Charm

I read that you were trained in multiple disciplines. Which one would you say would be your favorite?

There’s a technique. My teacher was the best ever, Don Martin. When I say this, people are going to be like, ‘What, Charm?’ It is the Horton Technique. I love the Horton Technique by Lester Horton. Please, look it up. I love Luigi Jazz (created by Eugene Louis Faccuito). 

Was there any style of dance that was hard for you to capture?

When I got to my teenage years, I was done with ballet. I was so done. 

Does that feel more rigid?

I don’t know. I think it was my body. My curves were starting to happen, and I was just like, ‘I don’t know,’ and then I fell in love with Horton, and I still took ballet class, because it’s just also the form, the technique. I still wanted to take it, but I pivoted my way more towards Horton and modern. It was a rough relationship with ballet for a little bit, but at my big age now, I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to train and study as much as I can with the teachers that I’ve had, because all of that, too, is a part of why my work is the way it is as well. I can’t deny that, you know what I’m saying? I can’t deny that part of me without saying all of this has cultivated Charm La’Donna.

What do you do differently to prepare for teaching a class versus a choreography job?

I’m about to tell you right now, and you’re going to laugh at this. I’m about to see all the dancers come in here, I’m going to fill the room, I’m going to pick a song, and I’m going to start dancing. That’s what’s going to happen, because I truly get inspired by the bodies in the room, the people in the field. I want to know, ‘How are y’all feeling? Are y’all feeling up? You’re feeling down?’  I do that, and it’s gotten me this far. Sometimes I do prepare, if I don’t have a lot of time for a job and things need to be seen beforehand. But what I’m feeling right now, we’re just going to vibe.

What would be a very specific piece of advice you would give young girls now who are looking to start professional dance and choreography careers?

This may sound vague or not enough, but I would say be yourself. Do things that feel right to you. Follow your morale. Trust your gut, and if you can, walk into every room as if God sent you there, and you’ll be booked.

How do you hope to or plan to continue extending your creative profile beyond dance?

I’ve been able to explore, and that is the most beautiful thing. That’s something else. If I could tell my younger self or anyone else coming up, be open to exploring and wanting to continue to learn. I want to direct and do dance films and shoot dance films differently. Yes, I did music before, because that was definitely a passion that I still have. Maybe one day I’ll score the music I’m directing. The video, the film I’m directing. It’s just all going to come full circle. I’m truly a fan of the arts; I love everything about it. I hope that answers the question.