diversity on tour

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Diversity: Supernova review – blazing BGT champs go all out

Royal & Derngate, Northampton The superstar troupe from Britain’s Got Talent consistently fill venues across the country – and you can see why

I t’s 15 years since street dance crew Diversity beat Susan Boyle to the Britain’s Got Talent crown, and the gang is still going strong. Ashley Banjo is now a prime-time telly face, a judge on Dancing on Ice, and he still leads from the front as choreographer, director and star, greeted by whoops and screams from the crowd. About half the 14-strong group are original members – teenage boys then, now men in their 30s. They are joined by more recent recruits, the youngest being the talented 18-year-old Isaac Akinyemi, and some fierce women too.

This is the start of 60 dates this year, in 27 towns. Never mind the latest chin-scratching developments in contemporary dance, this is the dance that people of all ages buy tickets for, all over the country, looking for a good night out.

The formula in many ways hasn’t changed, Banjo’s signature is punchy unison routines, tight as a military parade, crammed with percussive rhythms and sharp stops, with power moves and acrobatics thrown in (if in doubt, do a backflip). When they go all out, the energy is massive, it’s a rush.

But you can’t keep that up for two hours, and Supernova departs from previous Diversity shows in that it tells a story: troubled pop star crashes his car and ends up in a coma, a handy device with which to set up a whole variety show of numbers inside our hero’s mind, from heartfelt to hallucinatory: a toy box complete with tumbling Power Rangers, a slapstick number, a school classroom, a love story, a redemption. Plus, a cameo from disabled B-Boy Sergio “Checho” Carvajal and narration by Dujon “Scoop” Thomson.

Banjo is really in the business of emotional manipulation, and he uses every device going – video game-style visuals, rain falling from the sky, and music especially, whether for drama, uplift or nostalgia, pushing all the buttons. It’s mostly surface-level stuff, pretty cheesy, but why have I got a lump in my throat, dammit?

Ultimately this a parable about living a good life, holding on to people you love, vanquishing your demons. And they are so darn sincere, as Banjo chats about love, peace and hope. Diversity are very successful at what they do: pure entertainment, with heart.

At Royal & Derngate, Northampton , until 31 January; then touring until 13 April

• Britain's Got Talent
• Entertainment TV

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Tips for allies

What can people with an established touring career do.

Step 1: RECRUIT: create awareness of our jobs with young BIPOC, girls and genderqueer kids. Talk at schools, do an interview / guest appearance in magazines or on panels, webinars, podcasts, blogs etc.

Step 2: INFORM: share the resources in this page .

Step 3: ENCOURAGE: give confidence/validation to aspiring roadies to keep up the hustle. This is a tough industry to break into for anyone, but especially for women, genderqueer people and BIPOC!

Step 4: MENTOR: offer group- or 1 on 1 coachin g via programs like 1520 Vision and Diversify the Stage .

Step 5: HIRE: look beyond your own network if you feel it’s hard to staff your tour diversely. Check resources o n this page if needed, several include diverse crew databases. Request a diverse crew from your vendors and promoters. Take the DTS Inclusion Initiative Pledge .

Step 6: SAFEGUARD: create a safe environment on tour by informing all about the importance of a diverse crew, take complaints seriously and act on wrongdoing and microaggressions. Call others on non-inclusive or offensive language.

How can men be allies?

Step 1: ACKNOWLEDGE: recognize the challenges women and genderqueer people are facing in the industry on a daily basis and throughout their careers. Believe them when they tell you of traumatizing experiences.

Step 2: SPEAK UP: call others on inappropriate behavior and unacceptable language. Not because women and genderqueer people can’t speak for themselves, but because they shouldn’t always be required to educate. This also goes for moments when they aren’t in the room. Call your employer on it when they are not creating equal opportunity for all genders. When you receive praise or an award or get asked to speak at an event or panel, do a little research on the diversity of the organisation and the event, and make a stand if there is a lack of it. Share the spotlight and invite a minority colleague along.

Step 3: KEEP UP: take an interest in the subject, and keep up with new initiatives on this subject, such as Diversify the Stage and 3T Project .

Step 4: ACT: Implement a zero tolerance policy for any type of violence, inappropriate behavior and unacceptable language. Announce it, repeat it, enforce it. Yes, this should be standard, but somehow, it hasn’t been.

