Former Hamilton stage star Daniel Assetta has gone viral on TikTok after sharing a video of his first ever solo dance competition.
The musical theater actor shared footage of himself tearing up the stage at a shopping mall to the 1990s hit "Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex when he was just 10 years old.
The TikTok has had 7.7 million views in just a matter of days, with Assetta telling Newsweek: "My young performer self has officially become his own celebrity."
Assetta most recently played Samuel Seabury in the Australian production of Hamilton.
Seabury was a senior loyalist during the American Revolution and famous rival of Alexander Hamilton.
He was the first American Episcopal bishop and the second Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States.
Assetta started dancing when he was just three years old and only a few years later competed in his first dance solo, which he would go on to win.
"This particular competition was a talent show in a shopping mall," he told Newsweek.
"I used to use this particular solo dance at so many comps around that time. And I'm pretty sure that routine was undefeated."
The actor recalled: "I remember my mum and dad would tell the story that all of the other parents would see me turn up dressed in my cowboy outfit and say 'Oh no, Cotton Eyed Joe is here'."
Thousands of people flocked to congratulate Assetta in the comments, calling the performance "iconic" and telling the star he "killed it."
After the pop star posted the video to Instagram, Assetta built on his newfound fame.
"Then from there, I started pulling out all of my home videos and each of them have been viewed by millions of people from all across the world," he said.
"It's actually really special that it's bringing so much joy to people."
Assetta gave his final bow recently after two years in Hamilton.
He also performed in the Australian productions of West Side Story, Cats, A Chorus Line and The Book of Mormon.
The triple threat also won the award for Best Cabaret show at the BroadwayWorld Australia Awards in 2020 for producing and starring in Siblingship alongside his sister Chiara.
"It's been an absolute dream and I loved being able to help bring this incredible work to life in Australia. It was an honor," Assetta said of his time on Hamilton.
"As for what's next, we'll see where the wind takes me but I'm hoping it'll be working on something fun and making little Daniel proud."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more
