Photo credit: Alissa Roseborough

Hailing from Compton, Charm’s journey began at an early age of ten through the mentorship of renowned dancer Fatima Robinson. Her talent took her on tour with Madonna as a Senior in High School, solidifying her status in the dance world to establish her own creative venture- Charm La’Donna Inc. Since then, Charm’s innovation has been the backbone of performances by music industry giants from the likes of Dua Lipa, Rosalia, Kendrick Lamar, Shakira, Selena Gomez and Ice Spice, to name a few. 

Her unique style and innovative approach have led to two VMA victories, proving her worth in the highly competitive field of choreography & creative directing. She’s known for her ability to craft a compelling vision for shows and performances, ranging from the Super Bowl to the Oscars , overseeing every detail to ensure the end result is nothing short of spectacular. From concept creation to execution, her work consistently pushes boundaries and sets new standards.

This year, Charm has been the go-to choreographer for some of the biggest cultural moments including: choreographed and directed Meghan Trainor’s viral music video “Mother” featuring Kris Jenner, choreographing Grammy-award winning artist, Kendrick Lamar’s latest sold-out world tour for “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” and most recently choreographing  Dua Lipa’s medley performance of “Dance the Night Away” at the 2024 Grammys.

You came a long way since your beginnings. How did you get your foot through the door in the early days?

I have been dancing for so long! I started very young, and my mother really made it possible for me to attend classes and grow. It was an audition for a music video with Fatima Robinson at my dance school that started my career at 10 years old. She saw something in me, even though I did not nail that audition. She gave me another shot and then she became my mentor. I am really blessed to have had such an incredible start to my journey.

How was it touring with Madonna as a teenager? Any memorable moments?

It was crazy when I got that call, I was in class. Still in high school, actually. My phone was blowing up and I had no clue why (laughs). But it was life-changing in the sense that I was able to see the world and that does not always happen where I am from. It was beyond anything I could imagine. I was still in school, and Madonna was adamant about me staying in school and doing my work. It was a nurturing environment for me personally and professionally.

Who or what got you into dancing in the first place?

Let my family tell it, I have always been a performer. I think dancing came naturally to me and my mother, teachers and mentors helped me harness my talent and grow it. 

How do you approach a specific choreography? What are your steps to build a project? 

That is an interesting question, actually. Honestly, it is different for each artist, but it is always a collaborative process. It starts with a conversation so that I understand their vision. Sometimes this is multiple conversations that happen throughout the process. I also like to see them move or look at previous performances so I can understand them a bit better. After that, it is living with the music for a while and seeing what it evokes in my creative space as far as movement.

Who are some of your favorite dancers and choreographers?

This question is always a hard one for me because there are so many. Growing up of course you have my mentor Fatima, Louis Johnson (‘The Wiz’ movie), Bob Fosse, Don Martin whom I was fortunate to train with at LACHSA in the Horton Technique. And there are some more dancers/choreographers like Sean Lew, who is super inspiring and fresh and Sean Bankhead whose work speaks for itself.

Who are some of your favorite artists you directed and worked with? What have you learned from them?

Oh wow! I really can’t make a list because I really enjoy and form a relationship with every artist I work with, and each relationship is unique. If I have to, I would say Kendrick, of course. Dua Lipa, Meghan Trainor, Selena Gomez, The Weeknd, Shakira was a lot of fun too. I honestly would be naming names for days.

What kind of pressure does a dancer or choreographer feel when they are on stage with a major artist? Can you describe what you feel when you are on stage performing?

It is definitely different for every dancer or choreographer. Many of the artists I work with I know really well, so I am always focused on making sure each performance is executed with precision, but also with feeling. Dance is full of emotion and as choreographer the key is to get it right, which always my goal.

When I am performing, like I did with Kendrick Lamar at the Grammys, I feel free. The stage is my happy place, my sanctuary. 

What are your plans for this year? What should we expect?

I have several projects in the works right now that I will be excited to talk about soon! Also mentoring and teaching are close to my heart, and I plan to do more of that. I really enjoy it and I want to help future dancers grow and feel supported, because the industry can be very rough.

As for what to expect, I always expect greatness, so yes, you can expect greatness (laughs).