If you aren't following Donté Colley on Instagram, then what exactly are you waiting for? The 21-year-old from Toronto, Canada, has gone viral on Instagram [1] for his emoji-filled motivational dance posts, which have been featured on everything from Good Morning America to Busy Tonight.
As Donté explained to BuzzFeed News, he never expected his videos to take off like they have, but social media can be a dark place [2], so why not bring some positivity to everyone's feeds? "I guess I make these videos because I just like making people feel good," he said. And we're so glad you do, Donté. After you watch his best videos [3], check out the gallery for some fun facts about the social media star.
He's a Self-Trained Dancer
Believe it or not, Donté taught all of those slick moves to himself [5]. "I've never had training, but when I was young, and it sounds really weird, I was a huge fan of Sailor Moon," he told Flare. "That's how I learned to twist and turn. I definitely want to get more technical training, but at the same time I love having fun with it." His biggest dance inspiration? Mette Towley, whom you might know from N.E.R.D and Rihanna [6]'s "Lemon" music video.
He Uses Premiere Pro and After Effects to Make His Videos
Wondering how Donté places all those emoji and superimposed messages of confidence in his videos? Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Affect Effects [7]. "I take a song and I either take one video, and I'm happy with it, or I'll take three to five different videos of the same thing," he explained to Fashion. "Once that's done, I kind of just throw it into my Premiere Pro and my After Effects and add all of the graphics in. I figure out the story as I'm editing it, 'cause that's how I make it fun for myself."
He Is Studying Digital Communication in College
The 21-year-old is a student at University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto, which is a collaboration between the University of Guelph and Humber College. Donté is studying digital communication there, and he's set to graduate in 2020 with his bachelor's in communication and media studies.
He Also Works as an Inventory Associate at Aritzia
Before he became best known for his dance videos, Donté was famous for his incredible fashion sense. While balancing being a student and content creator, he also works part time as an inventory associate [8] at Canadian womenswear retailer Aritzia. His signature pieces? Cargo pants, 5XL tees, and oversize blazers. "People often say my personality is pretty loud, especially by seeing the types of things that I wear, but it just feels genuine and authentic to me and who I am," he told The Globe and Mail.
He Appeared in Ariana Grande's "Monopoly" Music Video
Since he started gaining major attention in January, Donté has worked for some big names, including Rihanna [9]'s Savage x Fenty label [10], Will Smith [11], Glossier [12], and even Ariana Grande [13]. In her "Monopoly" music video — which was directed by Grande's personal videographer, Alfredo Flores, and her ex-boyfriend (and former dancer) Ricky Alvarez — Donté served as inspiration [14] and makes a special appearance alongside Ariana and her BFF Victoria Monét. "Thank you so much for letting me be apart of this," he said on Instagram. "Love always."
