Karin Waizman has always dreamed of opening a dance studio. In Israel, she owned a dance studio in Kiryat Ata, now run by her sister, which has 500 students studying various dance styles. As a dancer who began performing at an early age at international festivals and the Karmiel Dance Festival, she always knew this was her passion. "I started dancing young and learned all styles—modern, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, and belly dance," says Karin.
Her career as a dancer led her to collaborate with some of Israel's best-known artists, including Static and Ben El, Noa Kirel, Revivo's Project, Subliminal and Shadow, Harel Sakat, and Ninette Taib—whose daughter danced in Karin's studio for two years. She even choreographed for Sarit Hadad. Since moving to the U.S., she has performed alongside American artists like Pitbull and appeared in the music video for one of his songs.
"When I moved to Los Angeles about five years ago, I dreamed of opening a dance studio here, as an extension of our family studio in Israel. About four years ago, that dream became a reality. I opened a children's dance studio in the Beverly Hills area, and gradually it grew. I built something I truly believed in, and just a month ago, I opened another studio in Encino."
The studio has a team of professional dance instructors who teach children from the age of three and offer a variety of dance styles, including hip-hop, jazz, ballet, and the popular aerial acrobatics, which combines acrobatics with silk fabrics that hang from the ceiling.
Karin also teaches classes for women and adults, including belly dancing. The children participate in dance competitions, and last year, the youth group won first place in a jazz competition. "This year, we're entering more competitions, and the kids are very excited and motivated to participate and succeed."
"My goal is to connect with the Israeli community living here. I didn't come to teach dance alone; I also want to share the culture and heritage I grew up with in Israel and pass it on to the younger generation," she emphasizes.
For the little ones, Karin teaches an introductory dance class. "I create a special lesson plan for them, focusing on how to follow instructions, collaborate, and learn a bit from each style—ballet, jazz, acrobatics, and more." These lessons last 45 minutes, shorter than regular hour-long classes, since three-year-olds have limited attention spans.
The acrobatics classes are taught by instructors with circus experience, ensuring the safety of the dancers.
"I work with top-level industry professionals. Each of my teachers has experience as both dancers and educators, which allows us to develop real dancers here. My goal is to take a girl with no prior experience and train her to become a competitive-level professional," explains Karin. "My dream is to take a delegation of my dancers from the studio to major dance festivals in Israel so they can experience a bit of where I come from. I constantly share my experiences as a child and dancer and always emphasize the importance of values and tools alongside dancing. When I enter the classroom, I focus on the shy children or those who struggle, because their success is my success. My satisfaction comes from seeing a student smile and realize their potential because of my encouragement."
Not all her students aim to become professional dancers or compete; many simply want to enjoy dance classes. However, every student makes remarkable progress.
Students can attend classes several times a week, depending on their goals. For competitive tracks, they may come three to four times a week, while others may attend once or twice. "I don’t pressure anyone to come more often than they can, but I encourage them to gain as much knowledge, experience, and stage presence as possible."
In addition to managing the studio, Karin is a member of the renowned dance company "Keshet Haim," which represents Israel in Los Angeles.
Recently, Karin's dance studio partnered with Revital Romano's Israeli Center House in Encino to offer dance classes for children and women. These classes will feature various styles, from hip-hop to acrobatics and belly dancing, which has proven to be a fun and effective way to stay fit.
"I love what I do and invest my heart and soul into it, and it shows.
I receive a lot of respect and positive feedback from my clients, and it's always rewarding to hear."
For more information, interested individuals can contact Karin at 818-943-3978.
