America's Got Talent' on NBC: Who is John Glenn High School Dance Team? Pitbull called teens 'the best ones'

The John Glenn High School Varsity Pompon not only won first place at a dance competition in Saginaw, but rapper Pitbull also took notice of their routine
John Glenn High School Dance Team is set to appear on 'America's Got Talent' Season 17 (@johnglennpomponInstagram)
John Glenn High School Dance Team is set to appear on 'America's Got Talent' Season 17 (@johnglennpomponInstagram)

During the Season 17 of 'America's Got Talent,' a group of Howie Mandel impersonators from Michigan will take the centre stage. The John Glenn High School Varsity Pompon recently performed on the national talent show, costumed as the show's comedian judge.

In the next episode of 'AGT' Season 17, Howie Mandel is in for a delightful surprise. The John Glenn High School Dance Team is expected to impress the judges with its Howie Mandel impersonation in Episode 7 of the competition, which will show on NBC on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at 8 pm. The Michigan dance team is set to captivate audiences with their dancing abilities. The 'AGT' candidates will be among many others displaying their talents to the judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Simon Cowell in order to advance to the next round.

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Who are John Glenn High School Dance Team?

The John Glenn High School Dance Team, also recognized as The John Glenn High School Varsity Pompon, is a Michigan high school dance team that will impress the judges with its performance as Howie Mandel impersonators in the upcoming episode of 'AGT' Season 17. After one of their clips went viral, the team garnered widespread attention on social media. The dance crew took part in the 'Mid-American Pompon Hip/Hop & High Kick Championship' at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, where the girls dressed up as rapper Pitbull, finishing with balding heads, sunglasses, and suit jackets. This routine drew the applause of everyone, including the artist himself.

The 'AGT' participants not only took first place in the Medium High Kick division, but they also won a new admirer in Pitbull, who shared the video on his social media platforms. According to the rapper, "The best ones! Truly honored. Congratulations to the John Glenn Varsity Dance team from Bay City, Michigan on placing first in the MidAmerican Championship High Kick division. Dale!"



 

How did a school dance crew make it to the sets of 'AGT'?

After seeing the video, 'AGT' contacted the team's official coach Shelby Putnam and requested her to send in an audition tape. In March 2022, she received word from the show that the girls had been chosen to perform on the AGT stage. Under the guise of handing out brochures, the coach assembled the team at the school library and conveyed the good news. The coach told the Midland Daily News in an interview, “We’re used to our environment, our community. To be taken to a completely different environment, to experience that all together, was surreal.”

Lauren Zarazua, Lilly Rocha, Maddie Rahn, Makayla Olson, Ava Norton, Emma Niemann, Justis Lawson, Myleigh Kocks, Brande Gillespie, Madisyn Galan, Jessica Foss, Maren Burgeson, and Kami Box are among the team members. The girls adapted their routine to the competition's criteria. To win over Howie Mandel, the dance crew altered their attire to closely resemble the 'AGT' judge. Bald hats, white shirts, black jackets, and round spectacles were worn by the girls.

The team also intends to host a watch party so friends and family can see their performance at a nearby movie theater. The crew intends to have a red carpet, and the girls will be dressed in their former homecoming and prom attire. Brande Gillespie, one of the troupe's members, opened up about the performance and said that she has been a fan of the competition since she was a child. She admitted that having the team perform was "intimidating yet thrilling."

"It really means a lot. I couldn’t have picked a better group to be able to go there with. We don’t treat it like we’re better than others. We cherished the moment together,” she said.

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The next step is for the judges to deliberate and pick which teams will advance. Following that, the performers will compete in another round before a winner is chosen. The grand prize is $1 million and a two-month Las Vegas performance booking. The experience was not about victory for the John Glenn High School Varsity Pompon. It was about elevating their performance and sharing the moment with each other. “It’s amazing because we’re all doing what we love, which is pom. We love that we’ve done it for so long. It’s exciting that we can share it with the world," said junior Makayla Olson.

The show airs every Tuesday from 8 to 10 pm ET/PT. Viewers who wish to tune in without cable can do so using streaming services such as Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, AT&T TV, or YouTube TV.

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