Diversity (dance troupe)

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Diversity
Diversity 2009.jpg
Background information
Origin London/Essex, England
Genres Street dance (popping, roboting, lyrical hip hop, contemporary hip-hop dance)
Years active 2007–present
Labels Simon Cowell
Associated acts Flawless
Website www.diversityofficial.com
Members Ashley Banjo
Jordan Banjo
Mitchell Craske
Sam Craske
Ike Ezekwugo
Perri Luc Kiely
Warren Russell
Ashton Russell
Terry Smith
Past members Ian McNaughton
Jamie McNaughton
Matthew McNaughton


Diversity are an English street dance troupe based in London. They are best known for winning the third series of Britain's Got Talent in 2009, famously beating Susan Boyle in the live final. They also won the Families United Positive Role Models at the Spirit of London Awards. The group, initially known as Swift Moves, and then "Menace" formed in 2004. In their first year together, they beat KI (the crew Marlon from Flawless was with) during KI's 2nd run to 7 wins at The Jump Off where Swift Moves battled a total of 4 times. They also won the Street Dance Weekend 2007 competition before deciding to enter Britain's Got Talent.[1][2]

Formed in 2006,[3] the group consists of friends from east London (Dagenham and Leytonstone) and Essex (Basildon), including three sets of brothers and four other members. Some are still at school or university, but also have jobs of their own.[4] The group, ranging in age from 16 to 28, consists of leader and choreographer Ashley Banjo and the following other members: Jordan Banjo, Sam Craske, Mitchell Craske, Perri Kiely, Warren Russell, Ike Ezekwugo, Terry Smith and Ashton Russell. One set of brothers have left which are; Ian McNaughton, Jamie McNaughton and Matthew (Matt) McNaughton.[5] Ashley grew up in Wickford, Essex with his younger brother, Jordan and his sister. He is currently studying natural sciences at Queen Mary University, after having completed his first two years, he has taken a break from studying to concentrate on his dancing. He said that "from the age of 14, I started to teach myself routines".[4] They also have a Twitter account which was originally named "DiversityBGT", but was then changed to "Diversity_Tweet". They are currently managed by Ashley Banjo's mother, Danielle.

Contents

2009 [edit]

After winning the show, Diversity appeared on the US television news programmes The Today Show and Larry King Live to talk about their future plans. Diversity also became Patrons of Dance Aid[6] organised by the UK Registered Charity, Hope for Children.[7] They performed at the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London on 5 July,[8] and appeared at T4 on the Beach on 19 July at Weston-super-Mare.

On 31 August, they performed at Blackpool's Winter Gardens in a Michael Jackson tribute alongside George Sampson and Aidan Davis. This performance was on the same weekend as the World Street Dancing championships.

Diversity have also performed in London' to launch the new Disney Channel Disney XD.[9] They also performed outside 10 Downing Street in front of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, during which Perri slipped and fell on his head after attempting a back-flip. He did not sustain any serious injury.[10]

Diversity also appeared in the Gracious K music video "Migraine Skank" along with dance group Flawless.[11] In January 2010, Ashley Banjo appeared as a judge on the Sky1 reality show Got to Dance, alongside Adam Garcia and Kimberly Wyatt.[12] Diversity switched on Christmas lights at Chapelfield shopping centre in Norwich on 5 November,[13] then in Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield on 6 November[14] then in Watford on 12 November.

On 11 November, Diversity conducted several hours of signing autographs and posing for photographs with thousands of fans at The Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Afterwards, they hosted a prize-giving ceremony on stage and performed their "Michael Jackson" dance routine. They performed another Michael Jackson tribute at the MOBO award ceremony. Diversity "launched" Christmas at Lakeside on 1 November, where they took two members of the audience on-stage for a dance-off. There was a competition held in November, and a hundred people won a meet and greet with Diversity on 19 November at The Glades in Bromley. On 7 December, Diversity performed on the Royal Variety Performance, hosted in Blackpool and shown on TV station ITV across the UK on 16 December. On the show Got to Dance Warm Up, they presented their Westfield Shopping Centre FlashMob, sponsored by T-Mobile.

