‘America’s Got Talent’ Runner-Up Roni Sagi Brings Dog Dancing To Southern Maryland

BRANDYWINE, Md. — Inside BFF Pet Services in Brandywine, international dog trainer Roni Sagi stood beside her border collie, Rhythm, and gave him a familiar invitation to play.

With only a ball in her hand and a series of subtle cues, Sagi guided Rhythm through spins, jumps, bows and movements around her legs. The performance offered a close-up look at the connection that carried the dynamic dog-dancing team to a second-place finish on Season 19 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

Sagi traveled from Israel to Southern Maryland for several days of workshops and customized training sessions at BFF Pet Services, located in Brandywine, Md.

The visit gave local handlers an opportunity to learn the foundations of canine freestyle from a performer whose routines with Rhythm have reached audiences around the world.

Learning To Slow Down

Sagi’s instruction covered canine freestyle foundations, training theory, choreography and techniques for introducing new movements. However, one of her most important lessons did not involve adding more speed or increasingly complicated tricks.

It involved slowing down.

Sagi said fast-paced routines are common in the United States, particularly in dog sports and performances designed to produce an immediate “wow” moment. During the workshops, she encouraged participants to recognize the beauty and value of slower, more deliberate movements.

“We don’t have to do something very fast in order for it to be nice,” Sagi said in an interview with The BayNet. “It’s OK when something is happening slow. I have time to look at it and appreciate it.”

That slower approach allows handlers to pay closer attention to their dogs, refine each movement and create routines that highlight the relationship between the partners rather than focusing solely on speed.

Sagi said training should also remain enjoyable for the dog. Handlers should consider their dogs’ individual needs, motivation and comfort instead of rushing to complete a new trick or routine.

Her philosophy emphasizes progress made through small steps, clear communication and an experience both partners can enjoy.

Where Dogs And Dance Came Together

Dogs and dancing were both part of Sagi’s life long before they became her career.

She said she grew up loving dogs and began dancing as a child. However, she did not initially realize the two passions could be combined. When she later discovered dog dancing, she was surprised that the sport had not been introduced to her earlier.

She quickly recognized that canine freestyle brought together the activities she loved.

Dog dancing combines obedience, tricks, musical interpretation and choreography, but Sagi’s approach extends beyond teaching a dog to complete a sequence of behaviors. The movements must suit the dog while allowing the handler and animal to perform as a team.

Sagi began training dogs professionally in 2017 and entered the dog-dancing world in 2019. She later founded Keta Tov Academy, through which she teaches people around the world to use movement and creative training to develop stronger relationships with their dogs.

She continues to study different forms of dance and movement to expand her choreography.

“I have a lot of routines that I’ve danced for three years, and I’m trying to learn new things once a week,” Sagi said, explaining that she wants to keep developing new movements and styles.

A Partnership With Rhythm

Although audiences may focus on Rhythm’s athletic jumps and precisely timed tricks, Sagi views their performances as a collaboration.

“I just like creating with him,” she said.

That partnership was evident during their run on “America’s Got Talent.” Sagi said Rhythm enjoys working so much that the size of the audience does not fundamentally impact or change what they do together.

“I doesn’t matter how many people we have around us,” Sagi said while describing Rhythm’s attitude toward performing. “We do what we like doing.”

Sagi and Rhythm impressed all four judges during their 2024 audition before advancing through the competition. Their routines combined technical dog training with music, emotion and Sagi’s background in dance.

The pair ultimately finished second during the Season 19 finale, behind singer Richard Goodall. Their finish was confirmed by NBC following the Sept. 24, 2024, finale.

Sagi described her experience with the judges, including Simon Cowell, as positive and respectful. Rather than allowing the size of the stage or pressure of the competition to change the partnership, she and Rhythm focused on performing the activity they already loved.

Creating Something Beautiful

For Sagi, a dog-dancing routine should do more than impress an audience. It should make people feel something.

She said people are constantly surrounded by difficult news and experiences that can leave them feeling sad or discouraged. Watching a person and dog move together can offer a brief reminder of joy, connection and beauty.

That emotional quality can be seen in the team’s performance to “Scars to Your Beautiful,” a routine Sagi described as making a statement through its music and movement.

The meaning behind a routine helps determine its choreography. Sagi listens to music repeatedly before deciding whether it calls for fast, energetic movement or something slower and more emotional.

That process allows each performance to become more than a collection of tricks. The music, movement and relationship between Sagi and Rhythm work together to tell a story.

Following her interview with The BayNet, Sagi and Rhythm demonstrated that partnership with a special performance inside BFF Pet Services.

Their movements shifted between playful and precise as Rhythm circled Sagi, moved through her legs, jumped, bowed and responded to cues that were often nearly invisible to those watching.

For Sagi, those moments represent the central lesson she brought from Israel to Southern Maryland: Dog training does not have to be hurried or driven by perfection. It can be an opportunity to slow down, communicate and create something meaningful together.

Watch below as “America’s Got Talent” runner-up Roni Sagi and her border collie, Rhythm, perform for The BayNet at BFF Pet Services in Brandywine.

Follow Roni & Rhythm on Facebook , Instagram, YouTube and TikTok for their latest duos. You can also visit her website for training sessions: https://www.ketatov.com/

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