Alberta acro dancers and dogs land golden buzzer on America's Got Talent
The Acro Canine Crew, trained at a southside Edmonton studio, advanced straight to quarterfinals with a jaw-dropping mix of puppy parkour and choreography.
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A team of acro dancers and trained dogs from Edmonton put on a performance so spectacular they earned a golden buzzer on America's Got Talent — and a guaranteed ticket to the quarterfinals.
The Acro Canine Crew, which trains at Supernova Acro Studio on Edmonton's southside, impressed the judges with a routine that blended high-energy choreography with dog parkour. Kate Ly, 11, and fellow dancer Zoe Gervais were still in shock when the moment happened. "When Terry came out, I think all of us just were like, so in shock," Gervais said. "We were not expecting that at all. We were kind of just excited to be on the show and get to perform on that big of a stage in the first place."
The bond between the dancers is tight — most are related to at least one other member — but the act's magic came from working with Jennifer Fraser's trained dogs, especially Daquiri. Fraser has been training dogs her whole life and holds multiple Guinness World Records. She brings that discipline everywhere. "Every single time I trained my dog has led up to this moment," she said.
Studio owner Jill Ford choreographed the routine — her first time working with animals. It's a gamble that paid off in new followers, social media engagement, and proof that her dancers can execute under pressure. Now they're prepping for live shows in August where America votes on who advances and takes home the million-dollar grand prize.
"It's a lot," Gervais said, "but I think we're such a close team and family that we have each other's back."
They're practicing four to five times a week to perfect the routine for the big stage.