8-year-old dressed like Princess Tiana wows Disney World crowd with her dancing
For Sydney Elise Russell's eighth birthday, she and her family traveled to the place where all dreams come true: Walt Disney World.
But she had no idea that she was going to become a star for a day at the Magic Kingdom.
Sydney's birthday surprises kicked off with a trip to Disney World's Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where she got a makeover inspired by her favorite Disney princess, Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog."
Afterward, she wandered the Magic Kingdom to meet other princesses
While there, Sydney heard some familiar music in the park and started to dance along.
"The band was playing music and they started playing 'When We're Human,' from 'Princess and the Frog,'" Sydney's mom, Dr. Tiffany McKinnon-Russell, told "GMA." "She just started dancing by herself and enjoying the music."
That's when a PhotoPass photographer noticed the little princess and brought her over to the Walt Disney World Marching Band to dance along to their music.
In a video posted by Sydney's mother on Facebook, a crowd can be seen gathering around the 8-year-old as she bopped along to the music.
The video received more than 30,000 views on Facebook within two days.
"It was just a surreal moment," McKinnon-Russell said. "She's super extroverted, big personality, she's just a showstopper."
"I knew she was going to seize the moment. I didn't know it was going to be that big," she said.
The cherry on top of the day was when Sydney got to meet Princess Tiana herself.
"She was really happy to see somebody wearing her own dress and I told her all the things we have in common," Sydney told "GMA." "I told her that I love to bake, my favorite color is green and we're both black."
Another trait that Sydney and Princess Tiana have in common is they're both dedicated to their passion. Sydney is an actress, dancer and singer who has a website dedicated to her performances.
Her mother shared that parents "really [should] try to find ways to help them explore their passions, whether it's taking classes or doing field trips."
"Whatever it happens to be, that helps them explore those things now, and kind of find their identity and what they love now, because you never know what it is that you're sparking in your child," she said.
Sydney also shared her advice for others when it comes to pursuing their dreams: "If you want to do something, just go for it."
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