America's Got Talent has wrapped up auditions for season 18, and the final night featured a standout golden buzzer moment. The special honor was given to a dance troupe called Chibi Unity from Japan.
After an introduction from one of the members, the room completely darkened as the group began their dance routine. What followed was a heart-pounding, moody routine that featured mystifying visual effects. The routine almost doubled as a magic act, and the crowd was incredibly impressed, springing to their feet before the performance was over.
The judges were also enthusiastic about the audition, with Howie Mandel saying their performance stuck out even though the competition in the dance category on this season is tough. Judge Heidi Klum said she enjoyed the "unexpected" nature of the performance, and Sofia Vergara said the routine gave her "goosebumps."
"My heart was beating," Vergara said. "It was the best dancing I've ever seen in my life."
She then handed them another huge compliment.
"I would say it was the perfect AGT audition," Vergara added.
Cowell called the performance "so powerful, so original, so incredible."
The three judges loved the dance group so much that they — along with host Terry Crews — decided to come together to give the team the Group Golden Buzzer, which sends them straight to the live shows.
"You are gonna make this season very, very special," Cowell told the group.
Chibi Unity's manager Rena Goto shared with People that the group was not expecting such a result when they took the AGT stage.
"To be honest, we were very surprised," Goto wrote to the publication. "It's not that we didn't have confidence in our dancing, but this is such an achievement to have been able to experience such a prestigious occasion as the Golden Buzzer on the stage that we've always admired."
Goto adds that the group was inspired to audition after seeing dance group The Mayyas win the competition last year. Chibi Unity hopes to bring the same achievement to their home country of Japan.
"We are also a dance company from the countryside of Japan. We want to achieve an unbelievable feat of becoming the best in the world!" Goto adds. "And we want to prove to others in Japan and beyond that they have the power to grow; the beauty of striving to make dreams come true without giving up, proves that dreams are meant to come true."
AGT airs Tuesday nights at 8PM ET on NBC.