Step 5: FACILITATE: Request a diverse crew from vendors and local crew. Add a diversity & inclusion clause to your touring rider. When hiring crew for your tour, collect diverse resumes and offer equal opportunity for career progress. Offer shadowing opportunities, internships and mentorships. (see steps in “What can people with an established touring career do?”)

Step 6: NORMALIZE: Don’t only invite women to the table/on a panel/ in your podcast to discuss gender balance, but instead treat them as you would your male guests & speaker. Add your pronouns to your email signature ( here’s why). If you have a contact or order form on your website that asks for gender (mr/mrs/ms), include other options (such as mx or ‘prefer not to specify’).

What can vendors (suppliers) do?

Step 1: TAKE INVENTORY: how diverse is my staff? Why?

Step 2: RESEARCH THE FLOOR: what is our culture?

Ask female, queer and non-white staffers: how do they feel about the culture? Do they feel respected? Do they feel they are seen as equals? Do they feel they get the same opportunities and compensation? Is language seen as inclusive?

Do complaints get taken seriously and are there repercussions for offenders?

Step 3: TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR RECRUITMENT: are we recruiting new staff in a way that is accessible and encouraging to all people equally?

Do we offer any traineeships, internships or career days to diversity our staff?

Step 4: MAKE A STATEMENT: announce to all staff that diversity and inclusivity is important to the company. Create an inclusivity charter or download one from TPG website. Email it to all staff and post it at a prominent location (or various locations).

Step 5: REACH OUT: to local schools and youth centers, ask about career day programs. Reach out to local inclusivity programs, join industry groups and post about internship opportunities.

Step 6: PUT INTO PRACTISE: enforce the inclusivity charter. Correct each other on offensive language and create a safe space for complaints. Do create equal opportunity for promotions and bonuses. Host a diversity and equality training for your staff. (See Resources ) . Take the DTS Inclusion Initiative Pledge .

Tips for newbies

Getting started in the live music industry.

Do you find the live music industry interesting but have no idea what the options are or where to even start looking? Check out Gen Admissio n , a resource to do some basic orientation on music industry jobs. Another great orientation resource is Don't Shit on the Bus podcast.

Step 1 : EDUCATE YOURSELF: follow webinars such as Jen Kellogg’s and Tourmgmt 101 . Read books like Claire Murphy’s “ How to break into the live industry from a female perspective ”. Check out the resources I have shared in this website.

Step 2: GET EXPERIENCE: locate vendors who rent light/audio/video/laser equipment and ask to work / intern at the warehouse. Approach local venues and festivals and start working as a stagehand, runner or local merch vendor. Contact local bands and ask if you can help carry gear and set up. Volunteer for a charity that has music making at its heart as it will give you practical experience with gear/production, etc. Specifically, volunteer for a charity/nonprofit looking to address the gender imbalance in the music industry as these are often spaces which are supportive and will help you build the confidence you need to apply your experience to a job! Sign up at Shadow me Women .

Step 3: GET ORGANIZED: register as a freelancer. Research what is required in your country. Keep a tidy accounting of your personal and professional affairs. Make sure you have a financial buffer. Have a business card handy for when you make new connections. Create a signature for your email with your contact details so people don’t have to search hard to find you.

Step 4: REACH OUT: find professionals and peers, on industry FB groups, people you've seen on webinars or heard on a podcast, or search on Linked in. When sending Linked In requests, use a desktop and then add a note (this is not possible when using mobile). Introduce yourself and give some context why you are requesting the connection. If they accept, ask to meet them (be it in person or via videocall). Be to the point, prepare for the conversation by doing some research and ask them questions. Follow up to thank them for their time and ask if it’s ok to keep in touch (and then keep in touch regularly, maybe every 4-6 months). 

Be aware of who is going to hire you or put you forward for jobs: are you an aspiring tour manager? Connect with artist managers, agents and other tour managers. Are you looking for a position as an audio engineer, LD or backline technician? Contact tour- and production managers, vendors (rental companies), and others with the position you are looking to fill. Go to (online) industry conferences like Live Production Summit (more listed under Industry resources).

