Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karina Bromberg. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Karina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In 2021, during a freestyle session with my friend, we gave each other different objectives to dance as. I noticed I would analyze and apply the objective to my dance through the five senses; How does it look? How would it feel? What smell would it have? Does it make a sharp, or soft sound?, It was then that the idea to create something that will somehow involve the five senses had formed. Months of pondering the idea led me to realize it needed to evolve into an in-person showcase, which later took the name “rishon,” meaning “first” in Hebrew.

To stay true to the idea of the five senses being activated, I wanted to break out of the normative dance show mediums where the audience sits and watches the art as it happens on an elevated surface. I started scouting for venues that would allow the audience to stand in the middle of the space, while the artists still had enough room to dance around them. The ultimate goal was to create an immersive and intimate environment where both the audience and the artists were on the same level. Concurrently, I began working closely with TRS, a music artist, and was involved in campaigns for a fashion brand. Getting to know artists from different industries, I saw the potential to bring us all together in one space. I expanded on “rishon”’s creative framework by bringing in the elements of live-music, fashion design, modelling and video content of art created for screen.
I began emailing sponsors, building a cast and creating promotional content. I initially set the date for “rishon.1” to be September 1, 2022, but something didn’t feel right. I didn’t feel prepared nor in the right headspace when it was time to make the pre-payment to secure the venue, so I decided to take some time away until it felt right.

It wasn’t until February 2023, while working on “Monster High: The Movie 2” that the fire to execute this idea of mine reignited. I realized there isn’t going to be a moment where I’m going to be fully prepared, nor would there be someone that will be able to ‘approve’ my decision to make my idea, a reality. So I gave myself the “ok” to do it and went at it full-force.

I scouted for a new venue until I found the perfect one, pitched my idea about 30 times to different sponsors, producers, directors, business owners and heard “no” after “no” until a few “yes”‘s turned out. I managed to get sponsorship from a university, local artists and fashion brands, and every time I doubted my ability to do this, I saw myself just do it, which gave me the motivation to continue.

June 24, 2023 “rishon.1” art showcase was presented, featuring a cast of 30+ individuals and drawing an audience of 70+. It was an absolute success. I noticed myself in a constant joy and happiness throughout the preparations and the event itself. “rishon” was a space I had carefully and specifically created, and it allowed a sense of sureness and security within the new journey I was embarking on as a director and event planner.

Working on this project and persistently pursuing my dream of bringing it to life allowed me to discover a passion for directing, bringing people together, and organizing larger-scale productions. I am now working on “rishon.2” art showcase, set to take place on October 14, 2023. “rishon” has become an outlet for my creativity while simultaneously challenging me to elevate with each production and constantly push for growth within all of its aspects.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in a small city called Karmiel, in the North of Israel. Surrounded by music, athletes and a multi-cultural environment, I’ve always had a pull for the performing arts.

I started dancing at the age of five, and I couldn’t wait to get to the studio after school! I was always listening to music, creating dance routines, and convincing my family to sit and watch me. I even persuaded my cousins to join in as I organized performances for our parents. At the age of 14, my immediate family and I immigrated to Vancouver, Canada.

Not knowing English, and being foreign to the culture, lifestyle and environment, the transition was difficult. Without a studio to train at, I began learning simple routines from Youtube tutorials and danced in my living room. After a long year, and after moving to another city, I found a dance studio where I started training and teaching young kids. In my personal life, I went through many transitional periods as I adjusted to the new culture and language and as we moved from home to home, but dance remained a constant. During times when I questioned my identity, being a dancer and music lover never wavered.

As I immersed myself in the dance community in Vancouver, I began attending auditions and participating in anything I could find to gain experience, network and to keep growing as an artist. In 2020, I booked my first commercial job – Netflix’s “Christmas Chronicles 2.” COVID-19 hit almost immediately after, and I then started my training with “Motus The Company” based in LA and have been apart of the company since. Since then I was featured on Nickelodeon’s “Monster High: The Movie 1 & 2”, Sony Entertainment’s “Honey Girls” and CW’s “Riverdale”.

I am also the main choreographer and dancer for the soul-full artist “TRS” and founder of “rishon” art showcase.

Alongside my dance work, I am currently a full-time business student at Simon Fraser University.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Perhaps the biggest and most significant pivot I’ve had to make in my life was when I immigrated to Canada at the age of 14. I was very against the move, closed-minded and resisted the change. I didn’t speak English, I came from a very different culture and I had to re-learn many things all over and adjust to the new communities around me.

Immigration is never smooth, and my family’s and I’s story is another example of it; Back in my hometown, things were stable, and not much changed. During our first years, we moved around a lot – two cities, four homes, and two schools. Moving around so much, I had to learn to be open-minded and embrace new cultures and opportunities.

I realized that my old habits and ways of thinking weren’t helping me grow and achieve my dreams. So, I had to change my mindset and be more open to new ideas and possibilities. I needed to ‘leave’ home mentally, and not just physically to truly start reaching for my full potential.

This experience taught me to be adaptable and open to growth, which has been valuable in pursuing my dreams and facing new challenges. It allowed me to immerse myself in numerous communities that consequently impacted and diversified the stories I am now able to tell as a dance artist.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn revolved around seeking validation and approval from others, particularly those with more experience or seniority, before pursuing my own ideas and visions. This notion of needing someone else’s endorsement was something that I believe both artists and non-artists can relate to.

In the process of creating “rishon,” I dealt with significant self-doubt. I found myself searching for someone who could validate my decision and assure me that I had the capability to successfully execute such a show. It was as if I needed someone else’s approval to move forward.

I had to unlearn this mindset and recognize that the only person who could truly validate or ‘approve’ of me pursuing my dream was myself. This realization was a turning point. It was only when I gave myself permission to go for it that I genuinely began dedicating my time and resources to bring “rishon” to life.

I learned that while continuous growth is essential, it doesn’t take away from the value of what you have to offer in the present moment. I understood that I had to take action to discover my capabilities and prove to myself and my surroundings that I could achieve my goals, especially when trying something for the first time. I embraced the idea of owning my current position in life while acknowledging the growth journey that I have yet to embark on. Importantly, I no longer waited for anyone else’s approval; I realized that the most critical validation came from within myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karinabromberg.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karina.bromberg/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-bromberg/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvzFofhKKYiG-_nvj1MU3yw

Image Credits
Aya @ayaphotographyla Krizia Paula Dela Cruz