Performance of Israeli dog and trainer dancing duo on 'America's Got Talent' goes viral

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In a performance that gained a standing ovation, Roni Sagi from Israel and her Border Collie "Rhythm" won great accolades on America’s Got Talent. However, their success extended beyond the audition room, quickly going viral when the video from the contest soared into the top 10 videos trending online.

Sagi and Rhythm brought their dance routine all the way from Tel Aviv to the American talent show, greatly impressing Simon Cowell and the other three judges. Cowell noted: “When you said your dog can dance, he actually dances better than human dancers we’ve had on,” with Howie Mandel adding that the dance duo’s performance was “like ballet.”

Rhythm had clearly perfected the moves with trainer Sagi as they danced to a version of “California Dreamin'” by music artist Sia. The applause and ovation from the audience and judges were not the only testament to their hard work and success because, within just two days, the video of the performance had been watched over half a million times on YouTube.

Sagi and Rhythm were not the first dog-and-trainer duo to perform on the show. An Italian contestant named Adrian Stoica and his dog, Hurricane, had also been a big hit. However, Mandel said the Israeli duo were even better, with Cowell adding that Sagi and Rhythm were “a step up.”

America’s Got Talent was devised by British talent scout, Simon Cowell, who originally had a UK show in mind but, in the end, the American version was the first to air in 2006.

Having been inspired by similar shows such as “Opportunity Knocks” and “New Faces,” Cowell created the talent show with himself, Fern Britton and Piers Morgan as judges.

As a former Sony Music executive, Cowell is well-practiced at spotting talent – or the absence of it – and pulls no punches with those who bravely come to audition. He is famous for his scathing comments and brutal honesty, which are part of the entertainment factor in the show, so receiving a compliment from Cowell is considered a great achievement.

Contestants showcase a wide variety of talents, including singing, comedy, magic, and dancing, among others.

There are several rounds of judging, where votes are cast by both the panel of celebrity judges and also the viewing public. The winner of this competition will receive a cash prize of $1 million.

At a time when Israel is facing so much hostility on the global stage, Sagi and Rhythm from Tel Aviv have received a lot of love and appreciation from all around the world.