| Carlotta | |
| Birth Name: | Marguerite Charlotte Lavoie |
| Birth Date: | 1912 |
| Birth Place: | Saint-Jérôme (now Métabetchouan) |
| Death Date: | 2005 |
| Occupation: | Dancer |
Marguerite Charlotte Lavoie (1912–2005), also known as Carlotta, was a Canadian dancer.[1] She became Canadian artist Frederick Simpson Coburn's muse and was portrayed in multiple of his paintings and photographs.
Marguerite was born in Saint-Jerôme (now Métabetchouan), Quebec in 1912.[2] After becoming an orphan at the age of 4, she was raised by an aunt. She met the dancer and choreographer Alvarez (Gérard Hébert) at a Saint John Baptist parade in Montréal. He became her partner in the stage and in life.
Carlotta built her career in Montreal between the years 1930 and 1950. She opened a dance studio with Alvarez, her partner, in mid 1930s with the financial help of their friend Frederick S Coburn. The studio remained open for more than 25 years.
Carlotta and Alvarez had a strong attraction for the Spanish culture and visited Spain several times. The couple practiced a huge variety of dances and created their own costumes.
Carlotta met the artist Frederick Simpson Coburn in 1933 while working as a model. She quickly became his muse, being portrayed in multiple of his paintings and photographs.[3] Carlotta introduced Coburn to the dance,[4] which helped him anticipate her movements and capture them through his photos.