Inspiring People: Kerenor Sharabi about her unique dance style
Kerenor has became well-known Israel about her unique ethnic dance style. She’s been a lead dancer and choreographer in the biggest modern dance theatres, and a passionate dance teacher in the greatest schools. Her reputation brought her all the way to Los Angeles where she keeps performing, choreographing, and teaching with great success. We asked her about her life, career, and her plans in the US .
How did your dancer career start?
When I was very young I didn’t know anything about dancing, I just danced whenever I heard music. It came naturally. My teachers at school in South Israel noticed this, and they suggested to my parents to take me to a dance school to a special exam. They recommended me to attend Talma Yalin, which is the best art school in Israel. I moved to Tel Aviv at age of 14 by myself, far from my parents’ city. It was really hard. I was suddenly so far from my family, I kept moving from accommodation to accommodation meanwhile I studied and practiced in Talma Yalin restlessly. The only reason I didn’t give up was my passion for dance. After 4 years, my professors told me I had become one of the best dancers of the school.
When I finished the school I became a professional dancer, I started to develop my own special style of dance where I connect to my roots, like an ethnic dance.
What is the secret of your own dance style?
It’s all about the connection with people through movements and music. When I’m on stage I connect my body and my soul and express it with raw physical power intended to transmit subtle messages to move the hearts and souls of the audience. I connect with the people at the deepest level through my art, and I have noticed that whenever I give all of myself in a performance, I can touch the audience’s heart. I guess that’s my special gift.
Do you feel this kind of deep connection also with your fellow dancers on the stage?
Absolutely. I worked with different dance companies and with time my name got bigger, and in the end my reputation helped those companies play to bigger audiences and attract bigger crowds. I was the lead soloist dancer at every show and performance and all the shows were very successful. I have been told by many of my directors and peers that I have the ability to make everyone to perform better.
It is very important to pull each other as performers. Being a professional dancer requires total dedication every day. You have to give your best on every rehearsals and shows, and it is not easy. You need to be very disciplined because that is the only way to get ahead.
You need to have great respect and awareness of your space and others, in order to understand how to work with a group in perfect and fluid coordination. You have a high responsibility towards yourself and the others in the group.
Your passion and talent brought you to Los Angeles? What do you think about the city?
I see so many opportunities in Los Angeles. I continue to work with Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble, the company that brought me to the States, and continue to dance and sharing with audiences for many years to come. I am working on renewing and making new pieces for the company, and promote and help to succeed through my ethnic, modern dance style. Despite some of the difficulties due to COVID-19 a few years ago, we have been performing with the company all over the United States, giving contemporary ethnic dance workshops, and doing many successful activities across the country. Dance is my passion and my life’s work, and I am looking forward to producing many new original dance pieces for worldwide tours.
Also, I really love choreographing and teaching children who have difficulties in life, children who have been hurt by their parents, or victims of unfortunate circumstances. I worked with children like this in Israel, and sometime over the next few years, I want to start a program that offers young souls the ability to have a better life and to express themselves through the art of dance.
