A finalist on the popular TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" is a member of the UCC who first learned about the denomination because of its welcoming TV commercials.

Matt Dorame, 22, a member of First Congregational UCC in Phoenix, is one of 16 finalists on the hit reality dance show, which incorporates American-Idol-style voting from the viewing public. Watch Dorame dance.

The show airs on Wednesday nights on Fox TV, where each contestant performs and viewers are given the opportunity to vote for their favorite dancer. On Thursdays, the results are announced and the most popular performers advance to the next week's competition.

Dorame, who has been dancing since he was 7 years old, studied with the Arizona Ballet Theater while attending the Arizona School for the Performing Arts at Arizona State University. It was there that he first discovered the UCC.

"Having attended ASU, he was familiar with little church on the corner," said Colleen Dorama, Matt's mother. "While watching a commercial on TV one night, Matt saw an advertisement for the UCC church. He realized the two were one and the same. He first began attending in 2006 and has been there ever since. When he is traveling he finds a UCC church in the area to attend."

Now, Matt's mother, father and brother also attend the Phoenix congregation, where his mother has assumed leadership for the church's Christian Nurturing and Education Ministry Team.

"Matt has a strong faith that keeps him grounded," she said. "He had attended various churches searching for a place where he could feel comfortable and welcomed." First Congregational UCC in Phoenix is an Open and Affirming congregation.

The dancing Dorame has participated in several intensive dance programs, including courses with the American Ballet Theater in New York. During the past two years, he has been performing with Odyssey Dance Theater in Salt Lake City.

The UCC congregation is rallying support for Dorame and is excited by his success on the show, according to Jeffrey Dirrim, the church's minister to the young adult community.

"Matt's parents have been flying back and forth from Phoenix to Los Angeles each week to support Matt at each taping," Dirrim said. "Colleen was recently surprised to be called on during our Sunday morning worship announcements to give the congregation an update on how Matt was doing. When Colleen announced he was a finalist on the show, there were immediate cheers and applause throughout the congregation."

Susan Abbott, a church member who administers the congregation's Facebook group, has been rallying support for Dorame.

"Matt is such a talented dancer," Abbott said. "I am praying he makes it to the end. It's awesome that someone from our church is on TV."