The School Bus Heads to Koresh!

It's likely that about 230 elementary school students in Philly are counting down the days 'til March 27th. On that day, students from F.S. Edmonds Elementary School, McCall Elementary, and the D. Newlin Fell School (all Philadelphia Schools) will get to take a trip to the Suzanne Roberts Theater to see Koresh's workshop, "Styles of Dance."

The trip is just one small element of the incredible Koresh Kids Dance outreach program, run by Teresa VanDenend Sorge. Through the program (supported by he Baker Foundation and the William Penn Foundation), the elementary school students get to participate in dance classes during their school day, learning different styles throughout the year and getting to experiment with creating their own choreography. Their year culminates in a community performance. I got to witness one of these classes firsthand, and can tell you that the students consider the program a real privilege, and they look forward to dancing all week. They truly benefit from the lessons, not just by learning dance, but by developing teamwork skills, self-confidence and a knowledge of fitness and health. You can read a more in-depth article about the many ways Koresh Kids Dance affects its students here.

Friday's workshop will include presentations of ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and hip hop, and will combine education and entertainment. This will be the first year that the Koresh Kids Dance program will have the chance to see Koresh dancers perform in the beautiful Suzanne Roberts Theater, a true performance setting.

Koresh is one of the leading forces in Philadelphia bringing dance to our youth and giving back to our community through the arts. It's great to know that Philly is full of dancers who are not only amazing artists, but who are invested in the cultural future of our city.

If you want to get your fill of Koresh, but are not a ten-year-old, don't sweat it. This week is jam-packed with Koresh events! See the world premiere of "Aftershock," a performance based on Ronen Koresh's own experiences immigrating from Israel to the United States. On Saturday, attend Koresh Kouture, "a fashion-themed silent auction and gala" before the show begins!

Photograph by Sandy Mitchel.