Tell readers about yourself and how you got into the performing arts.
My name is Lynne Waggoner-Patton and I started dancing, singing and creating stories when I was old enough to walk. My official training in dance started when I was five but soon ended at the age of 8 when I was tested to see what artistic ability I had. I was told I had absolutely no artistic ability whatsoever and should try a different endeavor like sports. I cried. Really big tears because I loved to sing, act, dance, write songs and satires. But as a young child, I thought that everyone else knew what I could be and therefore pushed my dreams of performing to the bottom of my heart. Then I tried sports and my coaches cried. I would shuffle my way down the basketball court, do pirouettes in right field during softball, jump start at almost every swim meet because in my mind you have to be on the stage before the music starts so I got in the water before I should swim. I drifted in and out of the arts until I was 18 years old. I woke up one morning after I graduated from High School and decided to follow my dreams in the performance world. The rest is history!
Your show is very unique. How did it come about and has it changed over time?
The Silhouettes is a shadow dance, storytelling medium that has allowed me to combine all of my loves into one shape – literally. When I opened my first dance studio in 1992, I had no idea where it would take me. I ventured into the competition dance world because it was the only way for my dancers to be on a stage more than twice a year for recitals. My studio was one of the worst competition dance studios in Colorado – if not the nation.
My Dad has always said, “If you are going to do something, do it well and do it right”, so I learned, grew and transformed my dance studio into a national competitor listed as one of the top 25 dance studios in the nation. Because we became one of the top schools, a producer contacted us to perform at a local sporting convention in Denver on March 24th, 2009. The production company hired for this big event also creates the opening ceremonies for Olympic games. Earth Wind and Fire was the third act, Colorado Ballet was the first act and my dance studio was the 2nd act. They asked me to create a piece that involved shadows, pictures and dance and Colorado Silhouettes were born. AGT producers saw news coverage of our performance and asked us to audition. We took the AGT stage on March 24th, 2011 and we finished as 1st runner-up out of over 100,000 acts. America’s Got Talent named us The Silhouettes and we have been growing, evolving, reshaping, learning and discovering new methods to present our shadow stories that inspire audiences worldwide.
What was it like to be on America’s Got Talent?
The Silhouettes appeared 9 times on AGT season 6 in 2011, guest artists on AGT Finale season 14 in 2016, featured artists on NBC’s AGT’s Holiday Spectacular 2016, Golden Buzzer act and top 10 finalist on AGT The Champions 2020 and current resident act in AGT Superstars at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada. This journey has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions, growth, tears, laughter, joy and memories that will never be forgotten. I have learned more (and am still learning) from our first moment on an AGT then I earned my entire performance career. The best part about the AGT adventure is that it has given my cast and I the opportunity to help raise millions for organizations that help homeless children, cancer research, juvenile diabetes, epilepsy, veterans living with PTSD, teenage suicide prevention, at-risk high school students, mental illness awareness, substance abuse survivors, child trafficking awareness and more. This never would have been possible without AGT opening portals of opportunity for The Silhouettes.
The use of body language to convey a story is timeless. What do you think it is about body language that makes it so powerful?
The mesmerizing part of shadow dance is that anyone can place themselves inside the shadow. The audience participates in the story by trying to figure out the shape we will make and then being able to recognize it – and how it fits into the storyline – engages and audience in a way I have never experienced. Another really wonderful part about shadow dance is that we need every body shape and size. That is not the normal dance world. I believe that shadow dance is the great equalizer because anyone can take part in the shadow shaping – even people living with disabilities.
What can audiences expect to see at the show and what do you love most about doing this type of performance?
The Light of Christmas is a very special performance designed to bring light to the darkness. There is great fear, hatred and conflict in the world today. The only way I know how to combat this is with my art form. Therefore, I strive to take everyone in the audience on a journey of light, love, hope, inspiration, believing in the future and having faith to see it through. The story of Christmas and how it can help us in today’s world is portrayed in this beautiful story about a little girl who wants to make a difference in the world. Our mission is to change the world one shadow at a time.
Bonus: Will the audience have a chance to meet and greet after the show? Yes, we LOVE meeting the audience after the show. The cast will be out in the lobby to meet the audience, sign autographs and take photos. I usually stay backstage and clean up the massive mess we have made so that the crew can get home sooner than if I go out into the lobby, but I love hearing what the cast has to say when they come backstage. Meeting our audience is our favorite thing to do – especially families with children – so please stay for a few minutes after the show so that we can meet you!
