Diversity

Street dance troupe with eye-popping routines

London-based street dance crew Diversity got their start in 2007. Founded by choreographer Ashley Banjo and his younger brother Jordan, they were initially known as Swift Moves Juniors. Specialising in everything from popping and breakdance to acrobatics, the troupe quickly grew in number and even added another set of brothers – Sam and Mitchell Craske.

The troupe rose to fame in 2009 when they won the third series of Britain’s Got Talent. By that time they were a very diverse group of people who not only ranged in age between 12 and 25 years old, but also in everything from educational pursuits to race and height, so the name Diversity was a natural fit.

Immediately after their BGT win, Diversity scored a host of big gigs including appearances at Wireless Festival, in a Michael Jackson tribute at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, and for Prime Minister Gordon Brown outside 10 Downing Street.

With their first UK tour in 2010 selling out in 24 hours, Diversity soon landed commercials and slots on TV shows, as well as creating an exercise DVD titled Dance. Fitness. Fusion. In 2012, they headed out on the Digitised – Trapped In The Game UK arena tour, with their performance at The O2 filmed and later released on DVD. Diversity also were among the many torch bearers at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, also taking part in the closing ceremony of the first Invictus Games in 2014.

The late 2010s saw various members of Diversity – particularly Ashley, Jordan and Perri Kiely – appear on or host a number of TV programmes and charity functions.

With 2019 marking 10 years since Diversity took the nation by storm on Britain’s Got Talent, they celebrated with their ninth critically acclaimed sell-out UK tour Born Ready. That Christmas, the dance crew also appeared in the panto Robin Hood And The Merry Men Christmas at Southend’s Cliffs Pavillion, with Ashley in the title role. Their 2020 appearance on the show that broke them to UK audiences won Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment of 2020 at the British Academy Television Awards.

In 2022, Banjo was awarded an MBE for his services to dance. The group also announced their support for anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust. In November of that year, Diversity confirmed a brand-new show titled Supernova and a run of 66 dates around the UK and Ireland.