There wasn't a dry eye in the house at Crufts when, most unexpectedly, a new ballet superstar was born before our very eyes. Move aside Rudolf Nureyev and Darcey Bussell and make way for... a little dog called Joya. The chihuahua and its owner have gone viral on Twitter after their stunning performance of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Swan Lake, drew rapturous praise and adoration from audiences at Crufts and across the internet.
Joya's owner, Karen Bauman, who wore a white leotard and tutu, danced with her dog to recreate the classic ballet, while the talented dog tried to impress the judges with its perfect poise and elegance.
Audience hearts swelled as the stirring music built to a crescendo and the duo whirled between little plastic swan props, before together falling to the ground in a climactic and dramatic ending, Joya's four paws held in perfect points.
Naturally, Twitter absolutely lost its mind over the spectacle. One tweeted: "Please tell me why I’m watching crufts and have just cried at a chihuahua doing a ballet dance". While another said: "I cannot believe none of you told me there was a Chihuahua doing Swan Lake at Crufts."
Sadly, despite the beauty of the routine the dog did not win a single medal. She's clearly not appreciated in her own time. Sigh. Unbelievably, it isn't even the first time Swan Lake has been attempted by a dog. The routine was performed by a Border Collie in 2016. The Crufts Dog Show was broadcast live on Channel 4 from the NEC in Birmingham.
