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Patrick Pride Jr. never planned to go viral. The NYC freelance dancer and performer was simply doing one of his jobs: performing for passengers of the Ride, a tour company that incorporates musical theater performances throughout the drive through Manhattan. 

As the 26-year-old tap-danced joyfully down 42nd Street — twirling and leaping and kick-ball changing his way down the sidewalk — a passenger named Clare Ann Phillips, who was visiting from Scotland, filmed a 25-second video that she shared on TikTok.

The video, which was posted April 8 and featured Harry Styles’ “As It Was” as the soundtrack, now has 17.8 million views and counting. The caption reads, “This is my favourite person in the whole planet.” More than 5.9 million TikTok users who liked the video seem to agree.

@clareannphx

This is my favourite person in the whole planet #fyp #nyc #newyorkcity #BigComfy

♬ As It Was - Harry Styles

Many viewers felt the video was reminiscent of a scene of a film or musical. One user commented: “They’re the main character of all our stories.” The comment has more than 264.8K likes. 

Another says:  “I have no idea who he is and I probably never will, but I know I love him.” The comment has 106.5K likes.

Patrick keeps busy: He’s a member of the New York Baroque Dance Company, works retail at Nordstrom and lands freelance dancing and theater gigs here and there, in addition to the Ride sidewalk performances. He didn’t know about the viral video until a day later, when he awoke to multiple text messages from friends asking, “Is this you?!”

He had been catching up on sleep that day.

“I thought of it as a joke at first,” Patrick said, but after several friends said the same thing, he knew it was becoming real. 

Those who find themselves part of a viral video can capitalize on the opportunity by engaging with the content. This helped Patrick reach the millions who liked the video while building an audience for himself on TikTok.

“So I made a reaction on TikTok, I commented, and that’s when I got a surge of messages. Also, the person who took the video, her name is Clare Ann. A fan of hers actually found me through Instagram and contacted me through there and that’s how her and I were able to connect and have a little nice chat where we thanked each other and whatnot.”

@petty.patti

#duet with @clareannphx That guy looks so familiar 🤔 Wait a second….

♬ As It Was - Harry Styles

In the week since Clare posted the video, Patrick has gained about 87.7K TikTok followers from a starting point of about 100. His Instagram follower count went from 850 to 3,859.

“Honestly all the comments and all the feedback have been nothing but positive,” Patrick said. “Good blessings, great vibes — which is honestly, truly astounding because we know how the internet can be sometimes with negativity and trolling and whatnot. I have not seen an ounce of that at all.”

He even made a friend in Clare through the experience.

“We made a promise that if I ever visit Scotland that we’ll hang out or if she visits New York City again that we have to hang out, because this connection — we just created a bond through this experience.”

Clare, 23, said she wanted to share the video because it brought her joy.

“When I filmed it I didn’t even realize he was part of the Ride. I just instantly fell in love with how light Patrick was on his feet and how happy the short performance made me feel. I also have a few friends who are really into musical theatre and performing arts and I thought they’d love to see it, too.”

Clare got a boost in followers as well. She went from about 650 followers before she shared the video to about 22K.

“I wasn’t expecting the video to gain much attention as I don’t post regularly on TikTok, so I wasn’t expecting people to even see it,” she said. “My Instagram messages were flooded with messages from different accounts asking to share the video on their pages.”

Many commenters on the TikTok view Patrick as an inspiration. He radiates joy and says he is grateful to spread his message of positivity with others through his performances. 

“I would describe myself as being ambitious, optimistic, with a little bit of pessimism there just to make sure I have a reality check and not too much into dreamland.”

Many were curious to learn more about him.

He shares the following message to those who watched:

“So please, if we can, let’s keep spreading this. Keep smiling, keep spreading the good vibes, the positivity. Try to bless each and every single person throughout your day because you don’t know what they’re dealing with and if you can at least, you know, at least smile towards them, that can really change the world.”

This attention from a stranger’s video can be life-changing for a person who doesn’t consider himself an influencer. But what does one do with his newfound fame?

Patrick is open to the possibilities of working with brands if the product is a natural fit — perhaps a dance-related brand or musical.

“If it comes my way, I will do my best,” he said. “Because that’s a new opportunity in and of itself. I would like to give it a go at least once to see how it works out.”

His new TikTok followers can expect more dancing videos from him on the app.

I’m going to try to post more dance stuff, for sure, because that’s what people mainly want to see, at least that’s what the comments say. Anything that’s kind of trending, I will try my best. TikTok is still new to me.”

For Patrick, who has loved performing since joining musical theater in high school, he couldn’t ask for anything better than the positive feedback he’s gotten on TikTok.

“I’m just so happy that this video was able to create such joy and radiate positive vibes for each and every single person that’s watching. I can ask for nothing more as a performer for this — oh my gosh, I’m now getting emotional — because as a performer it’s my job to make the people happy because I don’t know if they’re having a bad day, so the least I can do is cheer them up with a nice little dance or — if I’m in a musical — a nice little ditty that I dance to slash perform to. That is honestly all that I can ask for.”

Patrick Pride Jr on his viral sidewalk dancing Tiktok video

Patrick first started in dance and musical theater at age 16 to become more confident. Now, he performs in such recent shows as “Les Caractères de la Danse” with the Dallas Bach Society. He was also among the first group of students to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. 

“I did not start dance until I was 16 years old, and it started with musical theater because I wanted to get rid of my shyness. I was a very shy person in high school or I just kept quiet and I didn’t know how to start a conversation, so I took theater. I really enjoyed it.”

Patrick danced whenever he could and he was also a part of Alpha Psi Omega, a national theater honor society. Then, about two years ago, right as the pandemic took hold in the U.S., Patrick moved to NYC to further his career.

In his third week in the city, he made a trip to the Theater District, where he one day hopes to perform.

“There was no one in sight at these theaters. My heart was just shattered at the sight of that.”

Classical music and musicals are among his many passions. In fact he was listening to “42nd Street Overture” as he danced in the viral video. 

“I can get lost in classical music. And baroque music now that I’m introduced to that.”

His goal is to see every musical in the city. 

“I’m usually a sucker for musicals.” 

In his free time, you might catch him exploring the city, baking, shopping, catching ballet shows at Lincoln Center, or going to a musical.

Patrick Pride Jr NYC

His dream? To someday perform in “Newsies.” 

“That was the second show I ever saw on Broadway and it just struck to me,” Patrick said. “I was like, ‘One day, one day I’ll be on that stage.’”

“That is my dream musical to be in. Just to dance in. I don’t have to sing or anything. If I could just dance, that’s wonderful,” Patrick said. “Funny enough I was almost in ‘Newsies’ twice but both of the times were canceled so hopefully this third time if someone reaches out about ‘Newsies’ I can make it happen.”

Besides that dream, his goal is simple: Keep performing.

“Honestly my goals are really simple, but as long as I have a gig where I get to dance and perform, that’s literally all that matters to me. I’m happy with what I do at the Ride, I’m happy with the New York Baroque Dance Company, but … I notice that each time I get a gig it becomes bigger and bigger. So honestly I’m just excited to see what happens next on my journey as a dancer.”

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

marette flora avatar

Marette Flora is IZEA’s Content Manager. She writes and edits content about influencer marketing and all the latest #TeamIZEA happenings. When she is not at work, she can be found writing her personal blog, crafting personalized gifts or exploring Chicago where she lives with her husband, two daughters, dog and plants.

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