Diversity's Ashley Banjo On 'Britain's Got Talent' And Setting The Blueprint For Future Dance Acts

INTERVIEW: 'We Are Creating The Blueprint For The Next Generation And A New Diversity'
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Back in 2009 dance group Diversity blew everyone away with their bold style of dance by body-popping their way into the final of 'Britain's Got Talent', which they eventually won - despite stiff competition from a certain Susan Boyle.

But what have they been up to since then? HuffPost UK caught up with frontman Ashley Banjo about their new project, tour and 'Britain's Got Talent'.

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Having just released a new advert, we asked if these new moves would be part of their upcoming tour?

"It didn't start like that but when we were making stuff up for the new Cadbury Marvellous Mix Ups advert we loved some of the ideas so much we are going to be incorporating them into our routine."

What do you think about the acts that are on this year's 'Britain's Got Talent' and do you think the salsa dancing granny has a chance of winning?

"The salsa dancing granny has been my favourite act for a few years now, she's brilliant! She's inspirational as well. I know how hard it is to dance at my age and how hard I have to work let alone when your body has gone through that many years of work. How she does what she does I will never know."

How do you think you have progressed since 'Britain's Got Talent' back in 2009?

I think in every single way... physically, mentally, in our careers... everything. We've grown up, the first time BGT came into our lives Mitchell was 12, he's 18 now and just brought a house and at the end of this year we're going on tour. We've sold out the O2 arena four times, so life's massively moved on from there. Plumbers, students and engineers that made up Diversity, now it's what we do for a living and we love it.

How do you think you fit into the entertainment world? What you do is so different but you get to meet and work with a lot of celebrities?

"A lot of our career so far has been less about doing the standard shows and more about carving out a path for people to follow so we hope there are dance groups in the future that have the opportunity to do what we do. But because there haven't been any before us there's been no set thing to do.

"When you get signed to a label you have someone in front of you like Beyoncé or Michael Jackson... they are always at these heights where you can say 'well I will follow in that path' and you know where you are going. With a dance group there is no blueprint, so we are kind of creating the blueprint as we go, and creating a good example for the next generation and a new Diversity"

Do you think the next generation of dance groups will be as successful as you and have the same level of exposure?

"A hundred and ten percent! I think its all in the mind. When we were growing up I never ever thought I would be saying to date, we have sold half a million tickets but it has become a reality, so all the kids growing up, it's no longer a dream - it's a reality they can achieve. Their dreams will be bigger than what we have achieved so we're setting a benchmark that can be beaten."

Can you tell us about your new project and upcoming show 'Ashley Banjo's Big Town Dance' and why you were inspired by the Olympics to create this?

"Dance is an expression of oneself. It is an individual's interpretation of music and feeling. You can teach someone how to dance but not how to feel. Therefore dance is something that helps your mind to escape whilst keeping active and fit. Stockton Big Town Dance was the bringing together of a whole community of all ages from all walks of life to create one amazing dance.

Diversity
Members of British dance group 'Diversit(01 of16)
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Members of British dance group 'Diversity' take part in a discussion on youth around the Cabinet room table inside 10 Downing Street, in central London on September 16, 2009. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to host a talent reception later Wednesday. AFP PHOTO/Shaun Curry/WPA POOL (Photo credit should read SHAUN CURRY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Prince's Trust Celebrate Success Awards - London(02 of16)
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The Prince of Wales meets members of the dance group Diversity at the Prince's Trust Celebrate Success Awards, at the Odeon, Leicester Square, in central London. (credit:PA)
O2 Wireless Festival - London(03 of16)
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Diversity backstage at the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, central London. (credit:PA)
Michael Forever Tribute Concert - Cardiff(04 of16)
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Dance Troup Diversity perform at the Michael Forever Tribute Concert at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday October 8, 2011. See PA story SHOWBIZ Jackson. Photo credit should read: Tim Ireland/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Michael Forever Tribute Concert - Cardiff(05 of16)
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Dance Troup Diversity perform at the Michael Forever Tribute Concert at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. (credit:PA)
Philips British Academy Television Awards - Arrivals(06 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: Comedian Lenny Henry and dance troupe Diversity arrive for the Philips British Academy Television Awards at the London Palladium on June 6, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Philips British Academy Television Awards (BAFTA) - Party Inside Arrivals(07 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) Dance group Diversity arrives at at The Philips British Academy Television Awards After Party held at The Natural History Museum on June 6, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Fergus McDonald/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Diversity Open Graduate Fashion Week - Photocall(08 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 10: Dance Troupe 'Diversity' open the Graduate Fashion Week Education Day at Earls Court 2 on June 10, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Diversity Open Graduate Fashion Week - Photocall(09 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 10: Dance Troupe 'Diversity' open the Graduate Fashion Week Education Day at Earls Court 2 on June 10, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) meets m(10 of16)
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) meets members of British dance group Diversity following the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England on December 7, 2009. Returning to the town for the first time since 1955, the annual show features a wide range of artists from all aspects of popular entertainment and showbusiness. AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal/POOL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Saracens v Northampton Saints - Guinness Premiership(11 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Perry Kiely, of the dance troupe 'Diversity', winners of the third series of 'Britain's Got Talent 'performs during their routine before the Guinness Premiership match between Saracens and Northampton Saints at Wembley Stadium on September 12, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Jed Leicester/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Saracens v Northampton Saints - Guinness Premiership(12 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: The dance troupe 'Diversity', winners of the third series of 'Britain's Got Talent 'perform their routine before the Guinness Premiership match between Saracens and Northampton Saints at Wembley Stadium on September 12, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Jed Leicester/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Britain's Got Talent Winner - Press Conference(13 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 31: Members of dance troupe Diversity (Back row L-R) Ian McNaughton, Terry Smith, Warren Russell, Ike Ezekwugo, Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo (Front Row L-R) Sam Craske, Perri Kiely, Mitchell Craske, Jamie McNaughton and Matthew McNaughton attend a press conference after winning the live final of Britain's Got Talent at Sony Headquarters on May 31, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Britain's Got Talent Winner - Press Conference(14 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 31: Members of dance troupe Diversity (Back row L-R) Ian McNaughton, Terry Smith, Warren Russell, Ike Ezekwugo, Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo (Front Row L-R) Sam Craske, Perri Kiely, Mitchell Craske, Jamie McNaughton and Matthew McNaughton attend a press conference after winning the live final of Britain's Got Talent at Sony Headquarters on May 31, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Members of dance group "Diversity" react(15 of16)
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Members of dance group 'Diversity' react after a comment by Mitchell (R) at a press conference in West London on May 31, 2009, following their victory in the final of television talent search 'Britain's Got Talent'. The group beat bookmakers favourite Susan Boyle to claim £100,000 and the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance. AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Britain's Got Talent Winner - Press Conference(16 of16)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 31: Members of dance troupe Diversity (Back row L-R) Ian McNaughton, Terry Smith, Warren Russell, Ike Ezekwugo, Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo (Front Row L-R) Sam Craske, Perri Kiely, Mitchell Craske, Jamie McNaughton and Matthew McNaughton attend a press conference after winning the live final of Britain's Got Talent at Sony Headquarters on May 31, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)