Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas wow judges on America's Got Talent semi final

Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas once again wowed America's Got Talent judges as the competition hit its semi-final stage on Tuesday.

Mayyas were one of 11 acts that competed on Tuesday for two spots in the finals of AGT. whose grand prize is $1 million and the chance to headline a show in Las Vegas.

The all-women troupe's mesmerising, forest-inspired routine won unanimous praise from the judging panel, and moved judge Sofia Vergara so greatly that she took to the stage to hug the dancers.

'Thirty-six women dancing as one," the Colombian-American actress said, describing their routine as "magic".

The group dazzled viewers and judges during their audition earlier this summer, earning them a golden buzzer from Vergara that gave them an express ticket to the semi-finals.

Their performances on the talent show watched by millions worldwide have stoked pride in Lebanese viewers.

"Mayyas all the way!! Good luck for tonight," Lebanese pop icon Nancy Ajram tweeted in support of the group.

The group paid tribute to their Lebanese homeland in an Instagram post shared before the semi final began.

"We are dedicating this for Lebanon, its people and the whole wide world," they said.

Private television station Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International last week launched a campaign with adverts on TV and social media channels to drum up support for the group.

Mayyas will find out if they have made the finals on Wednesday, during a results episode.

The finals will be broadcast on 13 September.