What does it actually take to go from a golden buzzer moment to the America's Got Talent finale? Jill Ford is back and this time she is giving us everything the cameras didn't show. From rehearsing in hotel hallways to four days of prep for the finale, from managing 22 kids and nine dogs on a live stage to keeping it all together when the dog trainer blew out her knee minutes before the final performance, this episode is the behind the scenes story that nobody outside that production knew. Jill talks about pitching themes to producers, getting costumes made in 30 minutes, the pressure of live rounds with no edits, what school looked like for the younger dancers, and what this whole experience taught her that she could not have learned any other way. If you thought the first episode was good, buckle up.
 

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About Jill 

Jill was originally from Regina, Saskatchewan where she danced competitively in the areas of ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatics and baton twirling for 17 years. She went on to teaching  dance, baton and acrobatics  in her home city  and now resides in Edmonton, Alberta where she has opened her own studio specializing in Acrobatics and Baton Twirling.  She completed her bachelor of Education (k-5) at the University of Regina which has furthered her expertise as an acrobatic and dance  teacher. Jill has travelled the  world  as an athlete and coach representing Canada at 8 World Baton Twirling Championships and now continually is committed to keeping young children involved in the areas of acrobatics, dance and baton twirling.  She is very happy and honoured to be part of the Acrobatic Arts staff and loves sharing her passion and knowledge with students and teachers!

Jill's credentials include: Bachelor of Education, Canadian Dance Teachers Association Certified Teacher, Canadian Baton Twirling Association Level 2 Coach, Inductee of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.

Listen to other episodes with Jill Ford:
Ep. 44 More Than You Think: The Benefits of Acro Exams with Jill Ford: https://youtu.be/Rh1gw-9674I
Ep. 68 Top 3 Tips for Front Aerials with Jill Ford: https://youtu.be/GvzYonPFHH8
Ep. 86 Breaking Down the Handstand Forward Roll: Strategies with Jill Ford: https://youtu.be/xSAcCMtASpc
Ep. 138 Golden Buzzer: From the Studio to the Stage with Jill Ford: https://youtu.be/dm1XRkjKkBk?si=40kpqIZxvo_iCQ_9

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PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION

Loren  0:00  
Hey everyone! Welcome to the Acrobatic Arts Podcast. I'm Loren, and I will be interviewing some of the top leaders and innovators from the dance and acrobatic industry. If you are a teacher, performer, student, or a lifelong learner like myself, you are sure to find these episodes intriguing and full of inspiration. Acrobatic Arts is passionate about providing current and relevant information for everyone. So please sit back and enjoy as we share our passion with you and the world.

Loren  0:36  
You asked for more, and here it is! When Jill Ford and the Acro Canine Crew earned their golden buzzer from Terry Crews on America's Got Talent. We sat down for what became one of our most listened-to episodes ever, but that was only the beginning of the story. Jill, her daughters Zoe and Jada, and the Supernova Acro Studio kept going through the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and straight into the finale, finishing in the top 10.

Loren  1:05  
Today, Jill is back, and this time we're going behind the curtain to find out what really went on: the costumes, the dogs, the crazy long days, the physical demands, and maybe even a few things that no one saw coming. Jill is giving us the real behind-the-scenes story, the moments you didn't see, and the details you definitely want to hear about.

Loren  1:29  
Before we begin, a quick reminder for anyone looking for professional acro training: Acrobatic Arts trains and certifies 1000s of teachers around the globe. You can learn more about our programs and upcoming courses at acrobaticarts.com. Now, let's welcome our guest for today.

Loren  1:51  
Jill Ford. Welcome back.

Jill  1:54  
Thank you. Thanks for having me. Happy to be here.

Loren  1:58  
I have to start off by saying congratulations on making it all the way to the finals, Jill. You know you were part of a friend chat group, and we went absolutely crazy. And it was so much fun getting your texts whenever you had a second. You got to know we were all living this adventure right along with you.

