In tonight’s second live semi-final for Sky 1’s Got To Dance, dance act Boadicea and Fear of the Unknown have won their place to compete in the live grand finale on March 4th 2012, moving one step closer to winning the quarter of a million pounds cash prize.

Hosted by Davina McCall, Got To Dance has scoured the nation for Britain’s best crews, troupes and solo dancers of all styles and ages. On the judging panel are three dance experts – Ashley Banjo leader of Diversity, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and Adam Garcia, tap dancer extraordinaire and movie actor. Six acts battled it out tonight for two spots in the live final, but it was Boadicea and Fear of the Unknown who won over the hearts of the nation, winning the public vote.

Fear of the Unknown – a theatrical dance group from poorer parts of Glasgow who would love to win the prize money so that they can go to dance school and fulfil their ultimate passion in life

Adam: Wow! You guys are the masters of the grand gestures. You are amazing dancers and that was a brilliant performance.

Kimberley: It was absolutely phenomenal- you gave me chills again and again. Your structure, poise and technique were spot on and you completely inspired me.

Ashley: I am speechless. Your all round production was fantastic and you didn’t disappoint! Your energy and fire just hits me.

Boadicea – hip hip crew from London who are out to ruffle some feathers amongst their male peers.

Adam: It all came together so well. You have this sensual female power and I love it! I think you are brilliant.

Kimberley: I am such a fan of you guys. You guys bring the fire; you bring the passion and totally deserve to be in the final

Ashley: I am in love with these girls. You hit it so hard and I am so passionate about you!

Six more acts from the Final 30 will each take to the stage next week, as they battle it out for two more places in the Got To Dance grand finale, in front of 6,000 people at London’s Olympia on Sunday, March 4th at 6pm on Sky 1.

View the original post Boadicea and Fear of the Unknown dance their way into Got To Dance Live Final on Unreality TV

Ashley Banjo has reportedly been approached about putting together a huge dance routine, for the opening ceremony of this year’s London Olympics.

The Got To Dance judge of course shot to fame after his dance troupe ‘Diversity’ beat Susan Boyle and won Britain’s Got Talent back in 2009. He now judges on Sky One’s reality TV series Got To Dance, which airs on Sunday nights and will soon front his own show for the channel, titled ‘Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street Crew.’

The Sun reports that the hunky star is in talks with the London Organising Committee Of the Olympic Games about coming up with an impressive street dance for the ceremony and a friend told the newspaper:

“He was tapped up because he is the perfect embodiment of the games.

“He’s from Leytonstone, just up the road from the Olympic site in east London, and is young and cool.

“He’s excited because it’s the biggest thing he’s been involved in.”

The opening ceremony will be huge and will air to millions of TV viewers later this year. It will include:

Receiving the Head of State of the Host Country

Parade of Athletes

Speeches

Playing the Olympic Anthem and the entry and raising of the Olympic Flag

Oaths

The Torch and lighting of the Cauldron

View the original post Got To Dance’s Ashley Banjo to choreograph a dance routine for London Olympics 2012 on Unreality TV

Got to Dance 2011 unearthed some of the most amazing and unique dancing talent in the country and soon it will be back for a third series this January on Sky 1.

The reality TV series looks to discover the country’s most talented dance floor divas by scouring the nation for Britain’s best crews, troupes and solo dancers of all styles and ages. Davina McCall hosts the competition that will push contestants to their limits as they strive to win the life-changing cash prize of £250k.

Auditions range from the comedic to the sublime and are judged by a panel of outspoken, world-class experts: West End star and actor, Adam Garcia; singer and trained dancer Kimberly Wyatt; and Ashley Banjo, lead dancer and choreographer of Diversity.

Davina McCall said: “I am literally beside myself with excitement at the return of our third series of GOT TO DANCE. I love working with gorgeous Adam, lovely Kimberly and of course sweetheart Ashley! Just you wait until you see the auditions – this year the bar has been raised even higher with so many acts worthy of a quarter of a million.”

A total of eight audition shows have been filmed in Dublin, Glasgow and London. This year, the talent who have appeared in front of the judges have been of a world class level – from the experimental hip hop displayed by Chuck to the pole dancing from Bendy Kate; from hip hop super crew A-Team to Irish dancers Prodijig.

Following these, the judges must whittle those who made the shortlist down to a Final 30, who will then compete across five live semi-final shows. A public vote will decide the eight finalists who will fight for the coveted crown in front of a 6,000-strong audience at Kensington Olympia. This spectacular finale will also be available to view on Sky 3D.

Since their win last year, cheeky double-act Chris & Wes have been touring the country and have secured their own series on Sky 1 HD – CHRIS & WES LET’S DO THIS. Airing on weeknights at 6pm from Monday 19 December, the ten-part series will follow the lads 24/7 as they embark on a host of brand new adventures. Each episode will be driven by a new milestone in the dance careers- be it a looming professional performance or a significant personal achievement.

