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Houston-area computer dance whiz quietly makes quarterfinals of America's GotTalent: iLuminate yourself
Dancer by night, corporate software developer by day, Clear Lake native Miral Kotb will be pulling the strings (or rather clicking the computer keys) backstage tonight when her electrified dance group iLuminate puts its best foot forward in the quarterfinals of America's Got Talent.
Team iLuminate (pronounced eye-luminate) rocked the audience and the judges in June during the auditions in Atlanta. A standing ovation from the audience and rave reviews from Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel and Piers Morgan sent them on their way to Tuesday night's televised competition (8 p.m. on NBC).
As Piers Morgan said, "This is the single most exciting audition I've ever seen on this show." Sharon Osbourne chimed in, "You've definitely wowed us." Howie Mandel had similar words of praise for the dance troupe outfitted in Kotb's patent-pending wearable, wireless lighting system.
While growing up in Clear Lake, Kotb studied dance as ardently as she did her school books. But once she earned her degree in computer science from Columbia University, Kotb entered the corporate world. That is until she created the software that allows her to manipulate the wireless lighting system.
She isn't allowed to do interviews or discuss her team until the competition is over. But that doesn't prevent her parents, Sonia and Magdy Kotb (owners of Mediterraneo Market & Cafe in Clear Lake) from telling friends about their daughter's good fortune and asking everyone to tune in tonight and vote for Team iLuminate.