Junior New System (JNS), the all-male Filipino dance crew, moves on to the semifinals round of “America’s Got Talent” (AGT) Season 13.
In a show-stopping live performance on America’s Got Talent quarterfinals last Tuesday, August 14, judges Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell as well as the audience gave the group a well-deserved standing ovation.
Dancing to hits like ‘Can’t Hold Us’ and ‘BO$$’, the Junior New System members showed the dancing skills that impressed the AGT judges the first time they auditioned.
They danced the first half of their act wearing bright yellow sneakers. Then they shifted to wearing high heels, performing dangerous back flips and sticking their landings like professional gymnasts.
Mel B couldn’t help but scream with delight when asked by host Tyra Banks how she feels about the performance.
Junior New System: HIGH HEEL Dance Boys Bring Pinoy Power To America! | America’s Got Talent 2018
America’s Got Talent Season 13 | Live Quarterfinals 1
Source: Talent Recap on YouTube
Judge Mel B said, “Oh, my God! Wow! Everything about you guys, where you come from, where you are now. You do your own choreography, you all met in the slums in the streets of the Philippines, right? And you are united, and you’re together and you are showing us some moves. Yes!”
Howie Mandel, the only judge who had some reservations about Junior New System’s performance, stated that the group was amazing.
The Canadian comedian-actor, Howie Mandel, had this to say: “You know what, I think that you’re amazing and that you hear what the audience…and I’m sure the people at home are thinking the same thing. If I could be a little bit critical, I love what you do in your heels. That first half without the heels are not as exciting. You guys are known as the guys who dance in heels!”
Mel B contradicted Howie in his assessment. She pointed out that “Yet they can’t start off with the heels, they have to introduce the heels halfway through. That’s the thing!”
Howie countered with, “No! I know why you’re saying it, they remind you of you.”
Heidi Klum agreed with Mel B, and told Howie, “Stop talking!”
Prompted for her comment, Heidi Klum said, “Heel yes! I mean, the fact that you guys are dancing in heels makes you stand out from all the other dance troupes. And I love watching you guys! Love it!”
Simon Cowell had glowing praises for Junior New System and summed it all up: “It’s not just the heels. It’s the determination, it’s the passion and personality, it’s wanting to win that makes watching you every time so exciting…For me, I think this is probably going to be the most talked about act so far and you deserve it for all the right reasons.”
Host Tyra Banks wished the group good luck and said, “There is some Pinoy power in the house. Pinoy power!”
Junior New System is composed of 11 members who all come from Sampaloc, Manila. They were one of the nine finalists in “Asia’s Got Talent” Season 1 in 2015.
The Junior New System also won as the 2016 Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World and the 2016 Champion Dance Group of the World at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) held at Long Beach, California in July 2016.
Aside from the Junior New System, the other acts who moved on to the semifinals of America’s Got Talent include Shin Lim, We Three Music, Vicki Barbolak, Amanda Mena, Courtney Hadwin, and Angel City Chorale.
