Charmaine La'Donna Jordan (born May 14, 1988), known professionally as Charm La'Donna, is an American dancer and choreographer. Known for her work with various recording artists, her accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award and two MTV Video Music Awards.
Early life and education Charmaine La'Donna Jordan on May 14, 1988, in Compton, California. She was raised by her mother Debbie, whom she credits alongside her grandmother and "the village of women in Compton, all connected by blood, friendship or simply proximity" for her success. Jordan's older brother, Yki, is a rapper and songwriter who inspired her to pursue a recording career of her own. She suspended those aspirations after he was arrested and sentenced for 75 years to life in prison.
When she was three years old, Jordan told her mother that she wanted to become a dancer. She was enrolled in a local recreational center that offered dance activities before its counselors referred her to Regina's School of the Arts, where she trained before moving to Miss Monica's Dance School. At age ten, during an audition for a music video, Jordan was introduced to Fatima Robinson, who later became her mentor. Jordan attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACSHA), where she graduated in 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in world arts and culture from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Career During her senior year at LACSHA, La'Donna was hired by singer Madonna as a backup dancer for her Confessions Tour. Following the tour, she worked as Robinson's assistant choreographer, working on various music videos, television specials and Super Bowl halftime shows under her direction while attending UCLA full-time. Her work with Robinson introduced her to fellow Compton native, rapper Kendrick Lamar, while co-choreographing his performance at the 2015 BET Awards. He recruited her in 2017 as the choreographer and sole female dancer for his DAMN. Tour and choreographed and danced in his opening performance at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018.
La'Donna continued to gain recognition by choreographing music videos and live performances for singers Rosalía, Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa and Meghan Trainor. Her work in the music video for Rosalía, J Balvin and El Guincho's "Con Altura" won her the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography. La'Donna's music aspirations resumed in 2020. She signed a recording contract with Epic Records in February and released her first two singles "So & So" and "Westside". After choreographing the Weeknd's Super Bowl LV halftime show, she released her debut extended play, La'Donna, on April 9, 2021.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes2012SparkleSparkle's Backup Singer #2Credited as Charmaine Jordan2019There Once Was a WomanChickadee
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2010Barbie in A Mermaid TaleChoreographerCredited as Charmaine Jordan; also motion capture dancer2013CeeLo Green is LoberaceChoreographerCredited as Charmaine Jordan; also creative director2015The Wiz Live!EnsembleCredited as Charmaine Jordan; also assistant choreographer2016Dance CampAssistant choreographerCredited as Charmaine JordanThe OscarsTelevision special2019GenerationsChoreographerEpisode: "Flamenco"2020Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020Television special2021The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show2022The Oscars2024The Perfect Couple Opening dance sequence 2026Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Television special
Music videos
As lead artist TitleYearDirector"Westside"2020Charm La'DonnaEmil Nava"Queen"2021"Palm Trees"
As choreographer TitleArtist(s)YearDirector"All About That Bass"Meghan Trainor2014Fatima Robinson"Slumber Party"Britney Spears Tinashe2016Colin Tilley"Malamente"Rosalía2018Canada"Let You Be Right"Meghan TrainorColin Tilley"Pienso en tu mirá"RosalíaCanada"Di mi nombre"Henry Scholfield"De aquí no sales"2019Diana KunstMau Morgó"Con altura"RosalíaJ BalvinEl GuinchoDirector X"Aute Cuture"RosalíaBradley BellPablo Jones-Soler"Look at Her Now"Selena GomezSophie Muller"Wave"Meghan TrainorMike SabathMathew Cullen"Physical"Dua Lipa2020Canada"Break My Heart"Henry Scholfield"Make You Dance"Meghan TrainorThe Reggies"Levitating"Dua LipaDaBabyWarren Fu"The Motto (Part II)"TiëstoAva Max2022Charm La'Donna"Rich Spirit" Kendrick LamarCalmatic "Count Me Out" Dave FreeKendrick Lamar"Mother"Meghan Trainor 2023 Charm La'Donna "Dance the Night" Dua Lipa Greta Gerwig "Not Like Us"Kendrick Lamar2024Dave FreeKendrick Lamar "Squabble Up"Calmatic "Shimmer"Meghan Trainor2026Charm La'Donna
Discography
Extended plays (EP)
La'Donna (2021)
Awards and nominations + Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Hollywood Music Video Awards 2025 Choreographer of the Year Herself iHeartRadio Music Awards 2021 Favorite Music Video Choreography "Physical" MTV Video Music Awards 2019Best Choreography "Con Altura" 2020 "Physical" 2023 "Dance the Night" 2024 "Houdini" 2025"Not Like Us" Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2025 Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar Beyoncé Bowl 2026The Apple Music Superbowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny
Notes
References
External links