Acts of Kindness
81-year-old grandpa steals the spotlight when little girl challenges him in dance off
Since the little girl can't spend time with her papa up close they've started having daily dance-offs – and people are loving them for it!
Marilyn Caylor
04.03.20

This 6-year-old is gamifying the #stayahome orders with some serious, hip-hop moves!

Even though the entire world is on lockdown right now, that hasn’t stopped one spunky little girl from spending some quality time with her 81-year-old Papa.

But, before you wag a finger and angrily sho≠ut “stay the eff home!” to people who just don’t seem to get how serious this virus is, take a deep breath and just listen.

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Or rather, WATCH and listen.

Because this hilarious (and virally responsible) dance-off between a little girl and her grandfather is going to make you laugh, cry, and wonder why you’re not out there doing the same wacky thing with your own loved ones!

But in the meantime, let’s meet the Internet’s favorite new loved ones. On one side of the road we have 6-year-old Kira Neely, and on the other is her beloved Papa, 81-year-old Marvin.

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Kira and her Papa have always been close, so close in fact that he and “Grandmama” moved into the house across the street from her when she was just a baby.

Kira’s mother, Sherrie Neely, says that the last month has been tough for the tightly-knit pair. The kindergartner has been keeping her distance from her elderly grandparents since March, but they miss each other dearly.

Thankfully, the two have figured out how to unique way to cope while still technically playing by the rules.

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The CDC rules have been pretty clear: keep a distance of 6 feet between you and other people, or face the possibility of ending up 6 feet under.

However, playground rules are different – it’s all about the ABC’s and 123’s. Which is why the Jackson 5 classic hit was the perfect for this playful “OK Boomer” vs “Gen Alpha” dance off!

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This street in their Nashville, Tennessee neighborhood is usually crossed multiple times a day by both Kira and Papa. But now that the invisible lines have been drawn, they stay on their side of the road.

Mom Sherrie wrote on her Facebook page that:

“Kira loves her “Papa” so much and they’ve now started daily “dance offs” since the virus is keeping them separated. My Dad is turning 81 years old next month and I’ve never seen him dance, but he’s really putting forth great effort and has some special moves!!!!”

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In the video that Sherrie posted, Kira immediately wows with her gravity-defying moves (although that big cheat stick of hers helps out).

Unfortunately, Papa isn’t as flexible or agile as the energetic little sprite. When he tries to get on the ground and do the splits with Kira, he barely succeeds in touching the pavement with his fingers.

However, if you look at it from his perspective, that’s actually pretty darn good for a man his age!

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Sherrie, who is a single mom, told TODAY that both she and Kira have stayed away from her elderly parents in case they’re asymptomatic carriers. But, that doesn’t mean they can’t still “keep in touch” in other ways.

“The fact that we can still get outside and have fun from a distance means everything to us, and helps to give us a sense of normalcy in such a crazy time. I’m so thankful Kira will always have these memories of her time with her Papa.”

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The cute dance-offs aren’t the only way this little kid/big kid duo have fun. When they’re not kicking soccer balls to each other, Kira will make chalk drawings on her driveway, which her grandparents can view from their home across the street.

“My dad also enjoys just bringing a chair outside and watching her play in the yard. But both my parents and Kira both say the thing they miss most are the hugs.”

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