Born in Penang, Malaysia, and of Chinese heritage, Charlene moved to London at age five, discovering she had congenital scoliosis with fused lower lumbar vertebrae. Charlene trained on scholarship at Trinity Laban, complementing her training with 10 years of Shaolin Kung Fu, as well as Capoeira, Poi spinning, and a passion for fine art and circus. In 2010, she founded Sardines Dance, an inclusive contemporary dance collective working with artists of all abilities, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Over the past 20 years, Charlene has built a versatile career as a choreographer, performer, educator, and consultant, specialising in inclusive and intergenerational dance. Her projects span large inclusive community groups across the UK and internationally in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and have been performed in diverse settings from high-energy carnival parades and mass movement celebrations to intimate site-specific spaces.