Dad who entered dance competition to forget pain of daughter's death wins hearts with killer moves

Fabio Rodolfo Vásques and his wife, María Magalí Moreno, were heartbroken when their beloved daughter passed away due to kidney problems on June 23. The overwhelming grief of losing their child and amid the strain of the coronavirus pandemic left the couple utterly dejected and looking for ways to take their minds off of their pain. Finally, it was their lifelong love for dance that came to their aid. Vásques — better known as El Lobo Vásquez — became an overnight internet sensation last week after a video he'd submitted to the Covi Dance 2020 competition went viral on social media.

Vásquez's killer moves won hearts and fans across the social media platforms as the video of him rocking out to "Danger" from The Flirts was widely shared across the internet. According to Guatevisión, the video was recorded in the couple's home for a contest that was organized on the Facebook page Covi Dance 2020 in which both took part to show off their incredible dance skills. The competition was started by a woman named Ileana Pineda — a Guatemalan who has lived in the United States for 35 years — and has become a huge hit in the Central American country. 

Pineda revealed that she came up with the idea for the competition as a way to have some fun with her family in Guatemala the alleviate the stress of the coronavirus pandemic, the long-periods of confinement, and all the other challenges brought about by the global health crisis. The rules were simple. To participate, one must submit a video of themselves dancing to music from the '70s and '80s and forget about the terrifying and stressful pandemic for a moment. The winner gets a $50 award and if you have moves like Vásques, overnight internet fame.

Although Pineda started the competition for her loved ones, it has since found fans across the globe, with people from all corners of the world sending in their entries. She has received videos from more than a hundred people who were happy to find a way to at least momentarily forget their troubles. "We want to help people be distracted from what we are experiencing," said Pineda, whose cell phone notifications have been through the roof since people started sending in their videos.

As for Vásquez and María, they were initially unsure about participating in the contest while grieving their daughter, revealed a post by the Instagram page Good News Movement. "Fabio 'Lobo' Vásquez and his wife were so grief-stricken over the loss of their 32-year-old daughter in June, that he wasn’t sure whether or not to enter a $50 online dance contest “COVI DANCE.” He reasoned the 'grief is in his heart but let’s do something to not fall into depression.' Lobo posted this video last Wednesday— it’s become an online sensation—he’s received messages of support from around the World," states the post.

Since submitting their respective entries, the couple has received immense support online with many noting how music and dance can help heal even the deepest of wounds.