Jill  2:18  
Yeah, that was really fun to have the support and just know that kind of helped fuel because when you feel like you just oh gosh I don't know if I can keep doing this and then you get all these messages and it really did help and I think like not just me but the whole team felt that you know that love and support was very helpful.

Loren  2:38  
So when we last talked, it was after you received the golden buzzer, and you and your group were heading into rehearsals for the quarterfinals, and you told our audience to look out because you had so many things planned. And wow, did you ever! You absolutely nailed the quarterfinals, then the semifinals, and then you made it all the way to the finals. So take us back to those moments, and especially when you realized, wait, what? We're going to the finals.

Jill  3:12  
Yeah. So when I last talked to you, we were rehearsing in Edmonton, hours and hours going into our quarterfinals, our beach routine, we put in just under 80 hours on that one routine. We started to work a little bit on the next routine just in case, but very minimal, just kind of like a blueprint. We had an idea of what we wanted to do and things like that, but it wasn't like like beach rehearse, so we had beach rehearse. Obviously, we nailed it in the quarterfinals. Didn't really expect, to be honest, to go further at all. So that was mind blowing.

Jill  3:50  
And then as soon as we made it, we were like, everyone's freaking out. Not minutes later, we're walking backstage, and my producer is like, "So are you guys staying now for the two weeks in between the quarters and the semis, are you flying home and coming back? So I had to like put on a new hat, talk to 22 kids and their parents, figure out are you guys good to stay for two more weeks in LA? You know, parents had to list work and kids school and all of things, so it was just easier for us to stay in LA, so we all stayed in LA. We rehearsed for two weeks down there. The kids had to go to school for three hours a day, and then we'd have a rehearsal with the kids. We could have up to four hours, and they're very strict on how many hours minors can work and be involved. So school counts, and then rehearsal, and then it's like, nope, you got to go leave, you got to get out of here, go break, go back to your hotel. So that was hard because if we weren't quite done yet or needed more time, we didn't get it. So we had to work fast and smart, and miraculously pull it together. It was nice having it down there because we were we're all together still. So and then yeah, and then semis hit and it went well and yeah.

Loren  5:12  
And then what did you think when you made it to the finals?

Jill  5:17  
Oh gosh, that was like next level. I mean, it seems like five minute when they wait, and the next act to make it through, and then we're all like we can only have some of the kids on the stage, and then we're all in the audience. And I'm standing beside-I don't know who it was, but I swear to gosh, I think I broke their hand. I was squeezing like we're just squeezing so hard, because I mean, you've gotten this far and you've worked so hard. You know, let's go all the way. Let's go to the finals. Why not? So, anyways, that was mind blowing, and we just I we couldn't believe it. But then the reality set in, and we have four days to put together another routine. Like seriously, and it was very stressful because the minors had to have a day off, so like after semifinals results, they couldn't work Thursday or Friday one of the days. So we had to like rent an old school gym somewhere off campus. So we had to like go and rent a place because we couldn't be on AGT grounds. So we rented a place, found some old tables and like found some props in the church to make it work and set the routine with the kids. And then when they weren't able to work, we practiced with just stage hands and the dogs, and we used moms and like myself. And then if you weren't a minor, so Zoe, Jada, and Lena, we had three that could because they weren't they're done high school, so they could practice with us. So we had to just practice with them, and then we had like maybe two practices, three practices where we had the dogs and the kids and everyone together.

Jill  6:52  
So it was like the most stress I think I've ever been in because you're going to be on the world's biggest stage with the least amount of prep. So, and we got new tricks and new things. We were practicing in hotel hallways and like wherever we could. We were practicing like all the time leading up to that final round because we involved more kids. Like it was more intricate with the dancers and the dogs. We're trying to incorporate a little bit of that to make something different because you always have to go up every round, and so we were like, okay, what can we do more? The dogs can only jump so high, so okay, they can't jump higher than what we're doing. I mean, in finals we had them jumping. I think it was like six foot three, six foot four a height, and like there's not much more height you can do. So then we're like, well, we better get more intricate with what the dancers are doing with the dogs, so that was our upping it. So, anyways, that was really stressful, but we did it.

