Briar Anne Nolet is a Canadian dancer and actress known for her role as Richelle in The Next Step series. She stepped up her dance career as a participant in the third season of World of Dance, where she finished in fifth place and later joined Jennifer Lopez’s It’s My Party tour. But it wasn’t always easy for this dancer.
Briar started dancing at the young age of seven. But her career took a turn when she was diagnosed with seizures at 16. She experienced her first seizure in the middle of her dance class. Nolet soon realized that dance was triggering her declining health. Still, she refused to give up on the thing she loved most.
“I was unconscious, the dance teachers had called my parents, who came running into the studio as soon as they could. It was all kind of a blur, so I don’t remember too much—just the feeling that I didn’t know what was happening, or why,” Nolet once recalled.
Things became even more challenging when she was misdiagnosed with anxiety. After years of uncertainty, a visit to a neurologist in Toronto became the turning point. Nolet was finally diagnosed with genetic epilepsy and began treatment.
“A month after I went on the medicine, I finally started dancing again. It was my first time back in the dance studio, and only the studio director was allowed in there with me… Slowly, I built up enough confidence to go into a class with an unknown teacher and unknown students. I was so scared to put myself back into the situation that triggered my first seizure, but I did, and this time, I was okay. Better than okay! The medicine worked, and for the first time in three years, I finally felt like myself again,” she said.
After regaining her health, Briar returned to competitive dance, using her World of Dance routines to incorporate movements symbolizing her seizure experience—a choice that brought Jennifer Lopez to tears. Her determination and artistry turned her into a global inspiration.
Briar has also branched out beyond dance. She continued to star in The Next Step through multiple seasons, and in 2024 appeared as Salome in Season 4 of the hit series The Chosen. In March 2022, she launched her own activewear brand, Halo Braxton, blending style and function for women in dance and fitness.
In her personal life, Briar’s long-time relationship with The Next Step co-star Myles Erlick ended in 2022. She is now dating Toronto businessman Colin McLeod.
Today, Briar’s journey continues to inspire dancers and young performers around the world. Her YouTube channel has over 84K subscribers, while her Instagram community—nearly 780K strong—follows her performances, projects, and personal milestones. From battling epilepsy to touring with J.Lo, Briar Nolet’s story is proof that passion can outshine even the darkest moments.