A viral video showing a Connecticut dance teacher hugging a group of girls on stage — while skipping over a 9-year-old biracial girl — has sparked global outrage and calls for accountability.
The heartbreaking moment centers around Melissa Breglia’s daughter, who performed in a recent dance competition hosted in Hartford.
In the now-viral clip, dance teacher Nadia Boucher can be seen walking up to the group after their performance, warmly embracing three of the dancers — but noticeably bypassing the young girl standing with arms outstretched, waiting.
“I did all of my moves right, Mommy, and I smiled the whole time,” the girl reportedly told her mother. “But she hugged everybody else except for me.”
The video, uploaded to TikTok by Breglia, has now racked up over 400,000 views and triggered thousands of emotional reactions across platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Social media users from around the world — including Australia, Ghana, Germany, and the U.K. — have rallied in support of the child, sending digital hugs and messages of encouragement.
Breglia, shaken by what she saw, confronted Boucher in the dressing room after the event.
“‘How dare you make my child feel less than,’” Breglia said she told the teacher. “She stiffened up and said, ‘I didn’t do anything, why are you yelling at me?’ And I said, ‘I’m not yelling at you. I want to be yelling at you. And I’m not.’”
Shockingly, both of Breglia’s daughters — including the 11-year-old sister — were removed from the team the next day. Dance Xpressions Studio cited “aggressive behavior” and claimed Breglia breached their contract, adding that there would be no refunds.
Breglia initially second-guessed herself — until another parent in the audience who witnessed the exchange sent her the video, confirming her concerns. She posted it online, where the emotional impact quickly went viral.
The owner of Dance Xpressions Studio, Phyllis Boucher, has been compelled by the backlash to react to the issue with an apology:
“Following the competition, concerns were raised by Shaniah’s family regarding the incident. Our instructor immediately addressed the situation by apologizing to Shaniah, expressing that the exclusion was unintentional and never meant to cause hurt. Emotions were understandably high and efforts were made to move the discussion to a private setting.”
Online, the backlash continues to grow. Among the thousands of comments:
- “Omg this hurt my heart!!!!! I wanna give her hugs! Smh this is so cruel.”
- “I hope she loses her job and never coaches again.”
- “I wonder how she treated this little girl the entire time…”
Though hurt and confused, the 9-year-old has found comfort in the overwhelming support from strangers across the globe.
As her mother shared, “People are telling me, ‘Please hug that little girl and tell her you have support. You have people who want to give you a hug.’”
For now, that simple wish — a hug, inclusion, and acknowledgment — remains at the heart of a story that’s hit home for many.