Loren  7:49  
From the viewing audience, we definitely saw you up it every time, and it was so exciting. And we're just like, no, they didn't. We just couldn't believe the things you were pulling off, and you know to hear you talk about not having that much time is absolutely crazy. Like I don't know how you did it, and I know you don't know how you did it, really, but you did it. We know that each round you spoke a little bit about it, each round had a completely different theme. You had the beach party, a slumber party, and then '80s was the finale. Like, who's coming up with these concepts, and how fast do they come together?

Jill  8:31  
Yeah. Well, the beach one. What we did after um we got the golden buzzer, then we had to like make pitches. Like, so what you have to do is you have to give themes or ideas, and you pitch them to your producer. Then Nigel takes them back to his team, and then they approve. They say yay, nay. So we gave them like, Zoe and I brainstormed, and with the help of Jen as well, we brainstormed. And we, I wanted like beach was my favorite, so we pitched that first and wanted beach, and so they approved it. And then they also have to approve music. So our very first round audition back in March, I think our song changed eight times, and finally they approved the one. Like there's copyrights. There's this. You have to find the artist. It's just a whole thing like that. I didn't even realize.

Jill  9:20  
So with beach, they approved walking on sunshine right away. Well, they gave us a different version. They had to like give us something else, and they had to cut some parts out. But anyways, it it wasn't so bad as the first round. And then slumber party, it kind of evolved. So for one of the things we were trying to do was back like for second rounds, I think. So, anyways, but then Zoe and I pitched Slumber Party, and they loved it right away. So we just thought every theme we wanted to keep it wholesome and kid friendly, and what our act is about. So it's young, it's fresh, it's heartwarming. It makes you smile, it makes you laugh, it makes you all the good feelings. We didn't want to do anything sad, anything depressing, anything scary. We just wanted to keep our vibe from our very first audition, what everyone fell in love with. And so I was very adamant when I was arguing with some people about what themes we were using. I was like, "No, we need to keep it who we are." And I'm so glad I won that fight because I think it really translated well, and Slumber Party especially was just so cute.

Jill  10:26  
The other tricky part for us was trying to keep a theme that really worked for kids ages seven to 21. Slumber Party was a bit of a push with the 21-year-olds, but they really got into a big sister vibes. You know, like I think that was that played well into it, and then '80s we just had to come up with something great. It kind of evolved from it was going to be like a school dance party in a gymnasium, and then we turn it into something like a dance party. And then it just, I found the song "I Want to Dance with Somebody" remix, and I was like, "Oh, the song is like a perfect finale song." It miraculously got approved right away, and so then we just went with okay, let's go '80s, and then the wardrobe people, the wardrobe and America's Got Talent is phenomenal. They do all of it. We did the beach costume because we wanted to practice in it back home, but they did our slumber party costumes and the '80s. They order it all. We get costume fittings.

Jill  11:23  
They have their own little rack lined up, and it's pretty awesome. And they do all the alterations, and they even made like when the girls vault the dogs. Like Zoe did a lot of the vaulting, so the dog jumps on the back, and then that's how they get up and really high. So they go off Zoe's back, and she she kind of pumped, so she has to wear like a vest. They even the wardrobe made the vest these instead of just like an ugly like it's kind of like a life jacket ish, a thin life jacket. They made it match the costume, so they sewed on like for pajama. They made it look like pajamas on the top, so they sewed pink material on to make it fit like in like I don't know, 30 minutes or whatever they do. Like the whole system, and then the props-they do all our props and they order it. And that was the funny thing about, I just want to go back into props, sorry I'm just rambling. There's so many things, but with Slumber Party quarterfinals, the awards were on Wednesday, Wednesday, right?

