Ever wonder why reality competition shows have become so popular? It’s easy to understand, really…beyond everything else, these shows are a way for all of us watching at home to discover some of the most talented performers from around the globe.
That’s exactly what happened with the Emerald Belles, a dance troupe that ended up performing on America’s Got Talent. Their performance on that show is the stuff of television legend, but the thing about these dynamic dancers is that their legend began long before appearing on that show. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Emerald Belles!
Impressing the world
In many ways, the legend of the Emerald Belles began in 2017. That’s when the group competed at the Crowd Pleasers Dance Competition. The name of the competition ended up being rather literal, as the performance of this group pleased the entire crowd who had come to watch them compete.
Fortunately for the Emerald Belles, they managed to please more than just the crowd around them. Their amazing performance was recorded and shared online, quickly turning this group into a viral sensation. Everyone who watched the video could agree that the Emerald Belles managed to combine the perfect dance moves with the perfect song, creating a performance that was truly unforgettable.
The perfect song and the perfect moves
On top of their immense talents, it helped the Emerald Belles that their Crowd Pleasers Dance Competition song was “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics. The song is popular around the world, both for its hypnotic beat and its catchy lyrics. The lyrics were also appropriate for these performers, as each dancer seemed to know this was their best opportunity to make their own “sweet dreams” come true.
Of course, a catchy song can only go so far, and what really ended up winning everyone over was the group’s perfectly synchronized dance moves. The signature move of the performance was a high kick routine that had us reaching for some ibuprofen just looking at it. Not only did each dancer pull off each kick perfectly, but they did it with immaculate timing. As the performance went on, these fluid motions in perfect synchrony created a symphony of rhythm the world has rarely seen.
Soon, though, the Emerald Belles would make sure the entire world saw their talents.
Gaining a worldwide following
As we noted before, the Emerald Belles performance soon went viral. Whether they meant to or not, the dancers had established themselves as a successful brand. And like any successful brand, they soon began gaining followers from all around the world.
For fans, this created something of a feedback loop: the more they saw the Belles dance, the more they wanted to see. This culminated in a groundswell of fan support that helped give the group its greatest opportunity yet: an appearance on America’s Got Talent.
Making it to America’s Got Talent
If you’ve ever watched America’s Got Talent, one of the first things you’ll discover (ironically enough) is that not everyone has talent. For every individual or group that blows your mind, there will be another whose only talent seems to be disappointing the judges.
By the time they got to America’s Got Talent, the Emerald Belles had more than proven their own talents. However, viral fame didn’t give the group any special exceptions, and they had to audition and compete like everyone else. Fortunately, this group’s immense talent helped them win over both the judges and fans of this popular reality show.
Winning one competition after another
When the Emerald Belles auditioned for America’s Got Talent, they performed a crowd-pleasing high-kick dance routine set to a cover of the famous song “Blue Monday.” For whatever reason, they didn’t impress judge Howie Mandel, who voted for them not to go on in the competition. But fellow judges Gabrielle Union, Julianne Hough, and Simon Cowell all voted “yes,” and this group proceeded.
The next Emerald Belles performance was a high-kick routine set to a sanitized version of Britney Spears’ “Work Bitch.” This time around, the judges loved them even more. For example, both Julianne Hough and Brad Paisley gave them a standing ovation.
All of this culminated with the quarterfinals in which the dancers performed to “Me & My Girls” by Selena Gomez. All of the judges in attendance gave them a standing ovation, but the Belles didn’t win over enough online voters. They received fewer votes than Ansley Burns and were ultimately eliminated from the show.
Performances the world will never forget
Sadly, the Emerald Belles didn’t win America’s Got Talent. However, they are still very much winners in our eyes.
They never lost the high-kicking moves that led to their viral fame, and their talents only grew with time. And to this day, we’re convinced that online voters made a mistake and that this talented group should have proceeded further in the competition.