The Academy

The Academy is an Irish dance group act from Season 8 of America's Got Talent.

Background
The Academy was originally founded by World Irish Dance Champions, Byron Tuttle and Edward Searle, in Birmingham, England in the Spring of 2007. In the Spring of 2011, The Academy was officially opened in the USA.

Since its inception five years ago, The Academy name has become synonomous with major competitive success. The Academy dancers have won many Major Irish Dancing Championship Titles worldwide, including: Regional, British National, All Scotland, Great Britain, American National, All Ireland, and World Championships. Titles have been won for both Team and Solo dancing sections, including winning back-to-back World Irish Dancing Championship titles in 2009 & 2010. The Academy has just recently captured two more World Championship Titles this year at the World Championships in Boston!

Dancers from The Academy have made television appearances, and have also performed for a wide variety of festivals and other mainstream events. In October 2010, The Academy was specially chosen to perform as the opening act for Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance (starring Michael Flatley) at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England!-The Academy has also been featured in the International Irish Dancing Magazine, as well as many other News publications. 1

Audition
Hype's audition consisted of dancing to a modernized version of "Singing to the Rain," dancing a routine the group claimed to have choreographed just the previous night. Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel all voted "Yes," sending the group to the Vegas Round.