YouTube has already been a platform for thousands of stars, but few videos have warmed my heart as much as those of the amazing 10-year-old ballerina, Clara Bergs. Bergs first became a viral sensation after viewers caught wind of a clip in which the young girl perfectly recreates a routine from a 19th century ballet, "Coppelia." From her arms to her pointed toes, her steps somehow match those of the professional dancer (seen in the lower corner of the video) exactly. But what makes her talents all the more remarkable? Bergs is autistic and has DiGeorge syndrome, a genetic disorder that hinders development.
Though Bergs' conditions affect many aspects of her everyday life (she has to be fed through a tube to stay nourished), one thing she hasn't allowed her illnesses to interfere is her love of dance. She started taking ballet lessons three years ago and though no one, including her parents, expected her to take to dance the way she has, it seems as if Bergs has found her calling. "We knew Clara would dance and practice this ballet but we never knew how precise her movements were," her mother said.
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After the parents recently lost funding to pay for an Intensive Multi-Treatment Intervention program, which provided Bergs with vision therapy, exercise, speech therapy, and more, they decided to publicize the amazing video as a way to raise money, asking people to donate to her via PayPal or follow her on Facebook. And the rest is history! Bergs not only captured the hearts of people everywhere (including me!), she also managed to make more YouTube hits with her videos.
Personally, I find this little girl so inspiring! I took dance classes for more than half of my life and though admittedly ballet wasn't exactly my favorite, I don't think I could have ever replicated that routine with such precision the way she did. Bergs proves that no matter how old you are or what obstacles you have to overcome, you can never go wrong doing what you love.
Watch the video here:
Embedded content: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dUcI8mA5hs&feature=player_embedded#!
Image via YouTube