Step 5: BE VISIBLE: have a clear resume with contact info, experience and references. 1 page, PDF. Go to (online) networking events. List yourself on crew databases like EQL and WILM . Join all the industry groups on social media listed in this document and be an active member. Get on Clubhouse and be active: join industry clubs, follow industry leaders and join them in talks. Start a blog and promote it, maybe use it as a reason to interview people. Keep in touch with your contacts from time to time. Hustle, baby, hustle! No one is going to present opportunities on a silver platter, it is on YOU to get out there and find them and on YOU to make sure others know you exist and are looking for work!

Step 6: BE AVAILABLE: you never know when you get that call! Keep an eye on job sites such as Foot in the Door - Entry level music jobs and internships and Bobnet . More job sites under Industry resources.

Diversity resources

Websites / communities / platforms / forums.

2% Rising Facebook Group | Instagram

a space for women and non-binary folx who are music producers and studio engineers in the UK and EU.

Amethyst Collab | Instagram

Home of the music industry’s first all-women digital panel series.

Attitude is Everything

Attitude is Everything works in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry to improve Deaf and disabled people's access to live music.

Backstage Pass (NL) | Instagram

A non profit in the Netherlands aiming to increase diversity and inclusion in the live music sector by bringing teenagers and monitority professionals together in order to inspire, encourage and empower them to follow in their footsteps.

Black Tour Directory

Live Nation Urban has put together a Black Tour Directory as a listing of Black professionals and Black-owned companies to serve as a resource to artists, managers, festivals, producers, promoters, vendors, and venues who are actively seeking to hire Black crew members on their tours and events. We hope that our database will serve as a pipeline for emerging production talent. In support of existing teams that have put in the groundwork, our sole mission is to provide opportunities within live music while also uplifting our community.

Color of Music Collective

The Color of Music Collective was started to amplify the voices of people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals working in the music industry. Our goal is to change the lack of representation for these groups in music by uniting our communities. We want to hear from the crew, production team, photographers, A&R, artist managers, promoters — you name it.

Let's take this time to empower each other despite our differences, celebrate each other's accomplishments, and grow the music industry together.

Diversify the Stage

Diversify The Stage is a multi-faceted initiative focused on creating access to equitable opportunities for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Female-Identifying, and Gender Nonconforming individuals, in concerts, events, and touring industries. Diversify The Stage aims to inspire, connect and support the next generation through career exploration, mentorship and internship placement programming for college-aged youth of color in partnership with Music Forward Foundation and other like-minded organizations. 

DTS is also building a bridge for recruiters and qualified production staff through their endorsement of online employment portals like: Neverfamous.com , Roadies Of Color United, SoundGirls, She Is The Music and Valence.community, bringing forth technical solutions to the live industries widely used word of mouth hiring practices.

Diversity in Music (platform powered by Culture Collective )

Music Industry Diversity and Inclusion Talent Directory. (currently US only)

Lack of diversity, inclusion and pathways for professional growth in the music industry have existed since its inception. In an effort to break that cycle, I felt the need to create an online destination where hiring managers can seamlessly connect with executives of color and women to diversify their workplace.

Diversity Roadmap (platform powered by HelvetiaRockt )

The Diversity Roadmap provides simple recommendations for more diversity and equality in clubs and at festivals.

EQL (platform powered by Soundgirls )

Powered by SoundGirls in partnership with Spotify and other organizations, The EQL Directory seeks to bring the industry towards gender parity by uplifting and promoting the work of women and gender nonconforming people. We include all women in our directory, including trans women and people who are non-binary. The searchable directory enables users to showcase their work, market their skills, and reach out to each other for collaboration and networking.

FAEMM ( Instagram )

Wir sind fæmm, eine feministische Initiative in der deutschen Musikbranche, die queerfeministische und intersektionale Werte vertritt und eine Gleichberechtigung aller in der Musikindustrie anstrebt. Wir sind ein Netzwerk für Austausch sowie Diskussion und wollen denjenigen Raum geben, die normalerweise hinter der Bühne arbeiten oder noch neu in der Branche sind. Wir sind ein Zusammenschluss aus fünf Frauen , die in unterschiedlichen Bereichen der Musikbranche tätig sind.

Femme it Forward ( Instagram )

A joint venture with Live Nation Entertainment, Femme It Forward is a female-led music and entertainment platform that centers its mission in celebrating, educating, and empowering the industry’s most creative and accomplished female visionaries through multi-format, multi-market consumer experiences. We produce music festivals, concerts, original content, comedy shows, philanthropic endeavors, panels, college engagements and more.

