Mikayla Phillips and Nathan Ellison’s VIRAL Daddy-Daughter Wedding Dance

In October 2016, a wedding celebration held in Utah captured the attention of millions across the globe when a bride and her father executed a surprise performance that completely defied traditional wedding expectations. Mikayla Phillips, an experienced and trained dancer, teamed up with her father, Nathan Ellison, to transform their scheduled father-daughter dance into a high-energy, multi-song spectacle. This unique routine has since achieved massive popularity, garnering an incredible 41.4 million views on YouTube to date. The bride, who originally met her husband, Cody Phillips, while they were both performing with the International Folk Dance Ensemble at Brigham Young University, sought to create an unforgettable and joyous moment for their 400 wedding guests.

The performance was designed to shock the audience, beginning in a conventional and sentimental manner as the pair swayed gently to the slow, classic tempo of Bob Carlisle’s “Butterfly Kisses.” However, the atmosphere shifted abruptly when the music cut to a sharp vinyl scratch, transitioning into the upbeat hip-hop rhythm of MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This.” Donning matching sunglasses, the duo immediately broke into vibrant, synchronized choreography that prompted immediate cheers and hollers from the wedding party. This unexpected turn set the tone for a four-minute mash-up that blended various musical eras and dance styles, proving that a wedding dance could be both heartfelt and hilariously entertaining for everyone in attendance.

The routine continued through a series of rapid musical changes, including the Sugarhill Gang’s “Apache (Jump On It),” which featured energetic, stylized cowboy movements that sent the crowd into a frenzy. The choreography also incorporated segments from LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem,” featuring sharp arm movements and street-style dance, before transitioning into the disco-era classic “Shake Your Groove Thing” by Peaches & Herb. The routine further evolved to include intricate Bollywood-inspired sequences, humorous Tom Jones lip-sync impressions, and a final, modern hip-hop segment set to the hit track “Dessert” by Dawin, which brought the high-energy performance to a close.

Watch the full performance on page two