Thousand Oaks Natives Competing on Television Dance Show

Thousand Oaks natives Robert Roldan and Melinda Sullivan are competing on this season of the hit Fox competition So You Think You Can Dance.

Named as two of the top eleven contestants in the show’s seventh season during last Thursday’s episode, the two begin the actual competition during tonight’s two-hour show.

Roldan, 19, began taking classes at Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts in Newbury Park when he was 11 and currently resides in North Hollywood. A contemporary dancer, he says he was originally “forced into” dancing but now loves it, having performed on Dancing with the Stars and worked with well-known choreographers and dancers such as Travis Wall and Mandy Moore.

Sullivan, 22, is the only tap dancer competing this season. Born in Long Island, she also resided there from 2005 until recently but now lives in Thousand Oaks. She began dancing when she was four years old and once had the opportunity to tap with Gregory Hines during a “jam session.”

Sullivan won the nonclassical dance award at the Music Center of Los Angeles Spotlight Awards in 2004 when she was just 16. Since then she has appeared in several musical theater productions, including the 25^th national tour of Cats and the world premiere of the stage productions of High School Musical 1 and 2.

Check your TV guide for viewing times on your local Fox affiliate tonight, when the show pairs the dancers with randomly selected choreographers and dance partners.