“I can’t stop laughing. My cheeks hurt! » Thursday, Canadian choreographer and artistic director Mel Charlot, new recruit to the “Dancing with the Stars” jury, met her future acolytes, Fauve Hautot, Chris Marques and Jean-Marc Généreux. This obviously happened in a (very) good mood. “The hooked atoms are there, immediately. We understand each other without necessarily having to explain much,” confirms Chris Marques, who is full of praise for her.
“It was important for us to bring freshness and find someone who does not come from our own universe,” he continues. We came across Mel and were immediately charmed. It represents everything we love: excellence. Dancing is his whole life. »
“We feel a good vibe”
Mel Charlot assures that he did not hesitate for a second to join the jury. ” Jean Marc [Généreux] and I worked together in Montreal on the show Revolutionand he told me lots of good things about Dance with the stars. I wanted to discover that, she tells 20 minutes. I studied in a French high school, so I learned lots of things about France. I’m really happy to be here, I’ve been made to feel welcome. We feel a good vibe [“vibration”, “énergie “]. »
Born in Montreal to parents of Haitian origin, she became passionate about dance from childhood, notably thanks to the show “So You Think You Can Dance”, which acted as a catalyst.
On tour with Lizzo
In 2010, she stopped studying psychology to pursue her favorite discipline. She moved to the United States to learn dance, specializing in hip-hop. “I did Broadway [elle a par exemple joué dans la comédie musicale Le Roi Lion]from the competition, I worked with artists like Beyoncé or Mariah Carey”, summarizes the one who also danced for Lizzo during her international tour in 2022.
“I have a big mother’s heart,” she adds, when asked to introduce herself – she and her partner are parents of little Matéo, aged 3. This choreographer emanates great kindness and we sense that she also has the temperament of a person who does not hesitate to say what needs to be said.
“I believe that everything can go very well as long as there is respect. We share the same passion,” says Mel Charlot, who says he is “looking forward” to starting filming Dance with the stars. She won’t have to wait too long, the first bonus – which will be recorded in advance – will be broadcast on TF1 on February 16.