When eight-year-old Daniel Novikov walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2016 with a beautiful blonde woman beside him, the audience probably did not expect the two to be a mother-and-son dance team.
That changed quickly.
The woman was Alla Novikova, Daniel’s mother and an experienced ballroom dancer who had been dancing since she was nine years old in Saratov, Russia. Over the years, Alla became a successful competitor, teacher, coach, and dance adjudicator before moving to California with her husband, Alex Novikov, who was also a professional ballroom dancer.
Daniel practically grew up around ballroom dancing. His mother often took him with her while she taught students, and eventually he became interested in the sport himself. After asking his mother to teach him, Daniel began training seriously and quickly showed that he had a natural talent for the dance floor.
By the time he appeared on America’s Got Talent, he had already achieved several youth titles and had performed on PBS’s America’s Ballroom Challenge. Despite being only eight, Daniel already had years of training behind him.
For their audition, Alla and Daniel performed to Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.” Their routine was energetic, playful, and full of sharp ballroom movements. Daniel’s confidence immediately stood out. He smiled, interacted with the audience, and performed with a level of comfort that seemed far beyond his age.
The judges were also surprised when they learned that Alla was actually Daniel’s mother. Daniel explained that although people often found their partnership unusual, he and his mom worked extremely well together.
Their chemistry was obvious once the music started. The performance combined Daniel’s youthful energy with Alla’s professional experience, creating a routine that felt both polished and entertaining.
The audience responded with loud applause, and all four judges — Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel — gave them a yes, sending the pair through to the next round.
They returned during the Judge Cuts and performed to Pitbull’s “Fireball,” continuing to impress the judges and earning a place in the live shows. Eventually, Alla and Daniel reached the Quarterfinals, where they performed “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE with additional dancers.
Their journey ended there after they failed to receive enough support to advance to the semifinals, but Daniel’s ballroom career was far from over.
After America’s Got Talent, he continued competing and achieved an even bigger milestone. In 2018, Daniel and his dance partner Mishella Vishnevskiy became the first American couple to win the Under-12 Latin division at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival.
Daniel also appeared with Mishella on NBC’s World of Dance, giving him another opportunity to perform for a national television audience.
Alla continued her own career as a teacher and coach. Together with her husband, she established Edelweiss Premier Ballroom in San Dimas, California, where the family remained closely involved in the world of dance.
The Novikov family eventually returned to America’s Got Talent years later when Daniel’s younger siblings, Michael and Angelina Novikov, appeared on Season 16.
Looking back, Daniel and Alla’s audition was about much more than an eight-year-old impressing a panel of judges. It showed what can happen when a child grows up surrounded by passion, discipline, and a parent willing to share her own talent.
Their time on America’s Got Talent ended in the Quarterfinals, but Daniel’s journey continued — and his biggest achievements in ballroom dancing were still ahead of him.