Payton Mitchell

Staff Writer

Idaho State University has an extensive student body full of talent and promise, and Gage Horne happens to be one of those individuals. A dance major at Idaho State University and a member of the Bengal Dance Team, Horne started dancing in his freshman year of high school. 

His biggest inspirations are the dance teams featured on the television show America’s Best Dance Crew. 

Horne began dancing publicly when he joined the Dance Factory here in Pocatello. 

When asked what he likes about dancing, Horne replied, “It’s like a whole other world. When I’m on stage everything shuts out…It’s just me and the music.  The music literally flows through me.” 

When asked if there was anything that he disliked about dancing, he answered, “I dislike how long it takes to get a solo going…it’s hard to start from scratch, to create a solo all by yourself.” 

Horne stated that 2015 was the best year for his dancing so far. He is currently producing a recap video that will be published on his social media accounts.

Horne’s passion has not gone unnoticed, as he danced for 35 different events in 2015 alone.

One of these events was the Never Sleep Idaho party in Pocatello, where he went on to win first place in three different talent shows. 

The first took place on July 3, 2015 when Horne performed in the Malad Talent Show.

On the following day, the top five acts had to compete against each other using a different routine than what was used in the qualifiers. Horne, unaware of the rule, spent all-night and part of Independence Day morning creating a new solo, which won first place in the competition.

His next appearance in a major talent show was in Downey, Idaho, in a show sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.  Horne won first place for Bannock County, and was the county’s representative for state level competition, against six others. This competition of the seven counties was held at the Blackfoot Fair, where Horne took first place again.

In early December of 2015, Horne traveled to Salt Lake City to audition for “America’s Got Talent.”

According to Horne, when he arrived in the afternoon there was hardly any more people auditioning.

While waiting for his turn, Horne was able to meet with performers who had performed internationally.  His audition consisted of incorporating and interpreting sign language into a dance solo.

Horne stated that he believed that it went over well.

When asked about what it would mean to earn a spot in “America’s Got Talent,” Horne answered, “That means everything.  My whole goal is not to really win “America’s Got Talent,” but I really do think if I made this, it would boost my career so much further.”