By Beth Rutkowski, GroundWorks DanceTheatre

Northeast Ohio’s premier dance company has announced the dates and locations for the world premiere of new work by choreographer Ronen Koresh. The piece was commissioned with generous support from Toby Devan Lewis through her contribution to the GroundWorks New Works Fund and will premiere in Cleveland and Akron in February 2012. The Akron premiere will be on February 24 and 25 at the Akron-Summit County Public Library. All performances will begin at 7:30 pm.

Koresh has performed and choreographed commissioned works for dance companies throughout the U.S. as well as South Korea, Japan, Turkey and Israel, where he was born and raised. He formed the Koresh Dance Company, based in Philadelphia, PA, in 1991 and is a Professor of Jazz Dance at the University of the Arts of Philadelphia.

“Ronen has a unique approach to musicality, timing and precision as he explores the sources of his movement,” said GroundWorks Artistic Director David Shimotakahara. “He combines organic movement and imagery that connects viewers to what they see.”

Also on the program will be a reprise of “Hindsight” by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, an homage to Northeast Ohio rock legend Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, and “Valence” by GroundWorks Artistic Associate Amy Miller created in 2010 in collaboration with Oberlin composer Peter Swendsen.

GroundWorks DanceTheater: February 24 & 25, 7:30 pm; Akron-Summit County Public Library: 60 S. High Street, Akron (Downtown)