Jill  12:19  
Yeah, Wednesday. So we're getting ready for awards. We had a practice, so you practice the awards thing during the day. You rehearse it, and our rehearsal wasn't getting us. It had us eliminating right away, and it didn't have us practice coming on later. So I was like, I don't think we're gonna make it to semifinals because we've got young kids, and then we didn't practice that, and we've never done that before, so I was really thinking no until right before the results. Obviously, the staff knew because the results were in, and there was people setting up bunk beds for us. And I'm like, hmm. So that was like funny. That was like a little behind the scenes. Oh, and then one of our our choreographer girl that comes and works with us and helps us and gives us feedback and stuff. Chantelle, who is amazing, Wade Robson's sister actually, Wade Robson's famous choreographer sister, I got to get to know, which was pretty awesome. And anyway, she was like, "So everything's been ordered just in case", and I'm like, "Okay", so that I had kind of had a really good feeling for that results show for sure, but yeah. And then for finals, we just went with two tables, we, and it's so great, you can say, "Okay, I want two tables with chairs. I want them this high. I want a DJ booth." Like we gave them everything we wanted, the heights, everything. We designed it, and then they just make it happen, so that was pretty.

Loren  13:35  
Wow

Jill  13:45  
And they pay for it.

Loren  13:48  
Yeah, let's talk a little bit about the cost. I'm assuming for the audition, obviously you had to fund everything. Like, what are you paying for? What are you not paying for?

Jill  13:59  
Actually, no. For the audition in March, they flew all of us out. They flew a chaperone for every dancer. They paid for our hotel room, and they give us 25 meal allowance every day. And then breakfast is provided, and some lunches are provided, and that goes for every round. So we got our whole hotel room for everybody was paid for for the whole month, which is great because there's no way we could have done it without because parents were already missing so much work. I was missing work. My studio started. I like it was a lot of missed things and stuff. So to have that covered was really great. After quarterfinals, when we're making it to semis, I actually flew home for two days because I had to move all my mats and get my new studio kind of set up for the start because I knew I'd miss it. So I went home, moved, got everything moved over, and then flew back. And they paid for that. So

Loren  14:54  
right, I mean that is great that they do pay for that, but then you're not putting out

Jill  14:59  
too much.

Loren  14:59  
So.

Jill  14:59  
Although the food in the U.S. is, and then we have to do laundry, and we have to, you know, like there's three mats and cook in our hotel rooms, and we learn how to live in a hotel really well. So if that could be another podcast, your tips and how to live in a hotel room for a month, we got it nailed, and to not break the bank and break your body because you just can't eat out like that for like no one could afford. Well, I guess some people could afford it, but just the amount of money and and just not feeling great, you know, by eating out. So, anyways,

Loren  15:33  
Well, I'll keep that in mind. I definitely like to know all your tricks when it comes to hotel living.

Loren  15:43  
Okay. So let's let's take it back to the routines and let's talk about the dogs because I think you said that from the audition going forward is that you were going to either add dogs or change dogs. Like I don't even know how you use different dogs mid competition.

Jill  16:01  
Jen did have them trained quite well. Like they're very well trained, but they just haven't had the experience jumping over dancers and under girls. Like they're very well trained with Jen. So Jen and her dogs are like a unit. That's such a tight unit. So to get them to trust other people was that was a challenge. But once they got used to it, they did really well. So the first audition, we had six dogs. The very one in March, our very first routine. Beach, we had eight, so two more. Slumber, we added one more, a big rescue dog, the ninth. His name is Captain Floofer, and then he was in the last act, our last performance, but our last routine ended up too long, and that's the other thing they're very strict on. You can only have certain amount of time, so our last routine ended up being way too long. So we had to cut stuff out. So Captain Floofer got axed, so he got out. So we went back to eight for the final.

Loren  16:58  
Okay, and now let's talk about your amazing acro dancers. I can't even imagine the physical demands. They're not living at home anymore. They're not in the studio. So you had to rearrange their whole training system that they were used to having. These kids are performing. They're rehearsing for camera. They're doing the stage rehearsals, and still you're trying to maintain their technique on top of all of it. How did you keep their bodies strong and healthy through all of it?

