DeJesus’ dance, dab draws spotlight on UCLA gymnastics
Senior Sophina DeJesus’ floor routine last week went viral, being viewed by more than 17 million times on Facebook. Now, the team has new energy going into this weekend’s meet with No. 16 Oregon State. (Angie Wang/Daily Bruin senior staff)
Gymnastics
No. 16 Oregon State
Saturday, 8 p.m
Pauley Pavilion
Pac-12 Network
By TuAnh Dam
Feb. 12, 2016 1:13 a.m.
Seventeen million views and counting.
Saturday against Utah, senior Sophina DeJesus wove high-level tumbling with iconic hip-hop moves to vault UCLA into the lead and narrowly beat its conference rivals by .025.
She also captured the attention of thousands of fans and made headlines on numerous news outlets including BuzzFeed, Elle, New York Daily News, Fox Sports and more.
Building off DeJesus’ viral floor routine, No. 7 UCLA gymnastics (3-2, 2-1 Pac-12) returns to Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night to face No. 16 Oregon State (3-2, 2-1 Pac-12).
Floor seats for the upcoming meet against the Beavers have nearly sold out with fans hungry for more showstopping routines and anticipating the next viral hit.
Coach Valorie Kondos Field, who helped DeJesus craft the dance steps and polish the now global performance, credits the rising interest in college gymnastics to the senior’s choreography.
“There hasn’t been anything like this in any collegiate sport with any athlete,” Kondos Field said. “It’s brought so much attention to collegiate women’s gymnastics – worldwide.”
FROM THE ARCHIVES: A look back at DeJesus’ early career.
DeJesus’ routine utilized crowd-favorite songs to draw in the audience, but the Temecula native credits her teammates and coaches for creating the high-energy atmosphere.
Senior Danusia Francis mimicked the routine along on the sidelines and Kondos Field directed the electric student section as they cheered on the former professional dancer and actress.
“The fans are amazing. They brought a great atmosphere to Pauley,” Francis said. “And to have the new fans – on the level that Sophina has managed to bring – will be fantastic to see.”
When DeJesus’ 90-second performance ended with the dab, the crowd gave her a deafening standing ovation, demanding a perfect score.
“My whole team was dancing, Danusia and Miss Val were turning up,” DeJesus said. “And that just made me enjoy it and gave me confidence to dance on the floor and be myself.”
With some help from her sister, the former Hip Hop Harry star incorporated trending dance moves including the whip, nae nae, and the quan, showing off her personality in a manner typical of the Bruins’ floor performances.
“There’s a story behind the routines, but you don’t have to know that,” Kondos Field said. “There’s something about how (she) performs it, that you get there’s a meaning behind it and that attracts you to it.”
Fans eager to see the Bruins on floor, where they’re ranked No. 1 in the country, can catch them as they look to continue their head-to-head domination against the Beavers. UCLA leads the overall series 79-27-1 and holds a 17-5 edge at home.
But with the global support their captivating routines have generated, the Bruins can make any floor their home floor.
