Six-year-old Johanna Colón put on an unbelievably sassy performance of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” in a viral performance. The tutu-wearing youngster performed onstage at a local talent show alongside two other young ballerinas, but Johanna was about to steal the show big time. She exuded the energy of a born entertainer and just owned the stage like Lady Gaga.
Johanna pulled off all her moves like a pro and did it with such enthusiasm and style that it was just too adorable. It was quite a sight to see the little girl putting her all into the performance, and clearly loving the interaction with the crowd as well. Johanna finished the show with a sashaying dance that had the whole crowd cheering her on. The video was a hit online, attracting 80 million views across various uploads.
Fans at home loved it just as much as the audience in the venue and added comments such as, “I still love this as much as the first 20+ times I have seen it. Coming across this has changed the mood I was in, I laughed for the first time today. Thanks, Johanna,” and “That kid rocks! Had me in tears the whole time – she’s got so much sass and such a powerful personality. That stage was hers from the moment she got on it!”
Johanna’s dance skills made her the toast of the town, and she soon had quite a number of big-name invitations coming her way. One high-profile appearance Johanna made was on Ellen DeGeneres’s show, Little Big Shots, where she had a feisty dance-off with Steve Harvey, which also attracted millions of views on YouTube.
After her “Respect” video went viral in the summer of 2015, it wasn’t just Ellen who came knocking on Johanna’s door. The performance led to a number of television appearances domestically and abroad.
Johanna, who is of Italian and Puerto Rican descent, has since forged a career that covers not only dance, but performances as a singer-songwriter and an actress. She appeared in the Amazon original comedy/drama Troop Zero in 2019 and the Netflix musical comedy Feel the Beat the following year.
Johanna has also appeared in television series such as The Guest Book, Euphoria, and Little Ellen over the years. She’s not done yet, as she also has the forthcoming comedy Griffin in Summer in the works.
If you love sassy and talented performers, make sure to check out more from Johanna Colón on YouTube. This young, charismatic dancer won the internet with her powerful performance, and she doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon! Stay updated with Johanna’s latest performances and daily life by following her Instagram account. Get ready to be inspired and entertained by this vibrant, up-and-coming talent!
