Roni Koresh and “Inner Sun” Shine Bright

Internationally-acclaimed dancer and choreographer Roni Koresh and his troupe of dancers perform at The Gordon Center February 16, 2019

Roni Koresh started dancing with his mother as a child, and was eventually discovered dancing at parties. “I fell in love with dance; it gave me an identity, defined me differently than most people,” Roni said as he and his troupe prepare for their visit.

Roni was encouraged by many to pursue dance professionally, and it quickly became not only a career path, but a true passion.

Growing up in Israel, Roni had to serve in the army, but he continued to dance throughout his tour of duty.

It was physically taxing, he recalls, but an incredible growth experience. He would wake up at 5:00am, perform the duties of a soldier until the afternoon, then rush out to dance classes. The experience of juggling his military obligations and his study of dance gave him the discipline and dedication he would need in his future dance career.

“Talent is secondary,” Roni said. “You can have all of the talent in the world, but you need to have the resilience, the dedication. The military teaches you to take limitation out of the equation.”

After completing his service, Roni’s pursuit of dance brought him to New York City. He planned to return to Israel, but the opportunities for career growth kept him in the U.S. and he eventually settled in Philadelphia, where he began to teach at The University of the Arts.

Discouraged by the lack of opportunity for emerging dancers, Roni decided to start his own company and established the Koresh Dance Company in 1991. He’s now a recognized figure in the Philadelphia art scene, running a dance school and youth ensemble, organizing performances for emerging dancers, and participating in outreach efforts in city schools.

While Koresh has forged a career in the U.S., his Israeli upbringing and identity remain vital to his life and his work. His cultural heritage is “everything” to his artistic inspiration.

“Israel is a culture that dances all the time,” Koresh says. “We live for today, with every ounce of our being, we celebrate life, and we express that in song and dance.”

“My dancing is about celebrating every moment that is given,” he adds, “celebrating life with all its pain, all its difficulties, life is precious, and life should be lived in the best way possible.”

Roni Koresh’s interpretation and experience of Israeli life and culture are vividly revealed in his most recent work, Inner Sun. He describes his new show as an exploration of human behavior, and encouragement to be positive, “a real celebration of life.”

Don’t miss Inner Sun live at the Gordon Center Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 8:00pm. Tickets are available at gordoncenter.com.