Derek Dunn - 2008 Junior YAGP Champion

[1disvashappenin]

OMG Derek your sooo amazing!!!!! I dance at the Rock too, but wish i could be so amazing!!! 6 periouettes? WOOOWW!!!!!

[dahanah14]

i love this dancing and boys

[888385green]

I like the Tights, could someone tell me the name of the Colour?

[babycakeboo1]

Okay how in the world can people say this is dissapointing????? I would KILL to have that kids technique and this video is like 3 years old, just think of how amazing he is NOW! Holy Snaps.

[FISTRIG]

Derek, unbelieveable !  Thank you ! You re very special ! raymeo888@yahoo.com

[FISTRIG]

spectacular  ! raymeo888@yahoo.com

[CeliotheBest]

Of course, I've been the first to say that he really has a very good level... But some people think he was the greatest dancer at this age in the world. That's wrong, AVT isn't the only or the best competition on this earth. But everyone has unconditional fans and actually, I know he is really amazing: a friend of mine knows him very well.

[japplecake]

@CeliotheBest Remember, Derek was 12 at the time, and one of the youngest to compete in this competition. His performance was, by far, the best in that category, for that year. His perfomance in 2008 was far from disappointing. He is now 16 and more polished. And when he's 18 etc, he'll be even more polished.  Thanks for watching.

[balletbunhead777]

what a boss...

[helliop]

He should play Billy Elliot ;p

[jngwatson]

Superb

[likeafirstday]

such a bıg talented boy ...

[pieintheskyBEOTCH]

@kurtamus I couldn't agree more. Even though they were just saying WOW THAT GUYS GOOD, they couldn't save it until he was finished? It's distracting to the other audience members. Also, the dancer might be concentrating (hopefully) very hard on his performance, and they could be causing him to lose focus.

[nicki446]

My goodness he is outstanding. Such power and strength in his leaps and perfect control in his pirouettes. He will be even more amazing once he's grown and developed even further.

And yes, I do agree that the audience is a little loud, and it is often rude to clap during a variation, but sometimes it does actually provide encouragement for the dancer. The kid here didn't seem phased....

[mccommon7]

i cant believe 5 people disliked this. he is soo amazing. he goes to rock school and i go to rock school west and i asked him for an autograph!!

[allyson410]

your amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Esprit6]

He's 12?!??!!

[soccerchik821]

@Esprit6 he turned 15 in january

[soccerchik821]

@Esprit6 not now. he's a freshman in high school. i know him.

[Esprit6]

well, d'uh he's not 12 NOW, I meant in the video, which was posted in 2008 o.0

[soccerchik821]

@Esprit6 well sorry i didn't understand what you wrote don't gotta get all defensive it was just a misunderstandment

[panicaglia]

boiaaaaaaa!!! solo 12 anni!!! fantastico!

[ballerinagirl1998]

He is one of the best male dancers I have ever seen.

[shopdancedream]

He reminds me of Kuril from Billy Elliot! He should try out for Billy Elliot!! He is amazing!

[HannaAnders]

@shopdancedream If he looks young enough then I agree...he should!

[balletjesusfreak]

wow. I saw derek at hall of fame dance competition in 2009 and he was AMAZING. and yes, people scream a lot in the middle at dance competitions. i find it rather annoying, especially with large studios who can't be quiet for five seconds at a time.

[x3heybridgettex3]

he is an amazing dancer. i have danced with him and hes unbelievable.

[rphljsh]

Tout simplement grandiose. Le garçon a du talent et sera un grand danseur.

[blatchford101]

i danced with derek before at edna lee before he left to go to another school and he was amazing .

[RandomAimlessMagic]

so this is derek dunn...my friend used to dance with him and she had the HUGEST crush on him and today in bio she told me to look him up on youtube so here i am...

[kurtamus1]

Ofcourse I likes it.. He is very very talented!!

[HannaAnders]

Ok so I just watched this at the same time I was watching Kiril Kulish compete to this same song. their choreography is freakishly similar. is it supposed to be?

[balletjesusfreak]

yes, if it's the original variation. different dancers can change little parts of it to better fit their abilities.

