Israeli Trainer and Her Dancing Dog Steal the Spotlight on US Talent Show

Roni Sagi, an Israeli dog trainer, and her two-and-a-half-year-old border collie, Rhythm, dazzled the audience and judges of America’s Got Talent with an incredible audition that earned a standing ovation. Performing to “California Dreamin'” by pop star Sia, the duo's routine captivated the live audience and the show’s four celebrity judges, including the show's creator, Simon Cowell.

“When you said your dog can dance, he actually dances better than human dancers we’ve had on,” remarked Cowell. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” The audition quickly became a sensation, trending as the #8 video on YouTube with over half a million views in just two days.

The performance follows the previous season's victory by another dog-dancing duo, Adrian Stoica and Hurricane from Italy. This year’s winner will receive a $1 million cash prize. Judge Howie Mandel praised Sagi and Rhythm, saying, “I love Adrian and Hurricane, [but] this was a step up.” He added, “I love your dog,” to which Sagi replied, “I love him too.”

Sagi has a rich background in dance, having danced for nine years before transitioning to dog dancing. She has received recognition in Israeli media, appearing on the public broadcaster Kan in 2021 during a competition in the Czech Republic with another of her dogs, Pesach.

“This sport, like all canine sports, is first and foremost about strengthening the connection between the dog and his owners,” Sagi explained. “Every dog can dance... I build a choreography that’s fitting for the dog and for me.”

Sagi’s social media features rehearsal and performance videos with her five dogs—Pesach, Rhythm, Martha, Bailey, and Blondie—and promotions for her dog dance school, Keta Tov. Despite her focus on dancing, Sagi has occasionally commented on the situation in Israel. Following the October 7 Hamas attack, she posted an image of an Israeli flag on Instagram, stating, “I stand with Israel.”

In May, Sagi and Rhythm performed to “Hurricane,” Israel’s Eurovision submission, at the International Dog Show in Tel Aviv. Reflecting on the performance, she shared, “Dancing with Rhythm to the sound of this song created a tornado of emotions in me... our performance was far from perfect on the technical level, but I felt like it was one of the most powerful things I have done.”

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