Girl who went viral for 'Respect' dance routine 'disappointed' she never met Aretha Franklin
A Raleigh native who was thrust into the spotlight when her dance recital performance to Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” went viral is sad she never had an opportunity to meet the singer in person.
It was at a Knightdale dance recital in 2015 when Johanna Colon heard the Queen of Soul and stole the show.
The then 6-year-old was just following her teacher’s instructions for the dance.
“She told us to be spicy,” Colon said.
Johanna channeling Aretha Franklin!
Posted by Elissa M. Colón on Sunday, June 7, 2015
America fell in love with the “Queen of Tutu” and the video now has 58 million views on YouTube. Franklin even once mentioned the young dancer on a talk show.
“That girl is serious. She is fierce. I’m afraid of her,” Franklin said in an interview on The Talk.
After Franklin’s death Thursday, Colon said she is sad she will never have the opportunity to meet the singer.
“I really wanted to meet Miss Franklin for the first time, but since I didn’t, I was disappointed. I was really sad,” she said.
Colon is now fresh off the movie set of Amazon’s production of Troupe Zero, which is scheduled for release next summer and features a star studded cast that includes Viola Davis and Allison Janney.
Soon though, it will be back to fifth grade for Colon, who has big dreams for the future.
“When I grow up, I want to be an official actor and a mom,” she said.
