Uzeyer Novruzov

Uzeyer Novruzov is a ladder acrobat act from Season 10 of America's Got Talent.

Background
Uzeyer Novruzov was born in Eysk, Russia, to a family of Azerbaijani origin. As a teenager, Uzeyir attended music school. He found an outlet for his considerable energy in "amateur circuses," the Russian equivalent of youth circus schools. He ended up, quite unnaturally, in a cooking institute. Yet Uzeyer never gave up his circus ambitions and continued his acrobatic training. He showed a natural gift for balance, and his joyful energy, combined with his musical and dancing abilities, didn’t long go unnoticed.

In 1995, Uzeyer was accepted into Moscow's illustrious circus school, the State College for Circus and Variety Arts. He graduated three years later with his unsupported ladder act (free ladder) and soon after was a laureate of the All-Union Circus Competition, arguably—given the high level of circus training in Russia—one of the world’s most difficult circus competitions.

Uzeyer then became a member of Moscow’s Bolshoi Circus, on Vernadsky Boulevard (one of the Russian capital’s two permanent circuses), where he was noticed by the Big Apple Circus. Uzeyir came to the U.S. in 2002. He was featured in the Big Apple Circus’s production of Dreams of a City. He remained in North America and has since appeared with his free ladder act in Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo. 

Uzeyer currently lives in Las Vegas. One of his biggest inspirations is Charlie Chaplin.

Audition
Uzeyer Novruzov's audition in Episode 1004 consisted of dancing and balancing on a free-standing ladder to "Green Hornet Theme." Tricks included spinning the ladder on one ladder leg and hand balancing on the top of the ladder. Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending Uzeyer to the Judge Cuts round.

Judge Cuts
Uzeyer Novruzov's Judge Cuts performance in Episode 1009 consisted of performing acrobatic feats on a free ladder such as standing on its end caps, all to "Puttin' on the Ritz". His performance was strong enough for the judges to send him to the Quarterfinals instead of Chris Jones and Wes Barker.

Quarterfinals
Uzeyer Novruzov's Week 2 Quarterfinals performance in Episode 1014 consisted of performing acrobatic feats on three free ladders such as climbing one as it spun or standing on its end caps. Each ladder was taller than the last, with the final being the highest he "has ever done" at 18 feet high. Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel all gave Uzeyer standing ovations.