A French dance group has won a place in the final of the US TV show America’s Got Talent and is now in with a chance of winning $1million (€947,000) in prize money.
The Mega Unity group, from the Studio Attitude dance school near Bordeaux, won audiences and judges over with their performance in which the dancers wear all black, black blindfolds, and use only their arms to make shapes.
During the audition stage, judge Howie Mandel used his ‘golden buzzer’, which sends the performer straight to the live shows, or final stages. Judge Simon Cowell said: “It was perfection. Just perfection.”
Judge Heidi Klum said: “You guys were so amazingly in-sync, even though you couldn’t see anything, and there’s so many of you. But it was so elegant, so much grace. I thought it was fantastic.”
The 65 members - aged from 13 to 50 - are now travelling to Pasadena, California, to take part in the final, to be held later today in the US (September 27; and Thursday, September 28 on French time).
The winner will net almost €950,000 and will likely go on to have future opportunities.
One of the dancers, Stella Fernandez, said the group, whose piece is called ‘Murmuration’, was incredibly proud. She told France 3 Aquitaine: “When you realise that all of your efforts have paid off and you haven’t been working for nothing, I think it’s the best feeling in the world; pride!”
The group’s assistant choreographer, Jibril Maillot (who works with lead choreographer Sadeck Berrabah) said that getting to the final brought positive stress. He said: “It adds a bit more pressure. We feel that we have more weight on our shoulders but we need this pressure to motivate us and reach the best level.”
This is not the first time the troupe has participated on a television stage. In 2021, it took part in France’s equivalent programme, La France a un incroyable talent, and won second place.
Read also
Faire la danseuse and more French dance expressions
Daft Punk, French dance music duo, splits after 28 years
Income Tax in France 2023 (for 2022 income)*
Visa and residency cards for France*
