The Daily BuzzPriests' dance-off goes viral
[video]
A dance-off between two tap-dancing priests is going viral.
At an April fundraiser for The Pontifical North American College, a seminary in Rome, priests Father David Rider, 29, of Hyde Park, New York, and Father John Gibson, 28, of Milwaukee went toe-to-toe in an impressive dance-off that eventually had the entire room on its feet.
First, Rider started entertaining the crown with a tap routine. Eventually Gibson took to the stage to show off his equally impressive Irish dancing. It wasn’t long before the priests were engaged in a friendly dance competition — ending with a synchronized routine.
Journalist Joan Lewis recorded the dance-off and uploaded it on YouTube. The video has been viewed more than 700,000 times.
"[Rider] was famous for this," said Joseph Zwilling, communications director for New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who was believed to be in the audience at the event. “He was always well known for step dancing.”
With viral success often comes criticism. To those who commented that the priests should not have been dancing under a crucifix, Rider has a simple reply:
“We would just refer them to the Bible,” Rider told the Associated Press, “where the Lord tells us to live with joy.”
Priests and nuns have been shattering stereotypes this week.
“[It’s] no surprise the video is going viral the same week that Sister Cristina Scuccia, the nun who won Italy’s The Voice, released a music video for her rendition of ‘Like a Virgin,’ wrote TIME’s Olivia B. Waxman.
[video 2]
