Shake it off: Michelle Obama had a dance party with toddler from viral photo

 

Two-year-old Parker Curry captured the hearts of millions when the photo of her gazing at a portrait of Michelle Obama went viral.

 

The special moment was captured by Ben Hines at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

 

 

As a young girl, even in my wildest dreams, I never could have imagined this moment. Nobody in my family has ever had a portrait - there are no portraits of the Robinsons or the Shields from the South Side of Chicago. This is all a little bit overwhelming, especially when I think about all of the young people who will visit the National Portrait Gallery and see this, including so many young girls and young girls of color who don’t often see their images displayed in beautiful and iconic ways. I am so proud to help make that kind of history. But the fact is that none of this would be possible without the extraordinary artist and woman behind this portrait, @asherald. Thank you, Amy – it was a joy to work with you and get to know you.

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Feb 12, 2018 at 9:58am PST

He shared the photo on Facebook, “Donna Hines & I made a pilgrimage today and we were delighted to wait in line behind this fellow art lover & hopeful patriot.”

 

The toddler’s dreams have now come true after Michelle Obama visited her this week.

 

 

The former First Lady shared the sweetest photos from her trip. She wrote, “Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you!”

 

Michelle also shared the greatest video of the pair dancing to Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, which fans adored.

 

“This fills my heavy exhausted heart with pure unadulterated joy. Thank you. We miss you and your grace,” said one fan.

 

Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you! pic.twitter.com/faUVTsYWun

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) March 6, 2018

 

Another shared, “You are SUCH an amazing woman - inspiring, strong, intelligent & beautiful! Keep spreading love & reminding girls how strong they too can be.”

 

One fan asked the most important question that's been on our minds, “How does one sign up for a dance party?... asking for a friend.” Seriously- can Michelle visit us and host a dance party?

 

 

Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you!

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Mar 6, 2018 at 9:19am PST

 

When Michelle’s portrait was unveiled, she hoped it would inspire generations of women, “I’m thinking about all of the young people, particularly girls and girls of colour, who, in years ahead, will come to this place and they will look up and they will see an image of someone who looks like them hanging on the wall of this great American institution.”

 

Michelle is such a huge inspiration to women around the world. We love that she made the effort to meet little Parker.

 

Plus, the video of the pair dancing to Shake It Off has filled us with oodles of joy.