Jill  17:28  
Well, that was a tricky part because A - we didn't have mats. I think we had access to like three Velcro mats for like two days or something out of the whole month. So they're training on cement. We weren't doing a lot of reps on tumbling at all. We were really relying on the kids that were solid, you know. Like I didn't want to put anything that was risky or iffy that was going to risk anything. So the kids that you saw tumble are ones that were very proficient at it. But we just tried to do lots of warm ups, lots of like mobility stuff and stretching and proper warm ups. But like that was a big, a big challenge. Definitely, we made it work somehow, but we just had to rely on all their amazing like training and and dedication to their to acro that they had leading up to this, they did a lot of extra training this summer at home before we left, so they were training way more this summer than they ever have. I think that really helped for sure.

Loren  18:31  
Yeah, I think it really speaks to they had the foundation already, and you were just sort of maintaining it. Way to go, Jill! Creating that strong foundation for them so that they could stay there for three weeks and do everything they did.

Jill  18:47  
I mean, that's the Acrobatic Arts syllabus. That's the way, and you just have to have the muscle memory, the progressions, the the foundations are just key. Totally, yeah, for sure.

Loren  18:59  
And Jill, as amazing as your groups were, and we were cheering you on. We also got to watch the other contestants. Who did you meet that you really liked?

Jill  19:09  
Well, a few. We really, really loved Isaac, the singer. He's in the army as well, and he's a singer. He was so kind and so talented. He got to know our group really well, and then Cameron Marshall. He was the magician from Canada, so we hung out with him. He was in quarterfinals with us, and also made it to semifinals with us. So we got two rounds with him, and he was so sweet and kind. And we've made a connection with him. We're helping him. He wants to do a tour, so he's already contacted myself and Zoe on Instagram asking for venues and places he should go and stuff like that. So that was really fun to have a Canadian that and is so talented. And then Olivia Befus, the other dog trainer, dog act, such a sweet girl and her. Was just the sweetest, and I think it would be really cool to collab with her in the future. Honestly, because she's so young and has the same vibe as our young dancers, I think that could be really cool.

Loren  20:13  
Now, Jill, many of us are curious about how school worked for the dancers. You said that they got three hours. Did they miss their normal school classes, or were they doing homework backstage?

Jill  20:26  
Yeah, they just would have a three-hour block every day with their AGT tutors, their teachers, and they would be there to help try to help them. But they would just go in their Google Classroom. They would get assignments from home from their school teachers from home, and they'd have three hours to get it all done. I peeked in sometimes, and they were headphones on, like they were in the zone. Those teachers kept them busy, but they did say it was the best schooling they've ever had, just because it was easy, and the and the tutors were so kind and nice, and so it's very different. I think they're probably in a shell shock this week, going back to real school and real life, because it really wasn't real life. You know, they would do three hours, then they'd have a break, and then they'd go in the pool for a bit, and then we'd have maybe some interviews and things like that. So they're always in front of a camera. I mean, it was a pretty pretty cool life for a month.

Loren  21:24  
You're sort of talking about it, but I want to know what a full production day actually looks like, especially the day of a live round. So, what goes on behind the scenes?

Jill  21:37  
Sunday, we would have a dry block on the stage, so we would get to go on the stage and figure out, like, get our props on there and do a rehearsal on the stage. Producers are watching, not camera people yet. They're making notes on where maybe some camera angles would go. We got a little bit longer than most acts because we have so many moving parts. We're not just a solo artist, which is a lot easier to manage when you've got 22 kids and dogs flying everywhere and props and it's a thing, so we got a little bit more time, which we were grateful for. And then they would rip our set off and onto the next set, and then we'd have a break, and then we'd have a rehearsal just with us in a lobby somewhere with our props and stuff. So we'd have like a three hour rehearsal. And then Monday we would do, it's called camera dry block, and they would figure out, "Okay, this trick we want to shoot from this angle." " This trick we want to shoot from this angle." That's the part I wish I would have had a little bit more impact on.

