From the stands, a 9-year-old Waukesha boy stole the show during down time at a big dance competition
Elzie Flenard IV is always down to dance. No stage needed.
And, the 9-year-old Waukesha boy proved that during some down time at his sister's recent dance competition.
From the stands, Elzie put on a show-stopping performance of his own. And, it was all captured on video — well, several videos.
"Elzie was just kind of being Elzie," said his dad, Elzie Flenard III, known as "the mayor" of Podcast Town.
His son's larger-than-life moves? Self-taught — and inspired by the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.
When Elzie dances, he said he feels like he's "just being myself."
Here's how the special moment went down and what sparked his love for dance:
The story behind the special moment
Elzie recently went to his sister Nia's regional dance competition at Watertown High School with his dad.
A hip-hop song with heavy bass was playing as attendees awaited the awards ceremony.
"I thought that: 1. I like to dance. 2. There's music to dance. And, 3. Why not?" Elzie said.
One dance group took notice and started cheering the third-grader on.
That triggered a ripple effect. Soon, well over 1,000 dancers and spectators were grooving with Elzie.
"It's hard to describe because the moment was just so organic," Elzie said. "If I had to say what it felt like, I'd say it felt a little bit like 'Oh my goodness!' at first. I was like, 'OK, so they want to see me dance? I'll dance then.'"
"He is literally like that all the time," Flenard III said. "He's always dancing everywhere."
When Flenard III noticed that people around him were filming his son's performance, he started to as well.
"I am an extrovert to some degree — but not with dancing," Flenard III said. "I was proud for him ... I was happy for him. He loves the stage."
It ended up being a big day all around for the Flenard crew. Both 16-year-old Nia's solo and her Waukesha South High School pom team qualified for state, Flenard III said.
What sparked Elzie Flenard IV's love for dance?
A Michael Jackson cruise ship show.
In 2023, the Flenard family took a cruise to the Bahamas. While onboard, they attended a Michael Jackson tribute concert.
"I was like, 'Who is this guy?" young Elzie said.
He started practicing some of Jackson's dance moves, like the moonwalk and his signature spin.
"It just sort of happened," he said.
Since then, he's started picking up steps from other performers, too, he said. He likes that dancers aren't limited to doing the same things.
"You can find your own sort of place to express yourself," he said.
The 9-year-old is an entertainer, from podcasting to singing
When he isn't busting a move, Elzie, like his dad, enjoys podcasting — he has his own show called "Space Now!" — acting, singing and drawing.
"He's a talker," Flenard III said. "I think he would talk in his sleep if he could."
"All I do is snore," Elzie joked.
He said he aspires to be an actor when he grows up, and plans to start formal training soon.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha boy dancing entertains crowd at Watertown dance competition
