Indian dance crew Unreal earns Golden Buzzer on America's Got Talent season 20 auditions

NBC’s America's Got Talent aired the eighth round of Season 20 auditions on July 29, 2025.

The episode featured many acts, but one stood out above the rest: the dance crew Unreal from Jaipur, India, which received the last Golden Buzzer of the season from judge Howie Mandel.

The group had seven members, and it had been five years since they started rehearsing for this moment.

They saw Bollywood dances on television and started practicing together. However, their families did not initially support them and encouraged them to focus on their studies.

Before their audition, they shared how much dancing meant to them, saying,

“Dance has given us everything... If someone asks you to leave something you love, it really hurts.”

Their dance routine used clever visual tricks, spooky sound effects, and perfectly timed moves, which impressed both the judges and the audience.

Judge Simon Cowell said he was “slightly speechless,” while host Terry Crews called it “one of the most amazing things” he had ever seen.

Judge Howie Mandel was so impressed that he used his final Golden Buzzer of the season. This sent the group straight to the live shows and brought them one step closer to their dream, a dream they had followed for years without much support from others.

Unreal’s five-year preparation results in a Golden Buzzer moment on America's Got Talent

 

 

 

 

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Unreal’s performance on America's Got Talent Season 20 Episode 8 was the result of many years of hard work.

The Jaipur group began with Bollywood dance from TV, but then they started to make their unique style through experimenting with new things and practicing together.

They faced family opposition to their dreams, but they persevered toward their eventual goal of performance on America's Got Talent.

Their audition had a spooky theme and used sound effects instead of music.

Their moves created visual tricks that made it look like their body parts were floating or coming apart.

Wearing all-white suits with bat and spiderweb designs, they created a powerful and dramatic performance on stage.

Judge Simon Cowell said,

“I’m slightly speechless if I’m being honest with you… I thought it was so creative, brilliant, scary, and I could tell how much work you must have put into this.”

Sofia Vergara added,

“Your personalities, the effort you put in your clothing, the moves are incredible.”

Howie Mandel, moved by the creativity, hit the Golden Buzzer, saying, “To show us something in a way we’ve never seen before… you deserve everything.”

The group’s silent interpreter remained unused during the act, which Mandel also noted humorously.

Emotional backstory and powerful execution connect with America's Got Talent audience

The Unreal crew’s journey to the America's Got Talent stage carried emotional weight.

“Our parents have never supported us to become dancers,” one member said before their act.

The crew further added,

“But now we think if we achieve something great, they will be able to believe in us.”

The performance, unlike typical Bollywood-inspired dance acts, focused on visual storytelling through coordinated movements and effects.

The crew relied on detailed choreography and theatrical presentation rather than music-driven steps, which added to their uniqueness.

Terry Crews praised the act, calling it “one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.” The audience responded with loud applause, and judges looked visibly moved. Mandel highlighted the group’s innovation, saying,

“Even the fact that you have an interpreter doing absolutely nothing… you deserve to be on the show… to be taken all the way!”

The Golden Buzzer moment marked a major milestone for the group, giving them a chance to perform live on the America's Got Talent stage.

Their story resonated with viewers and demonstrated how persistence and belief in one's passion can lead to a breakthrough, even when initial support is lacking.

Stay tuned for more updates.