TERRE HAUTE —
Many Terre Haute residents will be glued to their TVs Wednesday and Thursday nights cheering on a dancer with strong ties to the Wabash Valley.
Lauren Froderman, 18, of Phoenix, Ariz., is one of just 11 finalists on the Fox television show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”
The highly competitive program, which will be broadcast live from Hollywood, features dance routines from the small group of finalists who have survived months of difficult competition.
In facing this final phase of the competition, Lauren Froderman will have a big cheering section 2,000 miles away in Terre Haute.
“It’s surreal,” said Valerie Kraemer, Lauren’s aunt and one of several local residents related to the talented dancer. “We’re proud to get to see her live her dream after working so hard.”
Being a hard worker is one of the personality traits Froderman says she has in spades on her Fox “So You Think You Can Dance” Web site. In addition to being a good student, a cheerleader and president of her high school class, Froderman practices dancing at least 15 hours per week, her family said.
“She’s deserving. She’s worked very hard,” Kraemer said.
Lauren’s grandparents, Bobbi and Norm Froderman, live in Riley. Her father, Troy Froderman, is a 1982 graduate of Terre Haute South Vigo High School.
Lauren Froderman, who just graduated from high school in Phoenix, has been dancing almost since she could walk. She started dancing at age 3 and has been dancing competitively and in dance programs for 12 years. At age 10, she danced with the Phoenix Rockettes at which time her name was listed in the Broadway publication “Playbill.”
Despite all of her success, Lauren, who plans to attend Loyola Marymount University, remains very humble, Bobbie Froderman said. She also likes to joke around a lot and is very “down to earth,” her grandmother said. “She’s got a great personality.”
After Wednesday night’s competition on “So You Think You Can Dance,” the public will be invited to vote for their favorite dancer by calling a toll free number. One dancer will be eliminated each week until the show crowns a champion in August.
According to her profile on the “So You Think You Can Dance” Web site, Lauren Froderman has training in several styles of dance including ballet, contemporary, jazz, Hip Hop and a little tap. Her favorite professional dancer is Baryshnikov, she said. She plans to someday become a teacher, although her family said she also hopes to someday dance on Broadway.
Lauren Froderman’s family in Terre Haute has been watching her dance since she was just four years old. They have a scrap book that includes a large article from an Arizona newspaper. The article tells of Froderman’s dancing at age 10 with the Phoenix Rockettes.
“I can’t think of anything else I would rather be doing,” Lauren Froderman told the paper at the time. “I love the thrill of dancing.”
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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Related Photos
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They know that contestant: Abi Gibens, Bobbi Froderman and Valerie Kraemer are related to “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant Lauren Froderman of Phoenix and are rooting her on as one of the last 11 contestants on the program. Joseph C. Garza
Discussion
They know she can dance: 'So You Think You Can Dance' contestant has relatives in TH
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