What happens when middle-aged dads attempt ballet with their daughters? (VIDEO)

Let’s just say that they all put their hearts into it, and that’s what counts.

Yesterday, when my daughter Isabella arrived home from her classical dance class — an activity she just began, but which she truly loves — she got her father involved in repeating one of the dance steps. When she did it, it looked quite simple, natural, and graceful; her dad’s version, on the contrary, showed comedic potential that gave the whole family, including a gloomy adolescent, a moment of sincere hilarity.

This reminded me of a video I saw months ago, which is funny and sweet. It was made by The Philadelphia Dance Center for Valentine’s Day last February. It went viral; the version reposted by ABC news alone has racked up nearly 50 million views.

The video shows a special ballet event at the school where each girl crosses the floor doing certain ballet moves, and her father follows behind, doing his best to imitate her. Some of the dads do surprisingly well; others, well … let’s just say that they all put their hearts into it, and that’s what counts.

So, if you are not one of the nearly 50 million people who have already seen it, we invite you to watch this brief, heartwarming, funny video. May it inspire us all to be like these dads: willing to step out of our comfort zone — and maybe even make a fool of ourselves — to show our love for those who are dear to us.

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Read more:
7 Ways a busy dad can bond more deeply with his kids

This article was originally published in the Italian edition of Aleteia and has been translated and/or adapted here for English-speaking readers.