Following the Los Osos High School (LOHS) Dance team’s initial performance on America’s Got Talent (AGT) on May 28, 2024, they returned to the show for the Quarterfinals!
The performance aired on August 13, 2024, where the team put on an amazing performance to Fergie’s “Fergalicious,” the Black Eyed Peas’ “Pump It,” and Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is).”
Many students and staff went to show their support for our grizzlies, and they made sure they were heard by the judges, with Sofia Vergara remarking, “I’ve never seen this theater go so crazy, that was amazing!” in regard to the cheering.
For the audience watching on TV, the camera panned over to the live audience, where parents and students could be seen, along with our school’s principal, Mr. Cypher.
Dance Teacher and Director, Ms. Rachel said, “The audience was truly amazing! It felt like the entire city of Rancho Cucamonga came out for us! The best part was that they brought the energy we have at home all the way out to Pasadena. The producers were so impressed by our audience’s energy.”
Along with the audience’s reactions, the judges also seemed extremely impressed by the team‘s performance. Simon Cowell gave the team a standing ovation and praised the team for their “gigantic step up” from their first appearance on the show. Additionally, both Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum showed their love and support of the team and their performance, which was greatly appreciated both by Ms. Rachel and the team.
Unfortunately, one of the show’s judges, Howie Mandel, did not show the same support for the performance. He expressed that he believed it to be an average high school halftime performance, despite the reactions of the audience and other judges.
Following his remarks, the audiences showed their disagreement by booing, and the team was asked to speak on his response.
The response given by the team was very mature and positive with alumni Karsyn Harlow discouraging the crowds booing, and Carlie Mason responding, “You know we take constructive criticism very well and you know we’ll go back in the studio and we’ll work even harder,” which was met with cheers from the crowd, and praise from Ms. Rachel who said, “Hearing Carlie Mason, our alumni, speak with such maturity, poise, and grace was the ultimate reward as a teacher.” Overall, the response and the poise it displayed underscored the life skills learned through their journey, beyond just dancing.
This response is especially praiseworthy when considering how much hard work was put into the performance.
Ms. Rachel revealed some of the differences when performing on television as opposed to normal school performances, explaining how there were additional challenges when preparing a performance for television revealing, “Creating for TV moves extremely fast! We were given a lot of last-minute details and requests, but everyone just worked really hard together and made it all happen”.
The process included much more last-minute adjustments to the costumes, props and lighting, due to the requirements for being on television. Additionally, there was greater difficulty in preparing the choreography as according to Ms. Rachel, the music they selected was approved just two weeks before they were scheduled to appear live!
This means she spent many hours rehearsing with the team in the weeks leading up to the show, and they had to get used to last minute changes to the performance as these continued even up until the day they performed; “Performance Day was very nerve-wracking! We were still making choreography changes and rehearsing every minute. The team was great. I can only imagine the pressure they were under, being the performers. They were very focused all day. I think that their performance on stage was amazing!” Ms. Rachel explained.
Reflecting on their experience, Ms. Rachel shared that she hopes the team holds onto the positive memories and everything they achieved during their time on AGT stating, “This was never ever in the plan for us as a high school dance team. It fell into our lap, and we couldn’t be more grateful to have had this opportunity,”. Demonstrating that for the team, this performance wasn’t just about nailing the choreography; it was about celebrating their hard work, their bond as a team, and the joy of showcasing their passion on a national stage.
Overall, Ms. Rachel and the dance department are beyond excited and grateful to have been part of such an amazing experience, with Ms. Rachel leaving us with this statement “We are so grateful for the support, and we are excited to continue contributing to our amazing school spirit here at Los Osos. Claws Up!
The Los Osos Dance team’s journey on AGT showcased not just their impressive skills but also the heart and pride that make them special. By bringing the spirit and energy of our dance department to a national audience, they made a lasting impact that went beyond just a great performance. Through all the challenges, their resilience and teamwork shined, making everyone back home proud to be a Grizzly!