Seton Hill student competes on 'So You Think You Can Dance'
Standing in front of his TV as a kid, Zach Greene would dance along to the songs as performers competed on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
The 19-year-old Seton Hill University student never thought he’d one day take the stage as a contestant himself.
“I was so incredibly excited because I didn’t expect to make it as far as I did because thousands of dancers try out each year,” he said. “I was just humbled and blessed to make it as far as I did.”
The Fox show is now in its 16th season, and has named winners Nick Lazzarini, who performed with Adele and Kelly Clarkson; Benji Schwimmer, who choreographed Olympic competitor Adam Rippon’s routine; Joshua Allen, who has performed on “Step Up 3,” “Footloose” and “American Horror Story;” and Jeanine Mason who acts on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Submitting his online application along with a video audition, Greene qualified to audition in front of producers in New York in February, and, after that, auditioned in front of the judges — Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy — in Los Angeles at the end of March.
The audition consisted of a solo dance, but also interviews for producers to know if they could work with contestants on camera, Greene said.
“I had a really good feeling about it the whole time,” Greene said. “I felt like it was meant to be for me to be on the show and really start my career.”
Becoming a dancer
Originally from Mars, Greene’s interest in dance sparked when he started going to competitions for his sister, Alyssa, now 23, after she joined a studio.
Learning her routines from watching her dance, Greene said he started to give her tips, and would perform the dances himself around the house.
After that, Greene joined Elite Dance by Damian in Warrendale.
“I grew up in the competition world and it was really cutthroat and sometimes I wasn’t always the best dancer at every competition I was at,” Greene said. “I used to get really disappointed in myself, but realizing I could make it on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ … I realized I could do anything.”
Now, Greene is pursuing dance at Seton Hill while studying to become a physicians assistant, saying his professors worked with him when he would leave for auditions or to film for the show.
“I study a lot,” Greene said. “I also dance a lot. Dance is really my stress reliever for school. I find time to do everything and it’s been working out so far.”
But the dream of becoming a physician assistant could be changing, he said, adding that he fell in love with Los Angeles and is looking at schools out there, making auditions easily accessible.
“If a big enough opportunity happens to me again I will focus on dance,” he said. “I feel like I was meant to be a dancer even though I do like my other major a lot. I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something.”
Greene said he plans on auditioning for the Fox show again next year now that he knows the process. Greene said he could not discuss how far he made it on this season.
Named winners at the end of the season get a $250,000 cash prize, according to the show’s website. After the show is over, the show’s top 10 contestants perform “So You Think You Can Dance Live” in cities across the country.
This season runs through September, Greene said.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.