Minuet Charron in KODE RED
Minuet Charron is a Toronto-based dancer, teacher, and choreographer, currently studying Contemporary dance at Dance Arts Institute and training with Jac Valiquette in Kode Red. Recently, she completed the Decidedly Jazz Danceworks program.
Originally from Ontario, Minuet grew up in Nova Scotia, training from age 3 in various styles at the Cape Breton School of the Arts and Northside Dance. With extensive experience in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Breaking, Minuet has taught across Halifax, Calgary, and Toronto. Having performed in notable productions like The Nutcracker and Scotia Square’s 50th Anniversary commercial, Minuet showcases incredible versatility and continues to dedicate herself to dance and her passion for art.
Dance Nova Scotia is pleased to shine the spotlight on the immensely talented Minuet Charron.
Photo by Vivian Tran
Tell us a little bit about you. What is your dance background, how did you get started, and how long have you been dancing?
My mother enrolled me into dance classes when I was 3 years old, starting with ballet creative movement classes, tap, and highland dancing. My mother tells me I had an itch for dancing when I was just a toddler, when ballets started playing on the television I couldn’t help but dance along. She bought me these DVDs that taught young children the basics of dance, it even came with a tiny pink plastic ballet barre for me to practice with. I’ve continued to take dance classes ever since. While no one else in my family is a dancer, my parents always encouraged me to do what I like to do. They’re the reason I danced at all and the reason I’m still capable of practicing it today.
What styles of dance have you trained in?
I’ve dipped my toe into almost any dance style you could think of. When I was younger I stook mostly with ballet, tap, and jazz, and then took some classes in acrobatics, jazz funk, lyrical, and modern. By the time I was 13 I was training pre-professionally at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts where I took classes in ballet, pointe, character, vernacular jazz, tap, acro, modern, contemporary, and breaking. Breaking became a strange little passion of mine and it introduced me to the world of street dance.
After highschool when I moved to Calgary in 2021, I trained with illFX Education and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks where I delved deeper into jazz and its related forms including swing, west african, afro-cuban, salsa, rumba, samba, soca, dancehall, afro beats, and street dances including hip hop, house, locking, popping, animation, afro house, krump, waacking, vogue, heels, and breaking.
Random other styles I have tried before but haven’t extensively trained in are jookin, rocking, litefeet, bachata, ballroom, bollywood, and step dancing.
What is your personal style of dance that you currently practice or perform?
I categorize myself as a Contemporary dancer and a freestyler wannabe. My personal style is highly influenced by the many techniques of contemporary and the wide array of movement practices that influence and change what contemporary dance is. My movement is grounded, pedestrian, inspired by the culture and passion of hip hop, includes floorwork, and precise and emotive hand movements.
What have you found most challenging in your dance journey?
Self-confidence! The one thing that has always held me back has always been related to the confidence I have in myself. Anytime I’ve felt low, or been close to quitting, has always been an outcome of being disappointed and negatively talking to myself. I would be a lot further if I believed in myself a little bit more, more often.
Photo by Richie Lubaton
Photo by Vivian Tran
Photo by Vivian Tran
Is there a favorite or most memorable performance or production you’ve been part of?
A recent performance I did with my school, Dance Arts Institute. The performance was a showcase of pieces created by the cohort that would be graduating. I had the honour of being in two pieces, one by Kai Fitzpatrick and the other by Camille Scully. It was beautiful being a part of a vision that my peers had created, and it was so interesting seeing their interests and explorations accumulate into what the choreography became. The process was joyous and the performances were all too short.
Have you had the opportunity to venture into choreography? If so tell us about that.
I’ve been choreographing recreationally for a long time. My personal belief that it is of an artists nature to create, and although when performing a piece of work you are creating the dance in that moment, there is something special and invigorating about being the sole producer and director of the dance. My first big choreographic projects were for a showcase held in Nova Scotia entitled “Taking Steps to Fly”. I showcased work in this annual showcase for three years, from when I was 14-16. The last two years of showcasing choreography I won scholarships for my work.
