Gbari Gilliam, a staple of Los Angeles's dance circuit, is in a hospital bed instead of onstage after collapsing during rehearsal last Friday. He was rushed to Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center, where he remains as doctors evaluate his condition. Friends, fellow dancers, and fans have quickly closed ranks around him while his family searches for the nurse credited with performing life‑saving CPR.
According to NBC Los Angeles, Gilliam went into cardiac arrest at rehearsal and was taken to Cedars‑Sinai. Doctors told his family they believe he has an undiagnosed condition, which they think is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and said they are “weighing options, but we are looking at a heart transplant.” His mother, Tuseda Graggs‑Borden, described him as “kind, sweet” and said he is currently stable. The outlet also reports that friends have launched a GoFundMe to help with rising medical costs.
Gilliam grew up in Oakland and went on to study dance at UCLA, where he earned a BA and trained across styles including West African, house, and waacking, per CAP UCLA. Over the years, he has become a familiar face in the city’s hip‑hop and street‑dance world and has taken the stage with Versa‑Style Dance Company at venues such as the Ford Amphitheatre, according to the LA Dance Chronicle. Fellow performers credit his teaching and performances with shaping a new generation of Los Angeles dancers.
The community credited a nurse with saving his life
Choreographer Comfort Fedoke told NBC Los Angeles that a nearby nurse stepped in and administered CPR, helping paramedics revive Gilliam. His family is now trying to track that nurse down to thank her face-to-face. Friends and relatives say the fundraiser was created to address what they describe as “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in medical bills, and that the community has responded quickly, according to NBC Los Angeles. His partner and dance colleague, Shantel Urina, has stayed at his bedside while messages of support pour in across local dance networks.
What hypertrophic cardiomyopathy means for a young dancer
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a cardiac condition in which the heart wall thickens, which can interfere with how the heart pumps and can trigger dangerous arrhythmias. The Mayo Clinic notes that many people with HCM are treated with medications, procedures, or implantable devices, while a heart transplant can be considered for those with severe heart failure that does not respond to other therapies. The American Heart Association points out that HCM is a leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, which underscores why immediate CPR and rapid hospital care are so critical.
How to follow the case
Gilliam’s family has requested privacy as they focus on his care, and organizers say they will share fundraising links and medical updates through dance‑community channels. For now, supporters and local dance outlets are keeping up a steady stream of encouragement while medical teams at Cedars‑Sinai continue to consider next steps.