Jill  22:36  
By the final round, I got my way on a few of the tricks, and I finally started to listen to me. Yes, we're going to do a wide angle here. We're going to do this, but I feel like a lot of our rounds you couldn't really see everything. And for our act, I really feel live is the best. But you know that's okay. So that was Monday, and then Tuesday we get another rehearsal with just us on there, and then a full dress rehearsal with all the acts. So they Terry Crews comes out. Like we do a practice rehearsal without Terry Crews, and then we do a real one, and he comes and does it and we have pretend judges. We do it all, like like do a rehearsal with that. And yeah, it's pretty crazy. And then and then we get dinner, and then it's the show. So it's long. Those are long days because it's a lot of hurry up and wait, hurry, hurry, hurry, and then you wait, wait, wait, wait, hurry, hurry, hurry, and so for me to keep the dancers warm and stretched, it was a bit of a stress because you know you'd hurry up and then they'd get cold again and then you're running onto the stage and got to do your dance. Boom, let's go. I think they really gained a lot of like, hey, just it's showbiz. We got to do this, like no matter what. So, yeah.

Loren  23:51  
Speaking of the live shows, and you mentioned that sometimes you don't know if the dogs are always going to do their thing. Can you share some of the pressure, and also could you tell us if some of the tricks didn't go well on stage, if they didn't work with the dogs?

Jill  24:08  
Yeah, every routine we had something not go perfect, and that that was hard because we had run throughs that were like absolutely perfect. Beach, it was like a dog wasn't missing anything because we had so many hours on it, and then that day when we performed, it was so loud, and it was right at the beginning. Mango was supposed to jump and go through the tubes, but he just walked around them. It was just he couldn't hear. Like it was the crowd was crazy. Like that, and that's the other thing that was really hard. Like on Slumber too, our whole opening music, we couldn't hear it. The timing was really off, and they missed a few things because, yeah, we didn't even know the music was on. So it was kind of crazy that way. But the dogs, the music, and the loud noise was really difficult. So we were like, yeah, like the cues, we'd have to yell so loud on. Stage because he just couldn't control the crowd, and there's a guy controlling the crowd. Like here's a crowd hype guy, so he's like teaching them how to cheer and like all the stuff. And then our last, our final round, Jen hurt her knee very badly, and we weren't even sure we would be able to that she would be able to perform. So we were teaching one of our one of our dancers, Sophie, she learned how to do a vault catch, which is like you spend years learning that, and she learned it in like 10 minutes, and she nailed it. So she actually ended up doing one of the catches, and then Jen did the last two, but the second one didn't work. The dog was not having it. So some of these dogs, it was their first time on stage. Like they've never been on a stage either. There was like three or four of four of them, five of them that have never been done anything on a stage. So kind of crazy.

Loren  25:51  
Well, and it really makes what you did even that much more amazing because to have dogs on stage that have never been on stage before, and you know what? Like from the viewing audience again, they looked flawless. But now that you're mentioning the noise, like yeah, that would really affect the dogs. And

Jill  26:11  
So we would try to practice, and we'd like. I think my ears are still burning. Like we would, the stereo would be so loud, and then we would like everyone would be screaming, like all the parents or the stagehands that we're helping backstage, we try to like cheer really loud when we're practicing, so the dogs can get used to that.

Loren  26:27  
Yeah,

Jill  26:28  
but it's still next level when you're there, and then the lights too. So the bright stage lights can throw them as well. Yeah, there's lots of factors.

Loren  26:38  
Yeah,

Jill  26:38  
Yeah, then dogs are like kids; like it's like they're like toddlers. Like, eh, I don't want to do that today. Like, no thanks. So you, it's a fine medium with how much you can warm them up. So like, dogs are the opposite. So like, before we go out on like say on Tuesday for finals or semifinals, the girls we're we're gonna rev up. We're gonna like get together. We do all our little pep talks and we do our little all the things, our cheers and warming up, and all the rituals that we do. And the dogs, they're in their crates and they're alone. And then we did, they just come out to the stage, we do a few little things, and then let's go. So it's like totally opposite. The dogs need to be like calm and not, no attention. And then the girls are like, let's go and like trying to get hyped up. So yeah. So that was like learning a lot. We learned a lot.

