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RI native to appear on ‘Idol’ of dancing

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By David Heitz | Saturday, June 09, 2007 |

A former Rock Island woman will bust some moves on national television next week in hopes that America will decide she’s got rhythm.

Sara Von Gillern, 23, of Fort Collins, Colo., will appear on the hit Fox television show “So You Think You Can Dance” at 7 p.m. Wednesday and 8 p.m. Thursday on KLJB-TV in the Quad-City region. She is one of 20 finalists on the show, which is produced by Nigel Lythgoe, whose long list of credits includes “American Idol.”

Much like “Idol,” viewers will see the contestants dance Wednesday and have a chance to call in and vote for their favorite performer. Two contestants will be sent home Thursday.

“I think she’s going to go all the way,” said Tammy Singh, owner of the Academy for the Performing Arts in downtown Moline, where Von Gillern took lessons for several years. “I am so thrilled for her.”

The show also is similar to “Idol” in the way a panel of judges makes comments on the participants’ performances. Lythgoe doubles as a judge and has been described as even meaner than Simon Cowell from “Idol.”

Von Gillern’s mother, Cindy, said Friday that her daughter “has been dancing since she could walk.” Sara entered the “Dance” competition through a tryout in Chicago.

A Rock Island High School graduate, Sara has danced for the Denver Nuggets National Basketball Association team, completed an internship with the Broadway Dance Center in New York City and was selected to be part of the Red Bull: Beat Rider program, which gave her the chance to work with some of the biggest names in the hip-hop and break dancing world.

A self-described B-girl, today’s hip verbiage for break dancer, Sara can dance many different styles. “But hip-hop is what she loves,” Cindy said. “She dresses like the B-girls.”

Sara, whose contract with the TV show specifies that she cannot grant interviews to the news media while she is in the competition, graduated last year from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. She teaches dance for a living.

Singh expects great things from Sara. “When she performs, she is electric on stage. You can’t take your eyes off her,” Singh added.

Sara’s appearance on “Dance” likely will catapult her career, Singh said.

“This is huge. What an opportunity. There are not that many dancing jobs out there. You really have to be on top of your game and be in the right place at the right time.”

David Heitz can be contacted at (563) 383-2202 or dheitz@qctimes.com.