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Charm La’Donna is a visionary like no other. An accomplished dancer, choreographer, creative director, and budding lyricist, the multi-hyphenate has worked in various capacities with some of the most accomplished entertainers in the music industry, including Pharell, Anderson Paak, Ella Mai, Jay Rock, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, and Meghan Trainor, to name a few.

According to La’Donna, all of her productions start with looking inward. “It’s always a feeling,” she tells COLORS. These feelings have gone on to create some of pop culture’s most memorable viral performances—think Kendrick Lamar’s 2018 Grammy’s performance—and win awards for infectiously good choreography, such as an MTV VMA award for Best Choreography for Rosalía and J. Balvin’s “Con Altura” music video in 2019.

Originally from Compton, California, La’Donna has always loved writing and performing. Her professional start came at an early age, as she toured with Madonna at 17 before going on to become famed choreographer Fatima Robinson’s protégé. More recently, in 2021, she dropped her debut EP ‘La’Donna’ which featured an array of head-bobbing beats with empowering lyrics. Find out more about her journey in the Q&A below

SS: Now, you’re making your own music. Has your time supporting other artists influenced or inspired your approach to your own music career?

CL’D: I have always seen myself as a student. I’m inspired by anyone who puts out art that they’re proud of. Working with a variety of different artists has definitely affected and trained my ear. I don’t think that I have a particular sound or musical style, it’s kind of a hybrid. I just do me. I used to think I could do anything. Now I know for sure.

SS: What have been some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt during your career so far?

CL’D: I tend to be hard on myself when I’m creating, so I have learned to give myself grace.

SS: What do you think has been the key to your success to date?

CL’D: I think the keys to my success have been my perseverance, my desire, and God. I go after what I want and I don’t take “no” for an answer. If I do get a no, I go through another door. Hard work is a big part of it. I love what I do, I have such a passion for it. I pour everything into my craft and I know that it will pour everything back into me in return. Networking, having friends, and being a good person are also all very important. No one likes to work with an asshole.

SS: You mentioned giving back to your community. I’ve read you want to create a non-profit geared towards youth and the arts. 

CL’D: I definitely want to have a non-profit to help young girls who look like me thrive and become whatever it is they want to be. I want to encourage them to walk through the metaphorical door that someone else opened for me, to continue that legacy, and be a light that helps other people on their journey.

I think it is important for little Black girls to know that we are magic: we can do anything and no limits or boundaries will ever stop us. Building my organization is important to me as a Black woman and as a woman who cares about who comes after me. I have not officially started it yet. I am still working on building the right team to assist with this project: it is very dear to me and I want to make sure it is done right. But I am mentoring some young black creatives right now and giving them the tools they need to move forward in the industry. Mentoring, being able to guide and give advice is the ultimate win for me. That is what I love to do.

SS: Outside of your professional success, how has the arts impacted your life on a personal, mental, or physical level? 

CL’D: I always say that I don’t know what I would be doing without art. I’d probably be a lawyer. Honestly, dance and music have saved my life and my mental health. To have an artform that allows me to express myself when words fail me, to create on different bodies around the world, and to learn from so many different people is very special to me. It has allowed me to travel, meet new friends, and explore the world in ways you can’t even imagine. Dance and music have truly given me everything.