The 36 female Lebanese dancers of the "Mayyas" troupe, directed by choreographer Nadim Cherfan, again dazzled the jury of the popular American TV show America's Got Talent and its audience on Tuesday night. The pressure was on and the stakes were high as Mayyas' performance would be the group's last chance at victory.
The act opened with one dancer. The 35 others formed her petticoat, with undulating white fans of feathers as the music starts. One performer did a belly dance. Dressed in golden outfits, small balls of light in their hands, the troupe began a seemingly perfectly synchronized dance. In three minutes, they brought the jury and the audience to their feet applauding and cheering.
? @mayyasofficial give another jaw-dropping performance. #AGT pic.twitter.com/YXnGAibV8N
— America’s Got Talent (@AGT) September 14, 2022
"There's nothing that I can say because you guys are the best thing that has taken the stage of AGT," said judge and actress Sofia Vergara, who had given them her "golden buzzer."
"This is what a million-dollar act looks like," added supermodel Heidi Klum. For Simon Cowell, the Mayyas' performance was "astonishing." Comedian Howie Mandel said it is "his favorite performance."
"It's great for you, great for women, for women's empowerment, for your country," Mandel added. Audience members waved the Lebanese flag. “We made it this far because of you, thank you so much,” one of the dancers said.
The suspense in anticipation of the competition's outcome will continue until votes are tallied. After the performances of the 11 finalists, people in the US will vote for their favorite candidate. That candidate will win one million dollars.
Results will be tallied and announced on Wednesday night, at 3 a.m. Beirut time.
The 36 dancers had won over the jury during their first audition last June, scoring them a direct ticket to the quarterfinals.