Star Student

So You Think You Can Dance? Sure do, sure can, sure did, still do, says SYTYCD Star Hayley Erbert

Article Connie “Crash” Humiston | Photography Provided

or six years, Hayley Erbert, a 2013 graduate of Washburn Ru- “P&D is my second family,” she says. “Dana, Teri, Joni, Andi Fral High School in Topeka, drove 180 miles round trip, three and Stephanie, who have been my P&D teachers, plus my fellow to four times weekly, to study at Priscilla and Dana’s School of dancers, have all inspired me in different ways. Not to mention Dance in North Kansas City. Ms. Priscilla who has the kindest heart of anyone I have ever met.” A star student, she became a household name on last year’s sea- Besides high marks for P&D’s amazing staff and hardest-work- son 10 of the hit Fox show, making it into the top three females ing dancers, Erbert learned so much more than dance. before being voted off Aug. 27 by home viewers. Erbert always had “The studio was a place to find myself and develop lifelong friend- the vote at P&D. ships,” she says. “In high school it was the one place I knew I belonged.” “Hayley excels in all genres, which is extremely rare,” affirms Her advice for aspiring students? “Push yourself beyond your instructor Teri Day. “In the flip of a coin, she can be a prima bal- limits. Never give up on your dreams. The main thing is to stay lerina, street hip-hop dancer, playful musical theater performer, humble and true to yourself.” fierce tapper and emotional contemporary dancer.” Undeniably, Erbert is a superstar in these categories. Her talent is a result of years of training and devotion to her “She didn’t change a bit,” Day concurs. “I think the audience loved art, Day relates, plus being further blessed with the ‘it’ factor, that her humbleness and related to her genuine personality. I remember indefinable quality that makes her so incredible. one day realizing she had more than 30,000 followers on Instagram From Oct. to Dec. 2013, Erbert took that ‘it’ factor on the road and Twitter (@dance10hayley)—and she was still posting pictures of with a SYTYCD 45-city tour. Following her move to Los Angeles her family, puppies and dance teammates …. that’s Hayley!” in January 2014, she’s taught master classes nationally and per- The whole world is now a stage for Erbert. formed in a few small shows. “Once the tour is over,” Erbert says, “I will be choreographing Recently, she was selected as one of 10 dancers to join “Dancing group routines around the Midwest and teaching master classes, with the Stars” brother/sister duo Derek and Julianne Hough for including at this fall’s Dancers Inc. Convention. I hope to be audi- their Move Live on Tour through the end of July, in which she tioning for a new tour and traveling abroad in the future.” performs a contemporary duet with Derek Hough. And the world for P&D these days? For the May 28 tour opening in Wichita, Day and P&D Co-own- “We miss watching Hayley dance, but even more we miss her er Dana McGuire were provided tickets due to their huge impact as a person,” Day says. “Her sweet disposition, charisma and indi- on Erbert’s life, says her mother Debbie Schwartz of Topeka. In- viduality are as rare as her talent. She makes us so proud and she deed, it was well worth the drive from Topeka, affirms Erbert. continues to represent Priscilla & Dana’s brilliantly!”

42 Northland Lifestyle | July 2014