It's unique to North Idaho - and that's exactly why The Koresh Dance Company is headed here.

The Philadelphia-based professional dance troupe, with its high energy and emotional performances, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene.

"We almost never get contemporary dance programs here," said Liisa Spink, executive director of the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls, which has brought the group to the area. "It will be a really unusual, but beautiful show. There hasn't been anything like this around here for years."

About 150 tickets have been sold and 200 remain on sale.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students and can be purchased by calling 457-8950, emailing art@thejacklincenter.org or via online at www.thejacklinartcenter.org.

Israeli-born choreographer and artistic director Ronen "Roni" Koresh founded Koresh in 1991, and it has drew praise in performances throughout the country and internationally.

Koresh's choreography blends dance styles from a variety of backgrounds and genres including ballet, modern dance and jazz.

"We've never had the quality that this group will bring us," said Ron Lahr, JACC board member. "We're not a huge stop for dance companies, but this will be a chance to see quality we've never had."

* Tickets are also on sale for Friday's Pamela Brownlee jazz concert at the JACC at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students.