Greensburg's nimble 'BoBella' contorts way to fame

When Bella Gantt saw the Disney animated film “Brave,” she found a heroine who, with her tight, copper-colored curls, looked a lot like her.

And the character, Merida, could shoot a bow.

“I want to do that,” Bella told her mother.

Now, the Greensburg girl shoots her own arrows, hot pink from a black bow — while upside down in a handstand.

With her feet.

Bella is a 10-year-old foot archer.

During a recent practice session at Dance Extensions Performing Arts Center in Canonsburg, Bella, aka “BoBella,” clutched the bow with her toes. Her right foot drew back the arrow and let it fly.

Most times, it hit and popped a balloon target.

The occasional errant arrow struck the ceiling, or a dance studio window.

“It's Plexiglas,” studio co-owner and ballet instructor Dawn Churney said, laughing.

For almost three years, Bella, daughter of Emmett and Krissey Gantt, has studied jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet and other classes.

Her contortion skills have helped her YouTube videos to go viral, her Instagram (dancebella24) viewings to grow and resulted in parade and television performances.

She's hit her target while rotating on handstand canes and while blindfolded.

“She's a very determined little girl,” Krissey Gantt said.

Mother and daughter travel to the Washington County studio several times a week.

Bella is a fifth-grade student at Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.

She spends so much time practicing and traveling, her mother said, that a structured public school day would not work for her.

According to the dance school's website, contortion involves stretching what you strengthen and strengthening what you stretch.

Studio co-owner Betsy Shuttleworth, who gives Bella private lessons, instructs several other young contortionists.Core strength, she said, is more important than flexibility.

“These girls are conditioned. They are strong. (Bella) was strong first and became flexible quickly,” Shuttleworth said.

Her daughter practices at least five hours a day, Krissey Gantt said. “She's very dedicated. As long as she stays dedicated, I have to be,” she said.

Even without the bow, Bella's body-bending is impressive.

Practicing a lyrical routine, which combines elements of jazz or ballet with flexibility, she arched her back, brought her legs over her head and slid into full splits.

With wide brown eyes and a smattering of freckles, she broke into a toothy grin as her limbs coiled and stretched in what seemed impossible positions.

Bella films herself practicing new routines and uses the videos as a training guide, her mother said.

She will be among the studio's students dancing in the Nov. 26 Pittsburgh Holiday Parade.

She has performed with the all-children circus, Le Petit Cirque, was featured during a live broadcast on The Weather Channel in September and has filmed a segment for Steve Harvey's television show, “Little Big Shots.”

That performance could air next season, Shuttleworth said.

During her free time, Bella likes to color and put on shows at home.

“I play outside when I'm taking a break. I choreographed a few dances, and neighbors came. We made flyers and told them to come see the circus,” she said.

While she is a bit young to be planning a profession, teaching others what she's learned may be in her future.

“She said when her bones are old, she wants to own a studio,” Krissey Gantt said.

Mary Pickels is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com.