Nia Dennis, a 21-year-old UCLA gymnast, received a near-perfect score for her performance. It drew attention from the internet as well, after the incredible ‘dance party’ floor routine went viral!
UCLA’s gymnastics team has a national reputation for exceptional talent and innovative routines. Katelyn Ohashi made headlines in 2019 after her Michael Jackson-themed routine received a perfect score.
Katelyn went on to become a viral sensation, appearing on a number of talk shows and morning news shows. Nia Dennis, a senior, is now following in her footsteps.
First, Nia Dennis dazzled us with a one-of-a-kind performance set to Beyonce’s music.
Today, she takes it up a notch with a 9.95 performance that has the entire Internet buzzing.
Nia told the Los Angeles Daily News, “I wanted to have a dance party because that’s my personality.”
Nia Dennis Performs a ‘Dance Party’ on the Gymnastics Floor
The floor routine includes songs by artists who have influenced Nia’s life, such as Kendrick Lamar. She wanted to use movement to express her growth and feelings, and she felt led to include Black artists who had an impact on her and the community.
Nia explained on The Ellen Degeneres Show, “We’re not allowed to use words and sounds in our floor routine, so I figured if I couldn’t say it, I wanted to do it in a different way.”
Nia Dennis’ unforgettable performance has been viewed over a million times online, and many famous faces, including Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson, have weighed in.
“I just love seeing the sport evolve that way, to see girls and guys be able to take it to a new level and get more creative,” Shawn told Insider.
There’s no doubt that Nia has inspired a new generation of gymnasts, and I’m excited to see where this sport goes from here.
