Ronen Koresh.

"Dance is the purest form of art," says Ronen Koresh, who adds, "[It] requires an artist to be his own art. Without the use of words or paint, a dancer only has himself to mediate his art."

The bold, red carpeting of the studios immediately draws attention to the serious endeavors of this institute. The walls are lined with soft-hued photographic stills of dancers in motion, exposing the brilliance of their swirling costumes and the minutia of their emotions. Situated on 20th Street and Chestnut Street, the Koresh Dance Company hardly stands out as the home of the talent it conceals. Nine dancers train rigorously every day for long hours-dance flowing out of their movements, performers who personify grace, agility and litheness as they dissolve aesthetically within the performance plane and create unique formations within split seconds. Founded in 1991, the company, has been called "The Ailey II of Philadelphia," by Dance Magazine.

Koresh, who is the founder and artistic director of the company, has a quiet, unassuming personality. Soft-spoken and a man whose impeccable manners are always salient, he was born and raised in Israel. "I was a very shy child," he recalls.

At a party, when Koresh was ten, an uncle took him inside an empty room to teach him a few easy steps so that he could dance with everyone else. "It came so naturally to me," Koresh remembers, adding, "I was surprised." He danced the night away and has not stopped.

Koresh's mother was a folk dancer of the Yemenite folk tradition. He drew inspiration from her and plunged headlong into Terpsichore. His parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to continue dancing. "My father was never insecure about my masculinity," says Koresh, who adds that his proud patriarch edged him forward, dropping him off and picking him up from his dance classes and competitions. Soon, Koresh's capabilities as a dancer started spreading and he became invited to join Martha Graham's prestigious Bat Sheva Dance Company.

When Koresh turned 18, it became time to serve in the Israeli army. Koresh says he was lucky to be allowed to continue dancing while serving in the military. "Because I was at Bat Sheva-- the biggest dance company in Israel, my officers would let me take classes while I served my term," he explains. At the completion of his term, the distant shores of United States beckoned him and Koresh immigrated to the States at 21.

Within two years of being in America, Koresh would start teaching dance at various institutions. In 1982, he joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York where he continued his dance education and continued to choreograph shows and perform throughout the 80's. Invited to join Waves Jazz Dance Company in 1984, he settled down in Philadelphia and has been teaching dance at the University of the Arts since 1986. With experience and expertise backing him, Koresh decided to start his own dance company in 1991.

Ronen Koresh. photo, Pete Checchia

The biggest challenge to starting his own company was managing the "business" aspect of the firm. Immersed in artistic endeavors, Koresh admits that he is not good with handling financial matters. In 1997, Alon Koresh joined his younger brother and "ever since Alon came in," Koresh explains, "the company has shot up to the sky." Laughing, he adds, "I only wish he had joined sooner!"

Koresh remembers the company's first performance fondly. "We rented a ballroom at Hotel Warrick and sent out flyers and posters. We were afraid no one would show up…" It was a pleasant surprise when over a thousand people turned up. The lines for the tickets were snaking around the streets and the show became an instant hit.

Koresh believes that he is lucky to have been exposed to two different cultures. Although a large part of his life was spent in Israel, he has lived comparatively more years in Philadelphia. He draws inspirations from his life experiences to deliver messages through his choreography . He synthesizes western and eastern components of music to create performances. Costumes, props and sets add jazz to the energy-packed productions for which the company is so renowned. Classes at his Center City school range from tap, jazz, hip hop, belly dancing, ballet and capoeira are taught as Koresh and his instructors intertwine the two hemispheres through movement and music-- making the outcome universally appealing and mystical.

Koresh Dance Company also teaches dance at all levels. "At least a hundred students come in everyday," says Koresh. The company takes care of exceptionally talented dancers who cannot afford a dance education. "Art speaks for itself," says Koresh, who adds, "If it's good enough, it will shine from every corner of the world."

The company's future plans include a bigger studio, more dancers and an outreach program to encourage students to pursue dance. Koresh believes in encouraging art in the community.

"Art is the soul of the world. Without it, we are no different than animals."

The Koresh Dance Company and School of Dance is located at 2020 Chestnut Street. Information on classes and performances can be obtained by calling (215) 751-0959 or visiting www.koreshdance.org.

Copyright 2004 | Contact Us | Submission Guidelines | Staff | Obtain a Copy | Home