After our past obsession with Netflix’s Cheer, there’s something about a jaw-dropping gymnastics routine set to a nostalgic soundtrack that can lift one’s spirits like nothing else.
And this time, we have U.S. Gymnast Nia Dennis to thank.
A gymnast and senior student at the University of California, Los Angeles, Nia Dennis turned heads on January 23 when she debuted a new floor routine. Unlike any other routine, Dennis used her time on stage to pay tribute to Black culture exclusively through her performance.
Competing mostly in front of a cardboard cutout audience, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the lack of support from the crowd didn’t stop Dennis from nailing her routine and earning a near-perfect 9.95 score, which clinched the win against Arizona State University in UCLA’s season opener.
WATCH BELOW: Nia Dennis’ Full Routine
Taking to the floor, Dennis can be seen walking onto the stage in a shimmering blue leotard where she drops to one knee with her fist raised in the air moments before Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble” begins to play.
Following a variety of dance-like poses—including a quick Nae Nae—Dennis launches herself into back-to-back flips before continuing her routine to the musical styling of Missy Elliot’s “Pass That Dutch”. The rest of her routine saw her land jaw-dropping manoeuvres to a soundtrack of exclusive Black musicians like Franchize Boyz’ “Everytime Tha Beat Drops” and Soulja’s Boy’s “Crank That”.
And while scoring the win for her team was an impressive feat, it was her self-expression that she showed through her routine that sealed the deal.
“[It’s] really a reflection of everything I am as a woman today,” Dennis told NBC Nightly News.
“I wanted to have a dance party because that’s my personality,” she said during a post-meet press conference.
Dennis went on to explain the meaning behind certain elements of her performance, explaining:“This routine definitely reflects everything that I am today as a woman, and of course I had to incorporate a lot of parts of my culture.”
“I wanted to give a tribute to my father. He’s Greek, he was in fraternities, and stepping is really big […] I wanted to have a dance party because that’s my personality and of course I had to shout out LA because we out here, UCLA.” Dennis also echoed her pride for Black culture in her Instagram post reflecting on her performance.
Unsurprisingly, the internet—and the world—loved it, with Twitter showering Dennis with love and support over her monumental moment. Thanks to Dennis’ own college gymnastics team sharing her iconic performance online, it has officially reached viral status.
“This is what #blackexcellence looks like. @DennisNia does it again!”, the post read.
Plenty of celebrities have also taken to their social media to shower her in well-earned praise, including the likes of Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott, Kerry Washington, Michelle Obama and Simone Biles, who certainly knows a thing or two about viral gymnastics routines.
“This was so fun to watch!” Biles tweeted. “Keep killin it!”
However, going viral is hardly new to Dennis, who has likely grown accustomed to the feeling since a past performance of hers went viral last year. Taking to the stage, her routine was inspired by Beyonce’s “Homecoming” and earned her a 9.975 score and 20 million views online.
The now-famous routine was set to the soundtrack of her 2018 Coachella performance, including classics like “Lose My Breath,” “Crazy in Love,” and “Ego”— and featured the infamous moment where Dennis put on an imaginary crown, doing shoulder shimmies and mimicking Queen Bey’s moves throughout her routine.
Prior to becoming an internet sensation, Dennis was an Olympic hopeful who spent four years on the U.S. National Team and earned a Pacific Rim Championships gold medal.
And while the Olympics is continuously pushed back due to COVID-19, we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes out this future gold medallist.
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