GOT TO DANCE launches on Sunday 1 January at 6pm on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1. The second audition show will air on Monday 2 January at 6pm.

View the original post Got To Dance 2012 returns with Davina McCall, Adam Garcia, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Banjo in January! on Unreality TV

Got To Dance winner Akai Osei is teaming up with Disney Channel to launch Shake It Up: Dance, Dance, an online dance contest that will give the winner a unique opportunity to have their dance aired on the channel, as well as a holiday to LA and a once in a lifetime dance master class with Akai.

The online dance contest is inspired by the channel’s smash hit comedy series Shake It Up, starring Bella Thorne as CeCe Jones and Zendaya Coleman as Raquel “Rocky” Blue, which viewers can watch every day on Disney Channel.

Akai Osei commented: “I am hoping that my passion for dance will inspire other young people to enter Disney Channel’s Shake It Up: Dance, Dance competition no matter what their dance experience – it’s all about enjoying yourself and having fun!”

Viewers have until August 31st to visit www.disneychannel.co.uk/dancedance and upload their clips. The winner will be voted for from a shortlist of 10 finalists.

Here’s a clip of Akai unveiling the contest:

To coincide with the contest, a survey of young people has unveiled that the most iconic dance moments in history include Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal, High School Musical’s We’re All in This Together and Beyonce’s Single Ladies.

Michael Jackson is crowned ‘king of dance’, with 32% claiming him as their dance idol. JLS followed with 19% then Zac Efron, star of Disney’s High School Musical and Justin Timberlake.

And dance is more popular than ever among young people – almost half of them dance several times a week and 15% dance every day. 67% of those surveyed revealed that dancing makes them feel happy and a quarter said it gives them confidence. British kids are also confident when it comes to learning dance, with a third teaching themselves, 13% learning from music videos and 11% through friends.

Kids even like to take their passion for dance a stage further, with 30% of kids admitting that they give mum and dad a helping hand when it comes to learning the best dance moves to stay current on the dance floor.

View the original post Disney Channel launch dance contest with Got To Dance winner Akai Osei on Unreality TV

Ashley Banjo has admitted that he was glad when Jai McDowall won the recent ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ series.

The dancer and leader of Diversity dance troupe, who won the ITV show in 2009, said that the Scottish care worker was one of his top three favourite acts ever to appear on the show, alongside his own group and operatic sensation Paul Potts..

Ashley told BANG Showbiz: “Jai one hundred percent deserved to win. There’s just something about him. His performance at the semi-final was up there with my top three favourite performances ever on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.

“I’d have to put Diversity in there! And opera singer Paul Potts from the first series.”

However, 12-year-old Ronan Parke – who was runner-up to Jai – also received high praise from Ashley, despite claims the show had been fixed in his favour.
He added: “Ronan’s just such a talented little boy – he’s brilliant. He’s got a really powerful, refined voice for his age. I suppose people just aren’t satisfied without a little bit of controversy, but Ronan’s going to do really well for himself anyway.”

Diversity embark on their biggest UK Arena tour to date on March 29 at Glasgow’s SECC venue. Tickets are now on sale. See www.gigsandtours.com for more details.

View the original post Got To Dance’s Ashley Banjo backed Jai McDowall on Britain’s Got Talent on Unreality TV

11 year old James was one of the stand out acts that tried out for Britain’s Got Talent in Manchester and his audition is due to air on tonight’s episode.

The schoolboy will be seen on the ITV show, confiding in the judges that his mother’s suggestion that he take up dancing as a hobby, has helped his autism and made him ‘feel free.

James tells the panel: “Mum decided to take me…I loved it and it just grew on from there.”

He continues: “Before I started dancing I had orthopaedic boots and splints up my back and my legs because I used to walk on my tip toes a lot…but then when I started dancing my tendons just got looser and looser until I never had to wear them anymore.”

When asked why he loves dancing, James replies: “I love dancing, it’s the feeling of when I dance, I feel free, like I can do anything.”

James takes to the stage and when asked by Michael if he’s at school, he replies: “My mum’s home schooling me because I’m autistic.”

He then starts his performance, and backstage his mum is crying.

Ant says: “I’m going as well here.”

The audience absolutely love James and his performance, and after he finishes, David stands up from his seat, clapping.

We are assuming that this is the boy The Hoff mentioned at the series press launch last month, when he said:

“The real young talent in this show is a dancer and it was pretty much for me the most emotional moment in the show.”

“He has a handicap. He came alive and he was just unbelievable. You could see him dance his life out on that stage and it was pretty emotional for me. He was an amazing kid.”

James has previously auditioned for Got To Dance and defending his right to audition for the Sky 1 show, Davina McCall told The Daily Mail:

‘If James had been spectacularly bad and he’d been laughed at on stage, then I would have been very upset.

‘But it’s not like that. James is a gifted dancer and, in fact, dancing has helped him in the most amazing way.

‘He hasn’t been put in the firing line to be laughed at. Viewers will love him.

Read more here.

