Incredible shadow dance that moved AGT's judge Alesha Dixon to tears is one every American needs to watch

While dancers have been using creative shadow work for centuries, the dancers of "The Silhouettes" are changing the world one shadow dance at a time. By projecting surreal silhouettes on the screen, they’ve raised millions of dollars to help children around Denver. You might call it magnanimous intention, but their dance performances are infamously poignant and often heart-wrenching in style. Alesha Dixon, one of the judges on the set of America’s Got Talent Presents Superstars Live (@AGTSuperstars) in 2020, was moved to tears by one of their shadow dance performances, and they published the clip on Facebook.

Since 2009, The Silhouettes has been on a mission to help children in need. With striking silhouettes and emotional storytelling, it has established itself as one of the leading state-of-the-art dance companies in the world. The group featured as a guest artist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent Holiday Spectacular and on AGT’s Finale in 2016, according to its YouTube description. But their most highlighted achievement was in "America's Got Talent: The Champions," 2020, where they were the first runner-up. Performing as the season's finalists, they stirred the judges deeply into their hearts, making Dixon cry.

Filmed in a Las Vegas theatre, the video of their performance features four judges on the panel, including the singer Dixon in a glittering red dress. As the group stepped on the stage, Dixon cheered them by saying, “Come on Silhouettes!” The act opened with their typical trail of blacklight shadows projected on a backdrop of iridescent yellow, green, and red hues. They told the story of a family struggling to find a home.

In the beginning, the shadows of a father and daughter seated at a dining table appear on the screen, while a woman appears to be cooking something in a pan placed on a stove. The emotion of the happy family was accentuated by the inspiring tunes of "Stand in the Light" by Jordan Smith. Suddenly, the man got up from his chair and approached his wife with a paper that read "Eviction," also formed with shadows. Heartbroken, the couple embraced each other, and soon the girl joined them as well. The man squatted down and gestured as if wiping the tears off the girl’s cheek. The camera panned to show the judge Simon Cowell, who appeared clearly hooked to the brilliant performance.

Meanwhile, the act progressed into a segment of contemporary dance moves that showed the family moving out of their house with suitcases, a starry blue background adding to the grim effect. The shadows of other dancers clumped together to form a gigantic silhouette of their home, with a sign at the front that read "Foreclosure." As they moved out of their house, the man handed the keys to a man in a suit. The little girl kept looking back at her sweet home, now gone. The moment made Dixon exclaim, "Wow," while another judge, Howie Mandel, seemed just spellbound by the shadow work.

Moving on, the shadowy silhouettes of the family settled under the branches of a tree while some dancers performed moves of ballet and modern dance. Then the act transitioned to a backdrop of sunset. As the silhouettes of branches spread against the round white sun, the man held out a sign, "Need Help," while other dancers took on the roles of random people jogging and passing by the spot. The scene shifted to a snowstorm where white snowflakes began to fall against the blue backdrop. A policeman walked to the family, shook hands with the man, and guided the family toward a shelter home. In the judges' panel, Heidi Klum pursed her lips with emotion.

Then, a dancer’s legs formed a giant shadow on the screen, depicting a shelter home. The family moved inside this home, where a boy cheered up the girl and the couple sat on chairs, holding each other’s hands. As they gently touched foreheads, the judges appeared dazed with an unspeakable feeling. The boy made some phone calls and spread the word about the family’s homelessness to help the family find a home.

Against the backdrop of a shining blue sky, the message "Help the homeless" appeared, held in the shadows of two giant hand silhouettes. The act wrapped up with the boy putting down the phone and getting a new house constructed for the family. The moment he slipped the keys into the man’s hand, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Dancers clapped and cheered in front of the house where the family now lived happily.

Seemingly, the act had a profound impact on Dixon, as she jolted back in her seat while pressing the iconic "Golden Buzzer."

"I was in tears over here," she exclaimed, looking at the golden-clad shadow dance performers and the group creator, Lynne Waggoner-Patton. "It was just so beautiful; your passion was pouring onto that screen. The story was clear and understandable; everybody connected to it. Homelessness is such a major issue all around the world, and that’s what makes you special. I loved it," Dixon told the group. Howell pointed out how they were not on the stage just to perform but to "inspire and change the world." Klum’s eyes were wet too. Simon called it the "performance of a lifetime."