[helliop]

@HannaAnders They are both dancing the same ballet "variation", which means it's a solo dance from a classical ballet, a piece of choreography that can be modified, but essentially has the same steps. Hope this helps :)

[kurtamus1]

I really hate how the Americans take these competitions as like some sort of roudy party.. I find it so innapropriate to scream and clap in the middle of a variation.. save it for the end..

[japplecake]

But.....did you like the dance video??? I guess the audience just couldn't contain their enthusiasm.

[raulishnikov]

dancers love it... We don't care about applauses on the middle.. that's an encouragement for the rest of the variation. we go on stage to please audience in each fragment of the variation, so claps is the testimony you are doing it well.

[JaeBallet]

@kurtamus1 Yes it is rude. That can EASILY distract the dancer...As of me i get distracted easily.....12?? I feel soo useless right now

[genaro100193]

@kurtamus1 creo que es emocionante ver algo increible antes del final...! es natural de las personas aplaudir cuando vemos algo increible o bonito, en este caso derek merecia los aplausos al principio en medio y al final.!!!

[gothlolidoll]

what a fabulous little dude.

he is going places.

[vanillabean001]

You can't see how amazing his feet are...

[MrNocco]

FUCK!

well im just happy that im 17 so i wont be looking for a job the same time that he is :P or entering competitions ! :D

for any 12 year old dancer, he is going to be a pain in their ass :P

[smileywoman]

I'm VERY impressed with his level of talent at such a young age. WOW!

[Keith873]

Wonderful!! Kid sure knows his stuff.

[YayitzMLB99]

i just happen to know him! he's also an amazing swimmer too

[swar0102]

Beautiful

[xx6misha9xx]

hes going to be famous beyond belief in the dance world he will go faaaaaaaaaar

[ItsKayleighhh]

My friend knows him =]

[idebobzz]

OH MY GODD. a twelve year old boy. this is insaneeeee. unbelievable and really nice feet=]]

[dancercoaster2008]

only 12..geez...lol

[rorro1988]

he should get into a professional school and then he'll truly be amazing. i recommend the cuban national ballet school, national ballet school of canada or the Shanghai ballet school.

[lovesserenade]

wow.. never seen a 12 yr old dance like that before... impressive..

[Hil6903]

No doubt, he's AMAZING! But he has no passion in his face.. That's what lifts up the dance in the end.

[physgraffgirl]

Derek you should get with Allie Parsons and do a pas de duex!!!

[limeyballerina]

yeahh!!!! go derekkk hey its entingh!!!!!!!! ahahhaha

[mileydancer69]

im in love with you derek dunn.

[bobosqueakers]

wow....an unbelievably talent......jeez....

[brandonstylee311]

hes great but too many flaming jazz hand moves

[xodancingangie]

i first saw him at age 11 doing a ballet duet with Lindsey Blick called "Courtyard March"...and i've been watching him in awe ever since. At eleven, Derek could do astounding things, and he's improved exponentially every year. He is nothing short of amazing, and this video proves that.

[nightelve1313]

he goes to my dance studio, hes AMAZING to watch in person. :D

[blingdancer]

wholly crap!!!and he is 12?! he looks like a principal

[bolshoiboy8]

and yes he IS a great dancer...

[laurie0192]

OMG absolutely amazing!!!

[BeanieBUG159]

gimme an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G ! what does that spell.... DEREK ! lol. :)

[thegoatgirl]

DID SHE SAY HE IS 12!!!!!

[japplecake]

YAGP wants your age as of January 1st. Derek was 12 as of Jan 1, 2008. He turned 13 shortly after that. So, for competition rules, he was 12....but he was actually 13 when he danced in NYC.

[dancer4lifelover]

Yea derek dunn goes to my studio enda lee i dance with him hes really good well amazing sometimes we think hes a ailen but were just playing lol

[Spoopoo14]

he is REALLY good. how old is he?

[maga37]

fantastic

[patrickdpugh]

wooooooooooork!

[SpaceDANza]

very very very very very very nice!!!