September 08, 2017

DANCECleveland Brings Koresh Dance Company to The University of Akron's EJ Thomas Hall October 1, for Matinee Performance

"The expression and performance proved fresh, urgent and deeply persuasive" -L.A. Times

DANCECleveland Brings Koresh Dance Company to The University of Akron's EJ Thomas Hall October 1, for Matinee Performance

Performing a mixed repertoire program filled with the best of Ronan Koresh's contemporary choreography

CLEVELAND (September 8, 2017) Described as a "A rich, multicultural blend of intensity, physicality" by the Alabama Dance Festival, Koresh Dance Company will return to northeast Ohio for one performance only on Sunday, October 1, at 3:00 at The University of Akron's EJ Thomas Hall. The mixed repertory performance is presented by DANCECleveland in collaboration with The University of Akron's Dance Program and will feature some of Koresh Dance Company's most exciting works.

Tickets are available now at www.DANCECleveland.org or by calling 330-972-7570. Tickets range from $25 - $45. Until September 29, tickets can also be purchased in person at The Akron Civic Theatre box office, located at 182 S. Main Street, Akron, OH 44308. Groups of five or more can call DANCECleveland at 216-991-9000 for more information about discounted group tickets.

The performance at The University of Akron's E.J. Thomas Hall will feature a dynamic mix of contemporary dance works that infuse modern Israeli dance with striking physicality and lush modern dance aesthetic. The afternoon will lead off with Deconstructing Mozart, a collaborative initiative driven by Artistic Director Roni Koresh and multi-media artist Paul D. Miller, a.k.a. DJ Spooky and Steven Levitin aka Apple-Juice Kid. This masterpiece which dares to deconstruct Mozart's 23rd piano concerto, will share the stage with Koresh's acclaimed Bolero, fun moments from The Heart, and a glimpse at Koresh's latest NEA funded work Matters of the Heart. Moments of tenderness and grace alternate with humor and brash force on this program of highlights. The program takes a musical and emotional journey as classical favorites are interwoven with world and industrial music.

The performance will be surrounded by an array of educational outreach events including; a free advanced level master class on Saturday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. at The University of Akron's Guzzetta Hall, led by Koresh Assistant Artistic Director, Melissa Rector and designed for dancers ages 16 and up. (RSVP required by emailing Alison@dancecleveland.org), a pre-performance discussion with Ronan Koresh on Sunday, October 1, in the theatre at 2:15 pm and a post-performance Q&A session immediately after the performance, allowing audience members the chance to ask the dancers questions and engage more deeply with the company.

Koresh Dance Company will remain at The University of Akron for a week-long residency designed for The University of Akron dance students, giving them the chance to learn and work alongside the Koresh dancers. While in Akron the company will create and perform a site specific dance piece at The Akron Art Museum on Thursday evening, October 5. This event will be free and open to the public.

The Artistic Director and heartbeat of Koresh Dance Company, Ronen (Roni) Koresh, is a choreographer, teacher and collaborator whose unique blend of ballet, modern and jazz leaves audiences dazzled by the raw passion that is infused into his choreography. He formed Koresh Dance Company in 1991 and quickly established an international reputation for highly technical and emotionally charged work. Roni was born and raised in Israel and began his dance education as a folk dancer in the Yemenite tradition and was first taught by his mother. Two of Roni's earliest teachers in Israel were Alida Gera and Micha Deri. At 17, he moved on to more comprehensive study with Nira Paz and Moshe Romano and then became a member of Martha Graham's Batsheva 2 Dance Company. In 1983, following a three year enlistment in the Israeli army during which he was able to continue his dance training, Roni immigrated to the United States to pursue a career in dance beyond Israel. He trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City and in 1984, he began performing with Shimon Braun's acclaimed Waves Jazz Dance Company in Philadelphia. Since forming the company, Roni has created a vast repertoire of over 40 works. The company tours extensively, both nationally and internationally, performing Roni's work and the work of guest choreographers including Donald Byrd (Spectrum Dance Theater), Ohad Naharin (Batsheva Dance Company), Robert Battle (Battleworks/Alvin Ailey), Itzik Galili (Galili Dance) and Paul Selwyn Norton.

For more information on Koresh Dance Company, http://www.koreshdance.org/

For more information about DANCECleveland, visit: http://www.dancecleveland.org/

For more information about The University of Akron, visit: https://www.uakron.edu/

ELECTRONIC PHOTOS AVAILABLE FROM SARAH HRICKO AT 216-991-9000 OR EMAIL: sarah@dancecleveland.org.

About DANCECleveland: DANCECleveland, a Cleveland, Ohio based non-profit, is one of a handful of presenters in the nation that is dedicated solely to the presentation of modern and contemporary dance. The centerpiece of the organization's programming is its annual performance series. The performances are surrounded by an array of educational outreach events including artist-run master classes, residency programs, student matinees, pre-performance lectures and post-performance Q&A sessions, designed both to break artistic boundaries and provide community access to the dance aesthetic and dance luminaries that DANCECleveland brings to Northeast Ohio.

Funding for this performance is provided by:

Mary S. & David C. Corbin Foundation

DANCECleveland's 2017-2018 Season is generously supported by:

DANCECleveland is also generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund DANCECleveland with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Char & Chuck Fowler Family Foundation The George Gund Foundation

George W. Codrington Foundation

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