It Started with a Beat and a Bit of Joy

You know how sometimes something just clicks? You hear a beat, your foot starts tapping, and before you know it, you’re trying a new dance in the middle of your kitchen? That was Kelley Heyer’s Apple dance for a lot of folks here in Manitoba.

It wasn’t about perfection—it was about fun. And that kind of joy doesn’t always come easy during our long winters. Maybe that’s why it spread so fast. Kids were doing it on sidewalks outside Tim’s, teens posted it from basements in Brandon, and yeah, even a few parents gave it a whirl in their flannel pajamas. It was honest, silly, catchy, and weirdly comforting.

It didn’t feel like something pushed by an influencer or a brand. It felt like something one of us could’ve made. Because it was. Kelley’s a creator. She made that moment from scratch. And when something like that connects, it deserves a little respect.

Then Roblox Took the Dance—Without a Real Deal

So here’s where things get messy. Roblox, that big-time online game where players dress up avatars and build their own worlds, added Kelley’s Apple dance into their game Dress to Impress. They made it into an emote. Basically, for $1.25, your character could do Kelley’s exact moves.

But there’s a big problem—Kelley never actually gave them permission.

Yes, she copyrighted the dance in 2024. And yes, there were talks with Roblox about licensing it. But no contract was signed. No final agreement. Still, they launched it. Sold it. And reportedly made over $123,000 before quietly removing it.

Meanwhile, Kelley didn’t earn a dime.

So she’s suing. Not because she’s trying to stir up drama—but because something she made was taken, plain and simple.

Around Here, That Just Doesn’t Fly

In Manitoba, we’re proud of our homemade things. Whether it’s bannock fresh off the fire, a fiddle tune played on a porch, or a TikTok dance shared with friends—we don’t take shortcuts. And when someone does good work? We give credit. We say thank you.

Kelley didn’t ask for the world. She just wanted to be included in the success of something she created. That’s not greed—that’s basic fairness.

We’ve seen too many stories of small creators being ignored by companies with more power and louder voices. But here? We don’t forget where things come from. And we sure don’t pretend someone else made them.

Just So the Picture’s Clear

Let’s break it down:

• 1 original, copyrighted dance by Kelley
• 60,000+ emote sales inside Roblox’s game
• $123,000+ earned off her choreography
• 0 signed license
• 1 lawsuit to set the record straight

Roblox tossed out a statement saying they “respect intellectual property,” but that’s about it. No mention of Kelley’s name. No real explanation. Just a whole lot of looking the other way.

She’s Doing What a Lot of Creators Wish They Could

Most of us probably wouldn’t have the time—or the nerve—to take on a company like Roblox. But Kelley did. She’s standing up not just for her dance, but for every kid who’s posted something online and wondered if it mattered. Every Manitoban artist who’s been overlooked or underpaid. Every creator who knows what it’s like to work quietly, hoping someone sees them.

She’s saying: “This was mine. You don’t get to erase me.”

And honestly? That kind of courage feels a lot like home.

So next time you scroll past someone doing the Apple dance in a snow-dusted backyard or a school hallway in Thompson, remember where it came from. Remember Kelley. And remember that even the smallest spark deserves to shine on its own terms.