Hayley Erbert, a young woman with Iola roots, has danced her way into the top 10 of one of America’s most popular competitions. THE REGISTER caught up with Jerry for a quick update on her progress, and how they are dealing with the whirlwind of being on a nationally-televised competition. HAYLEY has been dancing since she was four, working on her craft daily. She attended Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, where her mother Debbie Schwartz lives. So You Think You Can Dance airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on the FOX network.
Erbert, whose father, Jerry, lives in Iola, tried out for So You Think You Can Dance in November in Austin, Texas. She won a nod from judges and moved on to the next level of competition in Las Vegas.
It seemed to be somewhat of a trend.
Hayley impressed the judges enough to be selected for the top 34 competitors, who were flown to Hollywood, Calif. The FOX network flew all of the dancers each week for the competition, until 14 more dancers (seven men, and seven women) were eliminated from the show. Then, it was down to the top 20. Over the past several weeks, the competition has heated up, and now there are only 10 remaining — Hayley is one of them.
“Last week was by far her best performance,” Jerry said of Hayley’s presentation on Tuesday, which placed her in the top dancers. “That thing was awesome.”
He has had the opportunity to visit with his daughter in California during the competition, but communication has been limited.
“You really don’t have a lot of contact,” he said. “They are dancing 12 to 14 hours a day. It’s so hard to talk to her.”
While in Los Angeles for filming, a kind security guard gave Jerry a memorable favor. He snuck his security pass to him so he could see his daughter while she was being interviewed, and snap a few photos.
“That was really cool,” Jerry said.
He said he gets to talk to Hayley briefly from time to time, and sends her text messages for encouragement before competing. The entire family, along with friends from across the country, have been following her progress throughout the show’s season. He said her biggest fan is right here in Iola — her great-grandmother Dona Erbert.
But, Jerry said none is more nervous than he is when he sees his daughter dance in front of the judges.
“I’m nervous for her,” he said. “I get this lump in my throat, you know, you feel like you’re going to cry.”
Although, with all of Hayley’s success, he and his family truly believe she can win the entire competition.
“The way she’s been dancing, I think she can win it all,” he said.
Jerry said the competition is stiff on the show, and it’s only getting tougher. Nevertheless, he believes America has connected with his daughter.
She has 6,874 followers on Twitter — users are consistently giving her messages of support.
“Cannot wait to see @Dance10Hayley on the SYTYCD tour… I hope I can meet her!! #inspiration,” one Twitter user wrote on Hayley’s account. Another wrote, “my thoughts whenever watching @Dance10Hayley, ‘my daughter will dance just like her someday..’”
It seems she has America smitten with what her father calls “a down-to-earth” personality. But still, no one is more proud than Jerry. He remembered seeing her talk to her fans in Los Angeles — particularly the little girls. It reminded him of how far she has come.
“You’d swear to God they thought she was the queen of England in their eyes,” he said. “That was one of the proudest moments of my life.”
DANCIN’ TO THE TOP ERBERT IN TOP 10 OF DANCE SHOW
