A sensational new dance move much like the “dougie” has procured many followers and theatre senior Mia O’Neal has played a part in it, gaining attention due to a music video that she danced early in her freshman year. The “Yae,” produced by Ricardo; also known as Pooch, has recently reached more than one million views on YouTube.

“I honestly thought the video would be like a ‘Get Silly’ or ‘Chicken Noodle Soup’ where it would come in and fade out,” O’ Neal said. “But it seems like people really like it and it’s just now reaching other places. I went to Indianapolis and someone approached me about being in the video. It was kind of awkward because it’s not a Beyonce video or a Chris Brown video. It’s just a homemade video.”

Despite the homemade and nonchalant nature of the video, O’Neal has managed to procure a few life experiences from being featured in it. She started out as dancer, attending local dance groups such as Sean’s Dance Factory, Dream Team, FBI Kids and a few others. After being introduced to Ricardo by a family friend, O’Neal auditioned and was casted in the video.

“At first I didn’t want to continue in the theatre program at Dreyfoos,” O’Neal said. “I wanted to switch over and be a dance major. But being that theatre not only enhances memorization, diction, vocal awareness, and communication, theatre [became more than] an art form; [it] turned into my everyday life. Theatre definitely helped out with my connection to that video. If all I knew was dance, I wouldn’t have been featured in the video. You have to have personality in order to be in something like that and have character that isn’t boring.”

However, the music video O’Neal has starred in has also gained her respect on campus in ways she didn’t expect. Ranging from appreciation of her dance moves to admiration of her drive in theater.

“Starting out there wasn’t that many views,” dance senior and friend of O’Neal, SiTerrya McDaniel said. “But now it’s over one million and people respect her opinion when it comes to choreography because she’s featured in this video.”