One of my favorite things about this time of year is the television talent shows that are on. In the summer months we have “World of Dance” and “America’s Got Talent” which are two of my absolute favorite shows. While everyone else is outside enjoying pool time, summer barbeques, epic road trips, and vacations to the beach, I’m inside on my sofa, curled up with my dogs watching the best in reality television, conveniently recorded by my DVR.
Unfortunately, we don’t get to see “Britain’s Got Talent” here in the States, but thanks to the magic of the internet and Youtube, we get to see many of the best auditions and performers. One of those fantastic auditions from across the pond featured Yannis Marshall and his two friends, Arnaud and Mehdi, who he met in dance class. Both the American and British version of “Got Talent” bring out some fantastic dancers for the auditions, and Yannis and his pals are no exception.
As far back as Yannis can remember, dancing was a part of his life. “I can’t remember the exact song that first made me want to dance. It was either “Cold Hearted Snake” by Paula Abdul or “Vogue” by Madonna,” he explained.
But, as is common for many male dancers who danced from a young age, his chosen passion made him a target for bullying from his peers. But, that didn’t stop Yannis. “I was heavily bullied as a child. But later, I was lucky and fortunate enough to go to a very prestigious dance school,” he said
Fortunately, he had the support and the inherited talent from his very own mother who was a dancer and a choreographer. It wasn’t just his mother’s great rhythm that he felt connected to, but her particular choice in footwear.
“My mother has about 40 pairs of heels.” This no doubt influenced Yannis’ fashion sense and his choice of dance footwear for this audition.
“I’ve always loved heels,” he admits in the show’s pre-recorded interview.
So, he and his two friends took the stage in their heels and gave a fantastic dance audition to a Spice Girls medley. The crowd couldn’t stop cheering, and the judges were pleasantly surprised.
“You know what, boys? That was ten times better than any female dancers we’ve seen on that stage today,” said judge Alesha Dixon.
Even Simon was impressed. “You know what? On paper, this sounds fairly hideous. You know, three guys prancing in high heels, dancing to the Spice Girls — and yet, it kinda works.”
Watch their epic audition in the video below!
