1 at 8pm*
Fri, Dec 2 at 8pm
Sat, Dec 3 at 2pm
Sat, Dec 3 at 8pm*
Sun, Dec 4 at 7pm
*post-performance Q & A

Tickets are $25, $30 and $35
Senior citizens and students with ID get $5 off
Tickets on sale at Philadelphia Theatre Company’s box office, 215-985-0420, and Koresh Dance Company, 215-751-0990