Passion In Performance

Koresh Dance Company inspires through collaboration

The Koresh Dance company doesn't have a hierarchy, says founder Ronen "Roni" Koresh, because dance does not divide.

"Every leader leads differently," he says. "My company -- everybody is equal. ... Dance does not make you feel inferior to others, and such ranking does not exist in our company. Everybody is given the opportunity to shine. Everybody is beautiful."

FAQ

Koresh Dance Company:

‘Come Together’

WHEN — 8 p.m. today

WHERE — Walton Arts Center, 495. W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville

COST — $10-$25

INFO — waltonartscenter.org

He says his 10-performer company is a group of "family-like friends" who are close to one another and reject the social constructs of other companies that can prohibit the sharing of ideas that makes his company so successful.

But that doesn't mean his dancers have free reign.

"My dancers are recruited, of course, through auditions -- it is a sacred thing," he says. "Some of these dancers I have worked with for years, or I have taught. I know them. But I have no favoritism. There can be someone I have never seen before and I see how incredible they are and they come into the company. We are inclusive, but it does not mean you are ever automatically in the company."

Koresh developed this notion of collaboration naturally through his training, he says, which was somewhat unconventional from the start.

Growing up in Israel, the dancer spent his early years watching his mother folk dance at the local cultural center. The child was enthralled and soon joined her for training. From there, he learned to street dance and quickly developed a reputation as a club dancer, he says.

Koresh was hesitant to begin formal dance classes, however. He says he was content with his free, unpolished moves. But when finally convinced, the extent of the rebel dancer's talents was finally realized.

"I took jazz and modern dance and was invited to dance with Batsheva 2 Dance Company at 17. I danced in the second company," he says.

The young dancer's training was put on temporary hold when he was conscripted in to the Israeli military for a compulsory three-year enlistment. Although employed in the military, the dancer was permitted to continue training and at the age of 21, immigrated to the United States, where he began training with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

And Koresh never looked back.

"When I came to the United States, I didn't expect to be staying here," he says. "But the decision to stay came so easily to me. I spoke English since the age 9, and I felt exposed to American culture through movies. And I wanted the experience of dancing with such accomplished dancers and the big arena."

But the move was a bit difficult in the long run for Koresh, who has turned that experience into a new piece, "Aftershock," which references a culture shock which "slowly developed" over 30 years, he says.

"The shock wasn't an immediate thing," he says. "It was slow and seeping, and I learned a lot about myself through the changes. 'Aftershock' is an expression of my emotion and experience staying here in America. But that is what is dance -- it is humanity. Passion."

The Koresh Dance Company will explore the meaning of passion today at the Walton Arts Center as dancers explore personal relationships, he says.

"'Come Together' delves into love, all forms of love, like promises -- like promises, each love is slightly different," he says. "It's a lot of vignettes that are quite beautiful. You feel, however, that these private stories are quite communal. Although they are couples, the audience will actually dive in really deeply into these relationships."

Koresh says he hopes audiences will welcome a chance to be exposed to new forms of dance, saying that the "thought provoking" dance will leave people amazed.

"I think people will be in awe of it and thrilled and provoked and inspired," he says. "And maybe even a couple of tears in the corner of the eye. And hopefully, they will want to come back."

NAN What's Up on 03/06/2015

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