Diversity | |
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Diversity in 2009
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Background information | |
Origin | London/Essex, United Kingdom |
Genres | Street dance (popping, roboting, lyrical hip hop, contemporary hip hop dance, breakdance, acrobatics) |
Years active | 2007–present |
Associated acts | Flawless, Out of the Shadows, Trinity Warriors, Boadicea, Diversity Juniors |
Website | www |
Members |
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Past members |
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Diversity are a British street dance troupe formed in 2007 and based in London. They are best known for winning the 3rd series of Britain's Got Talent in 2009, beating "runner-up" singer Susan Boyle in the live final.
Diversity consists of friends from London (Leytonstone and Dagenham) and Essex (Basildon), including two sets of brothers and three other members. At the time they appeared on Britain's Got Talent, some were still at school or university, while others had jobs of their own. The group, ranging in age from 21-32, consists of leader and choreographer Ashley Banjo and the following other members: Jordan Banjo, Sam Craske, Mitchell Craske, Perri Kiely, Warren Russell and Terry Smith. Founding members Ashton Russell, Ian McNaughton, Jamie McNaughton, Matthew McNaughton and Ike Chuks have left Diversity. They are currently managed by Danielle Banjo, Ashley and Jordan's mother, and based at Dancework studio. On 28 July 2017, it was announced that former member Robert Anker had died following a car accident in Canada.
Before Diversity most of the group belonged to Swift Moves or Swift Moves Juniors.
As Swift Moves, they beat KI (the crew Marlon Wallen from Flawless was with) in 2005 during KI's second run to seven wins at The Jump Off where Swift Moves battled a total of four times.
Diversity formed in 2007, although there were a few line-up changes between 2007 and 2009 with Perri Kiely and Ike Chuks joining the group while Robert Anker and Ashton Russell did not take part in Britain's Got Talent.They won the Street Dance Weekend 2007 competition. By the time they performed in the Street Dance Weekend as guests in 2008 the group consisted of friends from east London (Leytonstone and Dagenham) and Essex (Basildon), included four sets of brothers and three other members. Some were still at school or university, while others had jobs of their own. The group consisted of leader and choreographer Ashley Banjo and the following other members: Robert Anker, Jordan Banjo, Sam Craske, Mitchell Craske, Warren Russell, Ashton Russell, Perri Kiely, Ike Chuks, Terry Smith, Ian McNaughton, Jamie McNaughton and Matthew McNaughton. Ashton Russell played the part of Young Michael Jackson in the musical Thriller – Live.