The "Mayyas" troupe during the America's Got Talent semifinals. (Credit: America's Got Talent/Twitter)
The 36 Lebanese dancers of the "Mayyas" troupe, directed by choreographer Nadim Cherfan, qualified on Wednesday night for the final of the American TV show America's Got Talent for their performance in the semi-finals. The final round of the competition, which includes 11 candidates, will be held on Sept. 13.
Mayyas was the first to qualify for the final, the show's host announced, as the audience and judges broke out in applause, with Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell giving the Lebanese dancers a standing ovation when the results were announced. Proud of their all-Lebanese troupe, some in the audience brandished flags with the colors of the country of the cedar to support this all-female troupe. One of the four judges on the panel, Simon Cowell, had said after Mayyas’ number in the semifinals, that "every single person in this room is going to remember this moment, I promise you that,” adding that “this is not going to just change your lives … this is a performance that changes the world.”
"We can't wait to see how Mayyas and Kristy Sellars will wow us in the AGT final," the show's Twitter account said following the announcement of the results.
We cannot wait to see how Mayyas and @kristysellars0 will WOW us in the #AGT finals! ? pic.twitter.com/WHBrEcJk1y
— America’s Got Talent (@AGT) September 8, 2022
"The pressure ahead is even greater," Nadim Cherfan said in an initial reaction on LBCI after the cast qualified. "Simon Cowell told me: I wish I was as talented as you," the choreographer added.
In the semifinal, Mayyas gave a stunning performance and received a standing ovation from the judges and the audience.
Mayyas' performance is breathtaking. #AGT pic.twitter.com/vBgWzHVnwp
— America’s Got Talent (@AGT) September 7, 2022
A video showing the performance of "Mayyas" on September 7, 2022 during the semi-final of AGT.
An online vote, open to all Internet users in the US and some US territories, was held for several hours to determine the candidates that qualified for the finals.
The 36 dancers amazed the jury during their first audition last June, so much so that they were offered a direct ticket to the quarterfinals. Mayyas had previously earned the winner’s title at the Arab’s Got Talent Show in 2019.