FEMME HOUSE is a 501(c)(3) with the goal of creating and fostering more equitable opportunity for womxn and non-binary people in the technical areas of music. We seek to create the future producers, mixers, and engineers of the industry by offering educational workshops, building community, propagating visual representation, and offering professional development resources such as networking, mentorship, and more. We believe that if you can see it, you can be it, and that if we tear down the barriers to entry, we can affect change on a systemic, industry-wide level. 

Femnøise

Femnøise was born in 2017 as a collective to claim the fight for gender equality in the music industry. However, we soon realised that the solution does not lie in activism alone. We had to go one step further: connecting and empowering underrepresented people on a large scale, all over the world, creating synergies, empowering, connecting on a global scale. 

Gender Amplified

Gender Amplified is a non-profit organization that aims to celebrate women in music production, raise their visibility and develop a pipeline for girls and young women to get involved behind the scenes as music producers.

Girls Behind the Rockshow ( Facebook group )

Girls Behind the Rock Show aims to offer internships to both college-aged girls who want to be involved in music in any capacity, as well as those who are willing to just do the hustle. We are seeking out possible opportunities that may not have been found otherwise in both large and small music markets.

Girls I Rate

Our mission is:

Pushing for equality, female representation and recognition in the creative industries.

Creating internships, jobs and work experience opportunities for girls and women.

Encouraging women and girls to work together.

Honouring inspirational women and girls within the creative industries.

Empowering women and girls to believe anything is possible.

Experiencing first hand the imbalance and inequality within a very male dominated music industry, Carla was compelled to create a movement that provides females with a voice and platform. Her mission is to unite females though GIR and create opportunities for females within the music & creative industries.

Girls Rock Camp Alliance

The Girls Rock Camp Alliance is an international membership network of youth-centered arts and social justice organizations. We provide resources and space for community building to our membership in order to build a strong movement for collective liberation.

Girls Rock London

Girls Rock London (GRL!) is a music project for girls, women, trans and non-binary people in London. We run music projects where participants learn about music-making and performance. Our programmes are aimed at complete beginners as well as experienced musicians, and provide a platform for girls, women, trans and non-binary people to find and develop their voices. We aim to demystify music-making, challenge gender inequality in the music industry and build participants’ self-esteem and confidence.

We are part of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance – a movement of music camps that take place all over the world – united by a mission to empower people through music.  

Girls Who Listen

Girls Who Listen is a female founded nonprofit dedicated to supporting and shaping future female creatives and executives within the music industry.

Catered to a diverse community of women, we host a series of events such as panels, mingling mixers, songwriting sessions, and compile an internal networking database for upcoming creators and professionals aiming to learn more about the music industry. Our program Girls Who Listen University serves as a medium for college students to receive hands-on experience, connecting them with some of the industry’s most brilliant minds. Our newest initiative Girls Who Care, is a mental health division that focuses on the well-being of our community.

Gold Hand Girls | Instagram

Dedicated to empowering and connecting women in the music industry, Gold Hand Girls is a multimedia music platform providing a bold response to breaking industry norms, conquering patriarchal statistics and elevating universal inspiration for women, men and members of the non-binary community. Through interactive content such as the Women and Music podcast, Gold Hand Girls amplifies voices of women in the music industry and connects with its community to raise awareness about issues affecting the music industry while celebrating the hustle of women.

Key for She

On these pages you’ll find everything you need to know about life as a woman producing and performing electronic music. The latest statistics, thought leadership, industry articles, documentaries, expert podcasts, and publications are all here, along with the most comprehensive, multi-genre directory of female electronic music producers anywhere in the world.

We bring underrepresented genders in the music industry to the main stage.

Keychange is a movement that counts the discounted. We take action to empower talented underrepresented genders with training, mentoring, and network support plus conferences and showcasing opportunities at partner festivals.

Ladies/Music/Pub | Facebook

LMP is a regular social and discussion group, founded by Hannah TW and Tyson Mcvey in 2015. It is an informal and supportive environment to meet other womxn in the music business in London. 

Our members include singers and producers, booking agents, managers, radio presenters, DJs, promoters, PR, publishing and sync, festival curators, consultants, music video directors and producers, we have lots of members from both independent and major record labels, record shops, label services companies and also people looking to move into music and seeking advice. 

