Image: Evol Productions
LONDON-WIDE talent competition Boroughs United is once again searching for young people from across the city to follow in the footsteps of Leona Lewis, Diversity and dance duo Twist & Pulse.
The show was set up in 2000 by Hackney youth charity The Crib and many of its winners have gone on to achieve worldwide fame.
East London dance troupe Diversity, which won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, had triumphed at Boroughs United two years earlier, while BGT runners up Twist & Pulse won the competition in 2010.
Multi-platinum artist Leona Lewis also took part in the show in 2001 before going on to win X Factor five years later.
The competition was created to provide an alternative to London’s violent crime culture, instead encouraging participants to put their energies into showcasing their creative talents.
Kelly Reid, a founder of Boroughs United, has dedicated her life to providing a space where children are protected from peer pressure and can develop their skills.
She explained: “Our cribs provide a space where children can come and relax and be safe. We have rooms across Hackney where kids can dance, sing, MC and DJ without any problems.
“Boroughs United is a chance for our kids to really express themselves. Although the standard is extremely high, for example IMD, which were on ITV’s Got to Dance earlier this year, we don’t have audition rounds because we don’t want the kids to be intimidated.”
The show also supports charities that work with children who have had difficult upbringings.
Boroughs United will be at the Hackney Empire on 19 January from 5pm to 8.30pm.
To apply, or for more information, visit www.thecrib.org.uk
