Jaxon Willard is a 16 year-old contemporary dancer who is currently appearing on the reality television show “World Of Dance.”

Growing up in American Fork, Utah, Jaxon was raised by an all-white family that adopted him. He struggled with his identity as an African American throughout his childhood, and he turned to dance to help him process his complicated feelings.

Last week, Jaxon gave a performance to the Jack Garratt song, “Surprise Yourself” that had everyone watching in tears. Jaxon explained to the judges that the performance was meant to represent his feelings of abandonment toward his birth mom.

“I didn’t know how to share these feelings with the mom I have now, because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, and so, I’d suppress all these feelings,” Jaxon said. “But then throughout my journey and growing I would just learn that I can’t just be mad at my birth mom because I don’t know the full story, and so I just have to be grateful that I have the family I have now, and I’m just so thankful for that.”

Jaxon’s mother was sitting right in the front row as he performed, and she could not have been more proud of him.

The judges were touched by Jaxon’s performance, with rapper Ne-Yo telling his mother that she should be proud of her son. Judge Jennifer Lopez wiped back tears as she told Jaxon that she felt honored to be able to watch him.

Needless to say, Jaxon moved on to the next round in the competition! Check out his amazing performance below, and SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHHLf5pUocA