We aim to share opportunities and experiences (good and bad), offer advice and help move things forward. The group is not currently open to cisgender men, although we have discussed one-off open meetings. The term ‘Ladies ‘ is intended to be inclusive: LMP welcomes non-binary, gender-queer, gender neutral, trans folx.

The music industry is cismale dominated (70% of senior executives are male in the UK) this informal group is intended to be a welcome respite to those working in male dominated environments or feeling frustrated or affected by these stats.

Live Out L!ve | Instagram

LIVE OUT L!VE creates opportunities and sparks conversations to inspire and empower the next generation of diverse leaders in the live music industry.

Melocompass

Empowering women and minorities to start a career in music by demystifying and navigating opportunities in the music business.

Musequality.de

Musequality is a network of industry forces that have teamed up to find, mentor and push female talent in music.

MusicBYwomen

musicBYwomen ist das Netzwerk zur Förderung, Vernetzung und Sichtbarmachung von Frauen*, Trans und Nicht Binären Personen in der Musik(-wirtschaft) in Bayern. Wir bieten euch Workshops, Jobvermittlung, Mentoring, Netzwerktreffen und vieles mehr!

musicdirectory.ch

musicdirectory.ch from Helvetiarockt is a platform for women, inter-, trans- and non-binary people in the Swiss music industry.

Music Forward | Instagram

Music Forward bridges our communities to the music industry, empowers ambition, and creates momentum to redefine what is possible for the youth and industry we serve. Focusing on young people ages 12-22 in underserved communities, Music Forward sets the stage for success by providing workshops, panels, and showcases to inspire the next generation of music industry leaders, innovators, and artists. We also help raise awareness and funds for partners interested in making a difference and serve as a thought-partner in program development and delivery, including Crew Nation and Diversify the Stage .

Music Women Germany 

The first nationwide network and database for womxn in all areas of the music industry in Germany has arrived! Regardless if you are an artist, in business, media or tech - whether you are a conductor, manager, entrepreneur, musician, producer or technician, all womxn working in the music industry are offered possibilities for qualification, and participation in networking events for career development and empowerment.

The Music Women Germany organisation  has developed a nationwide database for all womxn in the music community. The goal of the new platform and its integrated database is to achieve gender equality and the participation of womxn working in music at every level, for every age and regardless of their background. Music Women Germany acts as a source for connecting and creating with womxn in the music industry. Our motivation is to create a diverse, intersectional, digital and linked-up local music culture and economy in order to achieve womxn's equal access into the music business.

Never Famous

Never Famous is a member-based website that allows tour personnel to manage profiles featuring job titles, experience, resumes, notable tour lists, references, and other essential scheduling assets that allows staffers to identify blocked dates. Membership is based on referrals and experience (two-year minimum requirement) so that artists and production companies are assured of qualified candidates. Custom web tools allow staffers to search candidates in the database by name, job position, dates, and availability.

Omnii is a collective based in London, aiming to inspire women, trans and non-binary sound enthusiasts to operate in all aspects of audio production. We run workshops to provide and supplement technical knowledge both in the studio and in live sound.

Petok Productions

Petok Productions provides a database of women, trans and non binary professionals in all backstage roles; traditional backstage and tech crew, and Associates working in recording live events and creating visual content and more. 

With the aim to diversify the production industry and pave the way for women, trans and non-binary people to have more visibility and direct exposure to work!

Petok Productions launched its training arm Petok Academy in 2022 offering shadowing, mentoring and training opportunities for people from under represented backgrounds. 

Power Up | Instagram

Power Up is a new ambitious, long-term initiative which will support Black music creators and industry professionals and executives, as well as addressing anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.

Roadies Of Color United

The Roadies Of Color United International Social Network is comprised of Professionals in the Entertainment Services, Concert Touring and Live Entertainment Industries. 

This Group is intended to be a place where Professionals in the Industry can Unite, Network, Promote each other and to collaborate in order help promote a more diverse and inclusive industry.

Our goal is to unite our industries in a way that has never been done before. 

Route is a Community Interest Company aiming to inspire young people from marginalised backgrounds to pursue a career in the music industry by sharing stories, experiences and practical advice from within its numerous fields.

At Route we want to demystify the pathways to revered job roles, highlight the importance of less glamorous but essential ones and make connections easier in an industry that can be notoriously cliquey by accident and design.

