Brookfield girl serves as backup dancer for Justin Bieber

Lilly Bingen (left) stands outside Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with her big sister, Nina, before a Justin Bieber concert. She won a place as a backup dancer. Photo By Nina Bingen

For most people, just going to see one of your favorite artists in concert is a dream come true.

But 12-year-old Lilly Bingen got to do much more than that.

Lilly, a seventh grader at Pilgrim Park Middle School, spent June 25 in Indianapolis with her sister, Nina. It was no coincidence that pop star Justin Bieber's was also there. Lilly was in town to do much more than attend the concert, to enjoy much more than even front-row status.

On Bieber's current "Purpose" tour, he is adding an interactive twist to his performances, inviting four young fans to accompany him on stage at each stop.

Lilly and three others joined Bieber at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse to serve as backup dancers for his performance of "Children."

"We got to freestyle and we learned a routine, too," Lilly said.

In order to audition to be one of the lucky fans, Lilly and thousands of others this spring sent in videos of themselves performing the dance-step routine of "Children."

"We had to learn the routine to send in our video to audition and then we had to perform that routine on stage as well," Lilly said.

With so many contestants entering, Lilly was naturally overwhelmed at being chosen. That feeling took quite awhile to subside.

"It was so incredible. I was shocked. Even when I got there, I couldn't really believe that it was actually happening," Lilly said. "It was so surreal. When I got up on stage and when he was talking to me was when I finally was like 'Wow, this is definitely happening.'"

Lilly has had Bieber-Fever since the Canadian singer and songwriter's initial rise to fame through YouTube covers and his first album, "My World."

Lilly, who lives in Brookfield with her sister and her father, Chad, said some of her other favorite artists are Ariana Grande, Beyonce and Fifth Harmony. She has been dancing since she was 7 years old and is currently in the Advanced Intermediate Platinum Company at Accent on Dance Studios in Waukesha.

In addition to getting to be on stage for one song, Lilly reveled in being able to meet one of her favorite artists in person.

"After we danced he asked me my name and I got to hug him," Lilly said. "He was really nice."

Attempts to contact Bieber's tour or representatives for comment were unsuccessful.

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