On Tuesday, October 16th, Stockton College was honored with an extraordinary performance by the Koresh Dance Company. The event was held in the Performing Arts Center from 7 to 9 p.m. Stockton’s theater was immediately crowded with eager students and teachers, as well as many older individuals. Tickets were priced at $45 for Orchestra seating, $25 for Mezzanine seating, and $10 for children. A $5 discount was kindly offered to senior citizens, while students also received reduced prices.
The Koresh Dance Company originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1991, and is headed by the choreographer Ronen Koresh. Raised in Israel, Koresh first learned Yemenite folk dancing from his mother. As he matured, Ronen Koresh continued his pursuit of dancing, and eventually branched out into genres such as ballet, jazz, and modern. Upon immigrating to the United States, he began to choreograph his own performances. Each piece incorporates various types of dancing. His brilliant shows combine multicultural music with emotional and innovative movements. The company is made of a diverse group of dancers, each with extreme precision and agility. These trained professionals utilize their bodies, vocals, and facial expressions to narrate a story. Together, they work to transport the audience to an alternate world.
Koresh performances detail many serious life issues, including domestic disputes, love, and rivalry. Conversely, many dances involve humorous aspects, in which the dancers mock societal rules and expectations. One specific dance shown at Stockton involved two females, in oversized tutus. During their performance the women frolicked about without care, displaying sarcastic smiles upon their faces. The music that played was similar to that of a circus. It seemed as though they were creating a caricature of dancers in a world of strict rules and stereotypes.
The dances shown were excerpts of Koresh’s previous performances, ranging from 1992 to 2012. Although quite different in meaning, the routines meshed together to create a profound, impacting storyline. I greatly appreciated the time and effort put into the Koresh Dance Company performance, and plan on buying tickets in the future.