Loren  27:25  
And then the finale. So let's go to the last evening. You used Whitney Houston, you had four standing ovations, I can't even imagine the emotions and the feelings going through you.

Jill  27:39  
Yes, because our rehearsal earlier that day was not good, so it was not. It didn't go great at all. There was a lot of missed things, and we were feeling very stressed, to be honest. And Zoe and I did our best to like bring everybody up and be like, "We got this! Like it was just a dress rehearsal." You know, we weren't sure about Jen's knee. We we had like A plan and B plan, and it's kind of funny because I actually was on the stage. I was on there under the DJ booth at the beginning because Jen couldn't move, bend her knee. Like she was supposed to be holding the dogs and sending them right at the very beginning when they jumped over the handstand rotation. So I had to get under the table. So then I got a costume and everything. They costumed me, and even though you couldn't see me, but they gave me a full-on '80s costume, which was fun. Well, you probably saw it when we came out after. But anyways, I sent the dogs out, and then had to like sneak out, and I got to a little strut off stage. So I actually got to have my chance on America's Got Talent stage. Oh, brother! But anyway, so we did that, and then I was dressed in case I had to get out there and do some stuff for Jen. So I was on standby. Was like, oh god, because I'm not a dog trainer. So anyway, she she made it work, and I think with a good knee brace, and I don't think the injury was as bad as we had thought it was.

Jill  28:57  
So she was able to come through in a pinch, so amazing. A standing ovation was like that. I was just like, oh my gosh, we actually did this because the dress rehearsal before Jen didn't even do it at all. She stood in the audience, and I just had to be her and mark everything for the camera block because they they they need to know, and we were all just feeling like the huge amount of stress. Like we've made it this far, and now we can't. Like what? What's going to happen? So then, luckily, she got some medication and stuff, and then was able to pull it through. And then the dogs cooperated, except for one dog, one trick. But that's okay. Those things happen. So one missed trick, we were pretty thrilled, very thrilled, because Daiquiri, the cartwheel one, was Zoe. He did not, he was not doing it. And same with Twinkie, the handstand walking, she was wandering all over the place. So, anyways, we were very, very, very excited, and it didn't matter. We didn't really know what to expect for the results show, but that performance - it didn't matter to me or any of us. After that performance, we were so happy, and that's what's sticking with me for this whole experience for sure.

Loren  30:10  
Aw,

Jill  30:12  
yeah.

Loren  30:13  
Back at your home studio, Supernova. You mentioned that you flew back for two days and then got your new studio space ready. What has the impact been like for the studio? Are you seeing new families come in? Is there more interest? Like, do you have people calling you all the time, and they heard about you because of AGT? Like, what's going on?

Jill  30:36  
Well, I think that there has been more awareness for sure. That acro, you know, like a lot of gymnasts don't know that like acro is basically like gymnastics, but has a performance element and more opportunities to be in front of an audience. I think and be a part of a group or a solo. And I just think there's so many things that acro can provide that people, yeah, don't know about. And I feel like AGT, I think, has helped explore that. And it's just motivated. Like I was on the airplane coming home, and this person was sitting right before me. She goes, "Oh my gosh, my two daughters are gymnasts, and they are so inspired by your girls and your dancers, and they just were just in awe of them." And I just feel like that too. If I think that's helped, I was already going to be expanding the studio even before, like we made it this far. That was the plan. But has AGT helped boost that and try to fill my classes? I think so. I think so. Definitely. And we are expanding more genres now because our studio kids are very, very, very, very good at acrobatic, but then their dance needs to get caught up. So we're expanding into other genres to help that. And I think the the excitement has been incredible. Like everyone is just so happy, and excitement of the new space, excitement of AGT. I think it's all just like the perfect timing. We haven't been able to renovate it and get the studio how we need to have it. It's been on hold, so we're hopefully going to get it going in the next little bit. But the floor is not done, so there's lots of things still to come. But one thing at a time.

