The power of dance has been around since humans discovered and created music and rhythmic sounds. Moving our bodies to beats and melodies seems to come naturally for most people – and for some? They just happen to be very, very good at it. Like Annika Verplanck, for example.
Annika Verplancke, now 18-years-old, gained fame for a dance routine that she performed when she was just 13-years-old.
Annicka is a Belgian-American dancer who has been dancing since she was just 4-years-old. Back in 2015, she performed at the Youth America Grand Prix European semi-finals in Paris, France. Choreographed by Magali Berael and Fundi Omar, with music by Drehz, Annicka decided she wanted her routine to seriously wow the judges.
In an effort to stand out amongst the other competitors in the competition, Annicka wanted to spice things up a bit. So? Instead of just one beautiful routine, she combined two very different dance styles into one impressive hybrid performance.
Walking out onto the stage, the young dancer first captures everyone’s attention by her half-and-half costume. One side, with a tutu and ballet slippers. The other, a simple black leotard.
Giving off a clue to the judges and the audience, Annicka was about to breakout in a very memorable and seriously talented dance routine that would be half classical ballet and half modern hip-hop.
Initally, she starts the routine with ballet moves that you might see in the Nutcracker. Smooth and silky moves with grace and pointed toes – legs lifting high in perfect lines. But then, seemingly in perfect transition, Annicka pops, locks, and breaks things down to a hip-hop beat.
Since Annicka’s routine was uploaded to her YouTube channel, it has garnered over 8.4 million views.
Although the routine is fairly short and sweet, the dance surely knew how to showcase her wide range of skills and talents by combing two routines in one! And, of course, the viral video of her performance helped skyrocket her dance routine even further.
Annicka since went on to study dance at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. Afteward, she became a guest dancer with the Staatstheater Nürnberg Ballett, Germany. Then, in 2019, she became choreographer for The Dutch National Ballet Junior Company’s Choreographic Academy.
Since the pandemic, Annicka was forced to take a pause from practices and performances. Instead, she decided to focus on becoming a yoga teacher and re-evaluating her passions.
Speaking to The Power of Performing Arts last year, the dancer explains that although she does take online classes with fellow dancers, which makes her still feel very much connected to the dance community despite the disconnection due to the pandemic.
“All these people are doing projects and reaching out to people about FaceTime photo shoots or video projects, which I think is amazing. They’re also reaching out to people more now, and also to people that they maybe wouldn’t think would respond to them. I’ve been getting lots of product offers and I feel so I feel so happy to be a part of it. A lot of us have time for these things now, and aren’t doing much else, so I would love to see that continue as things go back to normal in the dance world that we stay connected and use social media more as a tool to connect and rather than just show off,” she said.
Oh and those dance challenges everyone is doing in their living rooms? She’s quite the fan!
“One thing that I really like is that a lot of people have been dancing in their living rooms, and it’s so normal now. I remember usually seeing videos on stage, it was like “wow!” Sometimes in the living room people get different feelings like, “Okay I don’t know, I’m not going to look at that video, it’s in the living room, I don’t know.” Now we’re all in this together, and it’s nice to see that environment shift. To see how it really doesn’t matter where you dance.”
Watch the routine that put Annicka on the map in the video below. Which side do you think won? Hip-hop or ballet? You be the judge.
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