Britain's Got Talent's Diversity perform Black Lives Matter dance

From Digital Spy

Britain's Got Talent viewers have heaped praise on a powerful and moving performance by dance group Diversity during the show's first semi-final of 2020.

Diversity, who won the ITV talent show back in 2009, returned to the BGT stage to perform a Black Lives Matter piece billed by the show as "a performance that will be talked out for years to come".

The dance – which you can watch in full above – begins with a poem being read about the events that have taken place this year, particularly the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter marches and the coronavirus pandemic.

Related: BGT changes give viewers "Black Mirror vibes"

Some of these were acted out, with one particularly powerful moment featuring Ashley Banjo lying down and a dancer dressed as a police officer pretending to kneel on his neck while the lines "As the world watched on, another Black life gone, leaving what we thought we knew in tatters" are read out.

They go on to showcase their signature flips and jumps, as they jump off and kick over riot shields.

The four-minute performance ends with a child asking "Why did it take a virus to bring the people back together?" which is answered with "Because sometimes you have to get sick, my boy, before you start feeling better".

Viewers praised the powerful routine on Twitter, calling it "unreal", and pointed out its importance:

After a months-long hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, BGT commenced its semi-finals last night (September 4) in an audience-free studio, with judges David Walliams, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Ashley Banjo (who is temporarily replacing Simon Cowell following Simon's back injury) sitting at their own socially-distanced tables.

After a talent-packed show, the first finalist of 2020 was chosen, with comedian Steve Royle making it through to the grand final after being chosen by all four judges.

The public vote is now open until 10am on Monday, September 7, meaning that you have the chance to choose another semi-finalist to compete in the final.

The Britain's Got Talent semi-finals air on Saturday evenings on ITV.

For more information on how you can support Black Lives Matter, please visit its official website or donate here. Readers can also donate to the UK anti-discrimination group Stand Up To Racism, and the Unite Families & Friends Campaign, which supports those affected by deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody.

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