Local Dancer Breaking Down Stereotypes As His Videos Go Viral
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A local dancer's viral video is changing people's minds about what dancers look like.
Anyone who sees Erik Cavanaugh working at Beto's Pizza on Banksville Road, might never know his hidden talent: he's a dancer.
He says he knows he looks different than what people might expect, and he's determined to change that expectation.
"Dance is for everyone," said Cavanaugh. "There's been this kind of tradition that a dancer's body is very lean and skinny. I want people to realize if they want to dance, but they don't fit the typical standard, then do it."
Cavanaugh's feet glide across the floor as he dances, but his build is more like that of a linebacker rather than how most people would picture a dancer.
He posts videos of his dancing on Instagram, and when World Wide Dance reposted one of them, it went viral. It now has more than 10 million views.
In addition to that, he's been featured on the websites of People Magazine, Forbes, The Huffington Post, The New York Post and the Today Show for his body positive message.
He loved dancing even as a kid and remembers how it hurt when he was told his body shape wasn't right.
"I stopped dancing when I was 8-years-old because I had a teacher that discouraged me," said Cavanaugh. "Told my parents to take me out because I'd never have career or any success in this."
But he went back to dance in high school at Pittsburgh CAPA, studied it in college at Slippery Rock, and now teaches at Carpelz Center for the Arts in Carrick.
"He is very skilled, yes," said Heather Carpenter from Carpelz. "His persistence is definitely why he's where he's at right now."
And while Internet fame can be fleeting, Cavanaugh hopes this message will last: "Don't let someone determine your success in life. You determine what you're going to do. Who you're going to be, and how far you're going to go."
Cavanaugh says he'd like to be in music videos or join a dance company.
He's also hoping he'll be asked to be on "Ellen."