Since then, most of my choreography is created for end of year recitals for my students, or short choreo for a weekly class. I hope to create more opportunities for myself to create work I’m really excited about within either the medium of film or for the big stage (or park, really wherever people are willing to watch).
What is your favorite thing about dancing?
I enjoy the physicality of it. There is much more I do enjoy, including the musicality, the artistry, the community and social events it brings you to. Dance people are without a doubt my favourite type of people.
But, it is that thrill of getting a move down right, of being able to feel the air whip across my face as I leap and turn and travel as far as I can. It’s an excitement that comes with feeling as if you are just on the edge of falling. And the satisfaction the next morning of feeling so sore, or finding new bruises to tell you that maybe you really should have worn those kneepads last night. Dance is therapeutic and cathartic, it really is just letting the body scream it all out sometimes. And I love that.
What is your least favorite thing about dancing?
I think this is true for anything, but it’s sometimes the culture behind dance I sometimes can’t get behind. Proper “technique”, you have to be good enough to do this, or you have to do this in that certain way. The barriers for certain bodies to dance are still quite strong, as well as the barriers to get into dancing to begin with. I can never stress enough how privileged I am to come from a family that has been able to support me taking dance classes my whole life. I know a lot of people that couldn’t, or have had to quit at a certain point for these sorts of reasons. Everybody can dance. But sometimes, the dance community feels like it’s trying to keep it all hidden and tucked away for certain people.
Tech Week Rehearsal
Photo by Gary Taylor Photography
Who has inspired you in the dance world? Who are your dance heroes?
I am most inspired by the dancers that have a personal impact on me. My breaking mentor, Nick “Gennew” Nguyen has been a force in my life for almost ten years now. His mindset, drive to create opportunities for people to dance, work ethic, and dancing itself have all inspired me in my journey, past and present. He’s always encouraged me to dance and got me to work harder.
What is the dream stage you would want to perform on?
When it comes to performing, I’m really truly happy to perform anywhere and would love to be able to perform in a different country someday.
How do you ensure you stay strong and fit enough to perform? What are some of your wellness strategies?
I’ve always had some sort of conditioning or yoga class to help take care of my body. I’m currently working on implementing my own routine and go to the gym more often. It’s a sort of independent discipline I’ve always struggled with, but I’m working on myself more. My eating habits are still terrible, that’s also a constant work in progress. I have certainly learned that when I strengthen outside of dance, my dancing gets better. And when I eat good food at the right times and the right amounts, it really does fuel my body and give me energy. It’s just a matter of staying on top of things like this for me.
What are some of your non-dance passions?
I’ve always been crafty at a very beginner level, I doodle, I fold paper, I write stories that don’t go anywhere but I could tell you every characters’ coffee order. Recently, I’ve been trying to expand my interests when it comes to movement, and catch up on all the things I feel like I missed out on. Right now I’m learning how to skateboard, am getting into some minor stuntwork including tricking and sword fighting, and am teaching myself how to play the ukulele.
Photo by Kim Lantz
Minuet Charron Stage Shot
What’s coming up for you? Any new projects you’re working on?
Coming up this September, I’ll be in a trio project with two dancers I admire a lot. It’s a very interesting contemporary dance project, the movement is all task-based improvisation with the added element of AI. It speaks on the relationship between the natural world as is (our moving bodies) and the world as it may become in an exaggerated, imaginative, apocalyptic way (AI).
Currently, I’m still training as much as possible in class and session settings. I have the wonderful students I teach weekly in the city. And little dreams I intend to make a reality soon.
What advice would you give to youth in dance?
HAVE FUN! And dance the way that excites you most. Whatever makes you passionate, move towards that. There are some styles, studios, teachers, music genres, types of shoes, that are just not for everyone. But also, listen to your teachers and mentors, they know a lot and they’re going to be everything in helping you grow as a dancer and person.
Dance with your friends, trust your teacher, and have fun with it.
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