Nanaimo teen's viral dance video earns more than 22 million views
When Jacksun was younger he dreamed of lacing-up a pair of space-boots.
"For a long time I wanted to be an astronaut," the now 18-year-old says.
Instead of wanting to blast-off into space, when Carlow was little, he hoped to lift up people’s moods.
"Just putting smiles on people’s faces," 19-year-old Carlow says. "I loved that."
But then Jacksun saw an out-of-this-world dance performance on TV.
"I see these dudes spinning on their heads doing crazy stuff," Jackson remembers. "Let’s try that! I want to do that!"
Just like when Carlow couldn’t stop smiling after happening upon a local dance performance.
"‘That’s so cool mom!’" Carlow recalls saying. "‘Look at them! I want to do that!’"
Fast-forward a decade or so and Jacksun and Carlow found themselves in the same city, in the same dance class.
"We had good chemistry right off the bat," Jacksun says.
"There’s something going on here," Carlow remembers thinking. "We should definitely do something!"
They decided to become a duo named Funkenometry and started winning bigger and bigger dance competitions.
"And when we performed in L.A. we got scouted for [the TV show] ‘World of Dance,’" Jacksun says.
Jacksun and Carlow impressed the Jennifer Lopez-led judges panel enough to make it through three rounds on the reality show’s third season, and be invited back for the fourth.
"We could actually take dancing as a career," Carlow says.
Their professional prospects couldn’t have been going better until along came COVID-19 and they returned home.
"Everyone was freaking out," Jackson says.
"I was scared," Carlow admits.
The pair didn’t see each other for months, until they came up with a plan.
"We couldn’t go perform," Jackson says, before Carlow adds: "So let’s bring it to them on the screen."
They started posting videos of themselves on Facebook and Tik Tok, performing energetic dances choreographed to infectious songs ranging from the Bee Gees to Stevie Wonder. They were shot all over Nanaimo from bowling alley lanes to a wedding vow surprise.
"It’s crazy!" Jackson smiles.
"I didn’t expect it to blow up like it did," Carlow adds.
The Funkenometry dance videos have earned hundreds of thousands of followers and this ‘Stayin’ Alive’ performance on Facebook has been viewed more than 22 million times.
"The biggest thing we want people to take away from our videos is a smile," Jackson says.
"And maybe inspire them to go dance or something," Carlow adds.
"And just kind of follow your dreams!" Jackson says.
Because even if you don’t end up as an astronaut travelling to space, you could still find yourself like Funkanometry — en route to becoming stars.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.