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Inside Donovyn Diaz’s Moving and “Beautiful” AGT Audition Dedicated to His Mom
The dancer with big moves and an even bigger heart shared why family is so important to him during his America's Got Talent audition.
A New Jersey man used his love and talent for dance to send a message to his mother, all while dazzling the crowd at his America’s Got Talent audition. Donovyn Diaz chose to dance to a song that expressed his grief over his mother’s battle with cancer, and his raw emotion connected with the audience.
“See this person right here — tears, right?” Howie Mandel said. “I was looking at the audience. People had tears. People were crying. People felt the emotion. We weren’t just watching it, we were feeling it. It was beautiful.”
Who is Donovan Diaz?
Donovyn Diaz walked onto the stage at AGT for his dance audition both shirtless and barefoot. The 20-year-old frequently wears just pants for his performances, allowing his dance moves to tell the story rather than his outfit.
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Diaz told the Judges he began dancing when he was 4 or 5 years old, but around the age of 13, he pivoted to gymnastics in order to try to compete in college.
“But when I was 18, my senior year in high school, I was like I need a scholarship for college, because money was a little tight, so I started dancing again,” he told the Judges. “Something clicked and it made sense and that’s when I realized what I really want to do with my life.”
Describing himself as a professional dancer and choreographer on his Instagram page, he also teaches private dance lessons.
What song did Donovyn Diaz dance to on AGT?
With his younger sister in the AGT audience, Diaz revealed to the Judges that he’s very close to his family.
“They’re actually the main reason I’m here today,” he said. “My mom, actually, she’s battling breast cancer. She’s had it since I was 2 years old and I’m here because I want her to be like, ‘That’s my son, he’s doing something great.’ I want her to see me here and say, ‘I raised a star!’ you know?”
In honor of his mother and her battle with cancer, Diaz auditioned to “How Do I Say Goodbye” by Dean Lewis.
“I mean, I think your mom is going to be so proud, because this was spectacular,” Sofia Vergara told him at the end of the dance.
Heidi Klum agreed, calling the audition “incredible.”
“You’re beautiful, and you have such style about you,” Klum said.
All four Judges gave Diaz a yes vote, sending him to the next stage of the competition.
“The minute you walked out here, you controlled the stage,” Simon Cowell said. “I love the music. I love the choreography. You are a total star.”
Diaz is also friendly with other AGT stars, including Season 18's favorite tiny dancer, Eseniia Mikheeva. The pair met up for a dance in this video posted on Instagram. Diaz also collaborated with Season 18’s Sharpe Family Singers for a few Instagram videos in the spring.
Watch new episodes of America’s Got Talent on Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
