agt the mayyas

We can almost always expect to see amazing acts and rare skills on America’s Got Talent. But sometimes, we get even more than that.

The Mayyas, a Lebanese women’s dance troupe whose name means “proud walk of a lioness” in Arabic, delivered a performance so mesmerizing that judge Simon Cowell called it the “best dance act” the show has ever seen, winning them an almost instant golden buzzer.

Perhaps this victory comes as no surprise considering the Mayyas had previously won “Arab’s Got Talent” and competed on “Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions,” both in 2019. But truly, it’s what motivates them to take to the stage that’s remarkable.

“Lebanon is a very beautiful country, but we live a daily struggle," one of the dancers said to the judges just moments before their audition. Another explained, “being a dancer as a female Arab is not fully supported—yet.”

Nadim Cherfan, the team’s choreographer, added that, “Lebanon is not considered a place where you can build a career out of dancing, so it’s really hard, and harder for women.”

Still, Cherfan shared that it was a previous AGT star who inspired the Mayyas to defy the odds and audition anyway. Nightbirde, a breakout singer who also earned a golden buzzer before tragically passing away from cancer at 31 years old in February 2021, had told the audience, “You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.” The dance team took the advice to heart.

For the Mayyas, coming onto the AGT stage became more than an audition opportunity. Getting emotional, one of the dancers declared that it was their "only chance to prove to the world what Arab women can do, the art we can create, the fights we fight.”