View the original post Britain’s Got Talent 2011: Austistic James Hobley moves from Got To Dance to BGT on Unreality TV

The always controversial Kimberly Wyatt has claimed that neither Lady Gaga or Cheryl Cole can dance.

The former Pussycat Dolls star – who also judges on Sky 1 dance competition Got To Dance – was speaking to The Sun’s Buzz magazine and first passed her catty verdict on egg-loving global megastar and old acquaintance Lady Gaga:

“I can’t say that I look at her as a dancer…But she always surrounds herself with amazing dancers, so at least she’s giving them the work.”

Kimberley also had a few words to say about X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, who was caught on camera doing some impromptu ‘mum-dancing’ alongside her X Factor mini-me Cher Lloyd in December. She laughed:

“It didn’t surprise me…It’s perfectly normal to see good dancers dance badly. They’ll work really hard to learn choreography to a song, but if you put them on a dance floor they don’t know what to do with themselves! It really all depends on their personality. Not all pop stars are coordinated on their days off.”

View the original post X Factor: Kimberly Wyatt says Lady Gaga and Cheryl Cole can’t dance on Unreality TV

Olly Murs has been lamenting the fact that he is single for a long time now and it seems that at this week’s Brit Awards he decided to do something about it.

The former X Factor contestant – who was nominated in the ‘British Single’ category for his single ‘Please Don’t Let Me Go’ – is said to have exchanged phone numbers with Got To Dance judge Kimberly Wyatt at an Awards afterparty.

The Sun reports that Murs was “on the prowl” after the ceremony and flirted with the Pussycat Doll star at Sony’s Gaucho steak house bash.

“Olly thought he’d have a crack at Kimberly. His persistence paid off and he swapped numbers with her before going in for the kill and giving her a kiss,” a witness claimed.

View the original post X Factor’s Olly Murs tries his moves on Got To Dance’s Kimberly Wyatt on Unreality TV

Got To Dance judge Kimberley Wyatt and top model Jodie Kidd, along with British actress Jenny Seagrove and designer Meg Matthews, are among the first celebrities to support the BUAV in saying NO to cruel cosmetics. They are joined by companies that do not test their cosmetics on animals, including high street giants Marks & Spencer, male grooming brand Bulldog and Kimberly Wyatt’s new make-up range BM Beauty in supporting BUAV’s campaignto end the sale of cosmetics in the EU that have been cruelly tested on animals.

The EU is due to ban the sale of all new cosmetics and toiletries that have been tested on animals outside the EU from 2013. However, officials are now considering extending this deadline. This is despite massive public opposition to animal tested cosmetics and an existing ban on conducting animal tests for cosmetics inside the EU. The 2013 ban on sales could be delayed for 10 more years during which thousands of animals will be injected, gassed, force-fed and killed for cosmetics on sale in the EU.

Mike Barry, Head of Sustainable Business at Marks & Spencer stated “We know that animal testing is a significant concern for our customers, and that great products can be manufactured safely without the use of animal tests. All our beauty products carry the BUAV leaping bunny symbol and we fully support the BUAV’s campaign to ensure the 2013 deadline is implemented.”

Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt said “My make-up range BM Beauty is approved free from animal testing by BUAV proving that there is no need to test beauty products on animals. Don’t delay the ban on selling cruel beauty products in the EU any longer. Say NO to Cruel Cosmetics.”

Simon Duffy, Co-Founder of Bulldog said: “At Bulldog, we believe that testing cosmetics and toiletries on animals is cruel and unnecessary, which is why our products carry the Leaping Bunny as independently approved by the BUAV. We urge everybody to sign the BUAV’s petition and say NO to cruel cosmetics in Europe.”

Jenny Seagrove stated: “Testing toiletries and cosmetics on animals is cruel and unnecessary and must be stopped as soon as possible. Please sign the BUAV’s No Cruel Cosmetics petition calling on the EU to uphold its ban for 2013 on the sale of these cruel products.”

Celebrities, politicians, cosmetic companies and citizens of Europe are being urged to sign the Euro-wide petition run by the BUAV-led, European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) –Say NO to cruel cosmetics at www.nocruelcosmetics.org.

View the original post Got To Dance: Kimberly Wyatt supports BUAV ‘saying NO to cruel cosmetics’ on Unreality TV

Making his TV debut on tonight’s got To Dancer is Afshin, is a 38 year old from London who believes he is better than Michael Jackson at dancing – “I’m a great dancer and everyone tells me I am great dancer. Since I was 15 years old I have been inventing my own dance moves. It’s like Iranian dancing with break dancing. I get my inspiration from Michael Jackson and I believe I dance better than Michael Jackson actually. I got the looks, I got the moves and I got the good body. What more do they want?”

During his energetic routine, Afshin chooses to remove his shirt and continue to dance with his top off – but will exposing himself gain him favour with the Judges?

View the original post Got To Dance: Afshin thinks he is more talented than Michael Jackson! on Unreality TV