This Canadian talent is known as an actor and a dancer but she concedes that it was dance that was the beginning for her and continues to be her driving passion. She recalls, “I remember first seeing a dance class when I was 7 years old. When I went into the dance studio for the first time and saw these amazing dancers, I was immediately inspired and knew that was what I wanted to do. I got involved in a dance program called JUMP around age eleven. It had a positive impact on everything that had to do with my dancing: my technical ability, movement ability, picking up choreography, improv, and how to best execute every dance style. The community involved with JUMP was very competitive and the teachers were always very supportive. It created the foundation that I built my dance abilities on.”
It didn’t take long for Briar to get noticed for her abilities. Renowned dance instructor Teddy Forance professes, “Briar has always shocked me with her talent, focus, & dedication! What makes her so unique is her intensity as a strong female dancer & the passion for the craft that explodes every time she performs. To have the ballet technique, fluidity, & the phenomenal tricks she has in her back pocket is going to bring her very far in her career. I have seen her fan base build very fast once she got on The Next Step TV show & the tours she has been on in the last few years.”
“The Next Step” is a Temple Street Production distributed by BBC Worldwide which depicts the lives of “A-Troupe”, a group of exceptional young dancers and their personal lives. A scripted production, “The Next Step” requires both acting and dance skills of its cast members. With four seasons done and a fifth on its way, “The Next Step” has made Nolet and her fellow cast members celebrities in Canada and numerous other countries. Briar has become a particular fan favorite. Signed on as the youngest cast member, Briar resonated profoundly with a young female fan base who related to her character’s (Richelle) struggles as a young lady.
One of the benefits of being a multi-talent is that you can experience a connection with your fans through a number of ways. When “The Next Step” became an international hit, the show’s creators decided to take Briar and the show’s ensemble to the fans on an international tour. While they had already toured Canada as part of Family Channel’s Big Ticker Summer Concert, this tour would be as headliners. “The Next Step Wild Rhythm Tour/Live on Stage” took Nolet to the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand…interesting and captivating locations that were new to her. Being able to dance for and meet her fans was a thrilling experience for this actress/dancer who states, “Meeting all of these people was such a great time for me. They lead different lives, some of them speak different languages, yet they all love our show so much. I’m very passionate about dancing and acting; to get that immediate feedback and see that people are excited by what I do…it was very rewarding. Most of the time I am on set so I don’t get to see the enjoyment firsthand and so immediately. The tour was particularly affirming for me because it’s when I saw for myself the effect that what we are doing has on people.”
Part of being a celebrity is finding your face on the cover of magazines. While that’s not a comfortable situation for everyone, Nolet has been quite pleased with her coverage. Receiving exposure such as being the cover model of Dance Spirit Magazine (October 2016) and voted Runner Up as America’s Best Dancer celebmix.com (2016) are further indicators of the spread of Briar’s accolades and achievements. It’s also an indicator of the aspirations Nolet has. She communicates, “I feel like the US is the best situation for someone like myself who wants to pursue acting at its highest level. There are so many great artists who live there and influence each other. The Next Step is about a community like that, where people challenge each other to be better. I want to experience more of that in my career.”