Duo Aero was a trapeze duo from Season 6 of America's Got Talent. It was eliminated in the Quarterfinals.
Background[]
Duo Aero is comprised of Samson Finkelstein and Shannon Maguire. Samson Finkelstein has been training circus arts for over 11 years and has spent time performing and training acts such as duo trapeze, juggling, teeterboard, aerial straps, German wheel, Russian swing, and Russian bar. In 2006 Samson performed in the 8th annual International Circus Festival of Latina in Italy with his duo trapeze act. In 2008, Samson co-founded Blue Phoenix Circus Troupe, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Samson is proud to have trained under Yuri Bozyan (straps) and Veronique Thibeault (duo trapeze).
Shannon Maguire was a competitive USAG gymnast before leaving the sport to pursue the circus arts. The acts she has performed include Russian bar, Russian swing, Chinese poles, body-balancing, aerial silks, flying silks, and trapeze (duo, bungee, swinging, and flying). In 2007 Shannon performed her swinging trapeze act at the International Circus Festival of Latina in Italy. She has trained with several Cirque du Soleil performers such as Juliana Neves, Ivo Georgiev, Natalie Harris, and Sun Yanhong, as well as world famous Cirque du Soleil coach Victor Fomine (swinging trapeze). Shannon started the Circus Arts program at Gleason’s Gymnastics School in Eagan, Minnesota, and she is also co-founder of Blue Phoenix Circus Troupe, which she uses as an outlet for her other performing talents when she is not performing as part of Duo Aero. 1
Audition[]
Duo Aero's audition was never televised. It is unknown whether or not they were buzzed, but at least two judges voted "Yes," sending the act to the Vegas Round.
Vegas Round[]
Duo Aero was one of the Judges' Favorites in the Vegas Round. It was sorted into the "Acrobats" category. Its performance in Episode 611 consisted of performing acrobatic tricks while being supported by a trapeze in the air. Its audition was strong enough for the judges to send it to the Quarterfinals along with Summerwind Skippers and Zuma Zuma.
Quarterfinals[]
Duo Aero's Quarterfinals performance in Episode 613 consisted of performing acrobatic tricks while being supported by a trapeze in the air with an "old-time" theme. Piers Morgan buzzed the act. The act did not receive enough votes to finish in at least fifth place in America's Vote, eliminating it from the competition in Episode 614.
