Diversity Formed In Tribute
01 June 2009
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'Britain's Got Talent' winners Diversity decided to start dancing for a friend who died of cancer.
The dance troupe - who beat favourite Susan Boyle to win the talent contest on Saturday night (30.05.09) - has revealed the tragic tale that inspires their energetic routines.
Choreographer Ashley Banjo, 20, said: "A close family friend had cancer and fought a long battle. Her name was Sylvia Lewis and she died in 2006. It was the first time we really came together as a group.
"The dance we did for our first 'Britain's Got Talent' audition was inspired by her. When she passed away - that was how this all started."
Sylvia met the East London-based dancers through her model daughter, and quickly became a mother figure to all 11 members of the group.
Ashley's mother Danielle explained: "Sylvia was like an auntie to the boys and they were really sad when she died. She's the reason they got together, because it was so tragic and she inspired them.
I don't think a street dance group, especially from the UK, has come as far as we have. We can almost create our own path.
"They didn't mention it earlier because they didn't want people to think they were after the sympathy vote. Sylvia gave them their motto - dream, believe, achieve."
Diversity - whose members are between 13 and 25 years old - won 24 per cent of votes in the live final.
Despite their popularity, they were visibly shocked when their names were read out as winners.
Ashley said: "I didn't expect it, really didn't expect to win at all. I thought there's no chance at all. We were just going to do our best.
"I don't think a street dance group, especially from the UK, has come as far as we have. We can almost create our own path."
Susan Boyle got 20.2 per cent of the vote, while saxophone player Julian Smith came third with 16.4 per cent.
Diversity won £100,000 and will perform in front of Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Variety Performance in December.
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