Loren  32:12  
Yeah, Jill, you haven't even been home a week yet when we're recording this.

Jill  32:17  
Yeah,

Loren  32:17  
like, are you exhausted?

Jill  32:20  
Yeah, I was very sick for today. I'm actually feeling better, but as soon as we're getting on the airplane, I could feel it in my chest because I think you know you hold that stress for 30 days. It's just so much stress, and then as soon as you're done, your body just kind of goes, "Okay, now you can be sick." But I'm feeling better now, so that's good. I'm glad it didn't last too long. It's nice for everyone to get back into school and regular life. And although it was a blast, it's also good to get back to the studio. And I really missed all the kids and just studio teaching. I just love it so much. It's the best job in the world, and I I really missed it. So it's it feels good to be home.

Loren  32:59  
Do you think there's anything from this whole experience that you couldn't have learned any other way.

Jill  33:07  
Well, I've learned to work with different personalities. That's for sure, because with my studio, I hire the staff and I hire people, and I do a lot. Like all the choreography with Zoe, who's of course my daughter, and so learning to work with someone else. Dog trainers are, you know, they have their own personalities and their own traits, and that is probably the biggest challenge that I had to deal with. And we got through it. There were some days where I didn't know I would get through it, but my dad always taught me once you start something, you always finish it. So that was the drive. I'm not going to say it was an easy ride, not at all. But the best part was, of course, being there and experiencing AGT and their professionalism, their staff from props, camera, all of the different departments were like it was so crazy. We would have people that would escort us. We always had to have you check in, and then someone would escort you somewhere. Like you're always there's somebody going, there's somebody taking you up to media. Oh, we need four people for this interview, and then this person would take you there. Like it was really very well organized. I got to say, and just very professional. So that I am like so grateful for, and I think that would probably be the biggest thing. And just having this experience with our supernova dancers-I mean, gosh, once in a lifetime, you know.

Loren  34:35  
Is there anything you want people to know about your journey that they couldn't see from watching it at home.

Jill  34:43  
Well, the amount of back hours, like you know, even before we would meet with the dancers, there was like late night plannings. Like Zoe and I would stay up, you know, because I mean, we're not just planning a routine for a competition. Planning that millions of people are watching, and the types of routines that we're planning are way different than a competition routine. There's actually like less acro and less like stuff involved. It's more of like the pictures and like the whole vibe. So that was a big challenge. So we really challenged ourselves on that, and there was a lot of misleaps and like background stuff, and we would meet like Zoom meetings with the producers weekly, and emails like my email like flooding. It's weird now. I don't have don't have hardly any emails coming in. So just the amount of work like to pull something off like that was something I don't think anybody would realize. Would I do America's Got Talent again? Depends. I don't know. I think it it was a great experience, but so time consuming. And my first love is my studio, and I think that I think I would want to just dive back into that and do that again. And what's next? If some TV show wanted to do something on us. I think we would be all in on that, but I mean, the sky's the limit. We'll wait and see what happens.

Loren  36:08  
Well, Jill, thank you so much for sharing the behind-the-scenes moments and letting us be just a little part of your amazing AGT adventure. Thank you so much.

Jill  36:20  
Thank you for having me.

Loren  36:24  
You've always been my hero, Jill.

Jill  36:27  
Awe, thanks Loren

Loren  36:33  
If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to subscribe and follow so you never miss an episode. And if you know a dance teacher, student, or parent who would love to hear this discussion, send it their way. Sharing the show is one of the best ways to support the podcast.

Loren  36:51  
Until next time, find power in your strength, freedom in your flexibility, and know that we are here to support you on your acro journey.

Loren  37:02  
Thanks for listening, everyone, and have a great day!