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R A P I D R I V E R A R T S<br />
The Eloquent and Explosive<br />
Choreography of Koresh Dance<br />
Company<br />
Dance<br />
by John Ellis<br />
The Diana Wortham Theatre <strong>2008</strong><br />
Mainstage Dance Series concludes<br />
its season with the Koresh Dance<br />
Company, May 2-3 at 8:00 p.m.<br />
Renowned for its powerful<br />
stage presence and high-energy<br />
style, Philadelphia’s Koresh<br />
Dance Company has been hailed as an<br />
extraordinary and vital force in the local<br />
and national dance scene. Founded in<br />
1991 by Israeli born choreographer and<br />
artistic director Ronen Koresh, this troupe<br />
presents its audiences with an exciting and<br />
emotional blend of<br />
ballet, modern and<br />
jazz, molded into<br />
a style of choreography<br />
that is<br />
both eloquent and<br />
explosive.<br />
Koresh Dance<br />
Company’s performances<br />
feature an<br />
eclectic repertoire<br />
of over 50 works<br />
by Ronen Koresh,<br />
as well as guest artists<br />
such as Brian<br />
Sanders, formerly<br />
of Momix, Hector<br />
Vega and Donald<br />
Byrd.<br />
The company’s critically acclaimed<br />
work attracts increasing audiences across<br />
the nation, and Koresh’s reputation for passion<br />
and outstanding technique regularly<br />
results in sold-out performances. Koresh<br />
Dance Company presents bi-annual home<br />
season concerts, and performs on tour at<br />
various national festivals, performing arts<br />
centers, university performance venues,<br />
and charity benefits.<br />
Koresh’s performances at the Diana<br />
Wortham Theatre are divided into two<br />
halves. Looking Back: Music of the ‘40s<br />
and ‘50s digs deep into America’s musical<br />
roots to weave the many styles, beats,<br />
fashions, and metaphors of this time period<br />
into one fantastic performance. This toetapping<br />
swing/pop/rock/soul dance extravaganza<br />
is accompanied by familiar tunes,<br />
sure to be recognized by the audience.<br />
While the first part of the program is<br />
decidedly light-hearted, the second part<br />
is more introspective. Entitled Hidden<br />
Drives, this is a piece with parallel narratives<br />
at work, as it explores one couple<br />
whose relationship is bound up in violence;<br />
another whose interactions are of a spoiled<br />
child and impatient parent; two women<br />
whose lives (and bodies) literally revolve<br />
around a bench; and a fellow with a suitcase<br />
on wheels who finds much of what’s<br />
around him to be laughable.<br />
Pre-performance discussions: Preperformance<br />
discussions led by Asheville<br />
Ballet’s Ann Dunn will be held at 7:00<br />
p.m. in the Forum at Pack Place before<br />
each Koresh Dance Company performance.<br />
Free for ticket holders.<br />
Master Class: In conjunction with<br />
Koresh Dance Company’s performances in<br />
Asheville, a master class with the company<br />
is offered for area dancers and dance<br />
students. For more details or to register,<br />
contact Rae Geoffrey at (828) 257-4544<br />
x307 or rae@dwtheatre.com.<br />
Koresh Dance Company’s Asheville<br />
performance is made possible by Performance<br />
Sponsors Steve & Rena Hoffman<br />
and Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour,<br />
and by Dance Series Sponsors Tina & John<br />
McGuire and Hedy Fischer & Randy Shull.<br />
If you go<br />
Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place<br />
presents the Koresh Dance Company,<br />
May 2-3, 8:00 p.m.<br />
Regular $32; Seniors $30; Students $27<br />
Student Rush day-of-the-show (with valid<br />
ID) $10<br />
Box Office (828) 257-4530<br />
www.dwtheatre.com<br />
Artist Website: www.koreshdance.org<br />
Now showing through May 31<br />
in BlackBird’s smart new shop at<br />
159 South Lexington Avenue<br />
(behind and south of The Orange Peel)<br />
Asheville’s finest custom framing<br />
Vol. 11, No. 9 — <strong>Rapid</strong> <strong>River</strong> ArtS & CULTURE <strong>Magazine</strong> — May <strong>2008</strong> 33