2010 [edit]

Gnome globe current event.svg
 This article is outdated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2012)

Diversity promoted street dancing with Change4Life in January as a means of getting kids and families more active.[15]

The group toured in spring; their first dates sold out in 24 hours, which led to further dates being announced, the first being at the Manchester Apollo on 27 March. The tour centres around toys "coming to life". Diversity being the main toy as "Diversitoys", fellow Britain's Got Talent dance group Suga-Free as "the dolls", Aidan Davis as "Bionic Boy", and others. The group had also planned a tour at Christmas time, with a "Christmas twist".

The group teamed up with national retailer The Range Home and Leisure for a commercial to be shown in April and May, with the tagline "If you like Diversity, you'll love The Range".[16] They also appeared in adverts for food for "great little ideas". Diversity appeared in the UK film StreetDance 3D, released on 21 May 2010, in which they starred alongside Britain's Got Talent 2009 finalists Flawless and 2008 winner George Sampson. They have also appeared on television and in magazines numerous times since they won the third series of Britain's Got Talent, and hope to do a lot more in the future.

They recently lent their names/act to DFS as a promotion tool, appearing in their advert. Due to phenomenal public demand, Diversity are bringing back their 'Diversitoys' tour in December with a Special Christmas twist 'Diversitoys Christmas Special'. just before their tour they brought out their own fitness DVD which was bought by millions. their DVD is called Diversity Dance Fitness Fusion

2012 [edit]

Diversity were among the many torch bearers in London's 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, completing their leg of the journey on 22 July 2012. Starting from March Diversity did their first UK Arena tour called Diversity Digitized: Trapped In A Game. They sold out the O2 Arena with a standing ovation from the audience. Later in the year they brought out their DVD of the tour filmed at the O2 Arena. They performed on the Royal Variety 2012 with Spellbound, Stavros Flatley and Paul Potts.

2013 [edit]

Diversity will be doing another tour Limitless, in November and December 2013. They have already performed one of the performances they are going to do on the tour on Got To Dance. Tickets are on sale.[17]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Smith, Lizzie (31 May 2009). "Dance group Diversity in shock victory over Susan Boyle in Britain's Got Talent final". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers Ltd). Retrieved 5 June 2009. 
  2. ^ Leach, Ben (30 May 2009). "Diversity beat Susan Boyle to win Britain's Got Talent". The Daily Telegraph (London: Telegraph Media Group). Retrieved 30 May 2009. 
  3. ^ At-a-glance "Britains got talent finalists". BBC News Online. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009. 
  4. ^ a b McGarry, Lisa (24 May 2009). "Britain's Got Talent: Can Diversity Beat Flawless?". UnrealityTV. Retrieved 30 May 2009. 
  5. ^ Palmer, Emma (22 May 2009). "Talented dance group visits sick children". Echo News UK. Retrieved 30 May 2009. 
  6. ^ Dance Aid
  7. ^ Announcement. Hope-for-children.org. Retrieved on 2011-12-09.
  8. ^ "DIVERSITY added to Sunday line-up at Wireless". Wireless Festival. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009. 
  9. ^ "Diversity Perform In London". Sky News. 14 September 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009. 
  10. ^ "Diversity's Perri OK after fall". BBC News. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  11. ^ Gracious K – Migraine Skank (Official Video) – Out Now on iTunes. YouTube (2009-09-03). Retrieved on 2011-12-09.
  12. ^ To Dance-show.html "Banjo is plucked for Sky", The Sun, 8 October 2009, retrieved 17 October 2009 [dead link]
  13. ^ "In pictures: Diversity at Chapelfield". BBC News. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  14. ^ Diversity switch on Meadowhall Xmas lights – VIDEO – News. The Star (2009-11-07). Retrieved on 2011-12-09.
  15. ^ "Dance Group Diversity Team Up With Change4Life", MotleyHealth.com, 27 January 2010, retrieved 27 January 2010 
  16. ^ The Range – 'Diversity'. YouTube. Retrieved on 2011-12-09.
  17. ^ http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Diversity-tickets/artist/93963?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module

External links [edit]

Preceded by
George Sampson		 Winner of Britain's Got Talent
2009		 Succeeded by
Spelbound
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