In 2020, through its written web content, panel discussions and workshops, Route strives to become a resource for a socially, ethnically and economically diverse audience of young people in Britain. 

Saffron is a music tech initiative taking an intersectional approach to redressing the gender imbalance in the industry

She is the Music

SITM is a nonprofit organization increasing the number of women working in music – songwriters, engineers, producers, artists and industry professionals.

We are an independent, global network that operates as a unifying organization for women from across the industry, creating strength and impact on a global scale. As an umbrella nonprofit, we also provide resources and support for female-focused initiatives that are working to create meaningful change – both through our own programs, as well as external efforts around the world.

shesaid.so is a global community of women and gender minorities in the music industry. Independently built in Lond on by   Andreea Magdalina at the end of 2014, shesaid.so has since grown to 12,000+ members around the world across 18 chapters in London, Los Angeles, France, Germany, South Africa, India and beyond.

We create and manage online communities that enable women in music to connect with each other to network, exchange information and get access to resources

We organize events that bring the members’ online connection to life worldwide

We produce creative content and other industry resources in order to inspire and educate

We host experiences that challenge the status quo and nurture discussions

We work with and help curate conferences and other industry events that are meaningful and inclusive

We are running 1 on 1 mentoring programs that bridge the gap between generations and offer tailored training for both mentors and mentees.

Soundcheck Aotearoa | Facebook | Instagram

SoundCheck Aotearoa is a New Zealand based action group formed in 2020 with the mission to foster a safe and inclusive culture for the music community.

Soundgirls.org | Facebook | Instagram

Supports women working in professional audio and music production by highlighting their success and providing a place for them to connect, network, and share advice. SoundGirls.Org provides support, career development, and tools to help those working in the field advance in their career.

SoundGirls.Org's vision is to inspire and empower young women and girls to enter the world of professional audio and music production while expanding opportunities for girls and women in these fields, and to share resources and knowledge through cooperation, collaboration, and diversity.

Scottish Women Inventing Music (SWIM) | Facebook | Instagram  

Scottish Women Inventing Music (SWIM) is a collection of female music creators and industry professionals, based in Scotland.

Sound Systers

Berlin based feminist crew of audio engineers, offering support, workshops and audio services.

Tech Sisters | Facebook | Instagram

Our vision is to give every Tech Sister working in the events industry around the world the opportunity to feel equipped, empowered and encouraged  through support, training, and networking. Based in Australia.

The Association of Black Event Professionals

The Changeover | Instagram

Tools for diversity, inclusion, and equity for all sectors of the live industry. Diversifying our stages and our crews, one conversation at a time. The Digilogue | Instagram

A diverse  global music and tech community that programs educational conversations, career resources, and artist discovery content. Community-Driven. Bi-weekly music career listings, crew database and more.

The Music Business Association

The Music Business Association serves to nurture our global music community by connecting, empowering and educating the industry’s many players.

Representing more than 90 percent of the industry at large, the Association provides a trusted forum that connects, educates and empowers our industry where ideas and collaboration flourish.

The Zoo XYZ | Website 

The Zoo XYZ is a Black owned events agency led by an international team of extraordinary black women. Who are dedicated to elevating brands and work closely with clients to create bespoke event experiences. With education and training at the heart of everything that they do, they too provided a range of AQA accredited courses, programmes and membership opportunities. To all those aspiring, navigating and exceling within the events industry.

Turn up her Mic

Instagram page showcasing and empowering womxn working behind the scenes in the music industry.

The mission of the Well Dunn Foundation is to provide internships to students with volunteer experience who exhibit talent and drive, coupled with an aspiration to become tomorrow’s leaders in the entertainment industry, but lack the necessary financial resources to pursue the educational experience an internship provides.

We’ve Only Just Begun | Facebook

#WOJBDirectory profiles female/non-binary identifying musicians, bands, DJs and industry professionals in Ireland.

Women Connect

Women Connect are a female forward collective creating safer, all-inclusive spaces, good fortune and equal opportunities for women, non-binary people and gender fluid folk working within the creative industries. The collective was birthed from a place of passion and the undeniable need for us all to come together organically.

Women Connect aims to:

• Encourage one another to share experiences.

• To share resources & knowledge.

• Enable confidence to allow our community to thrive in their professional environment.

• Change the archaic perception that women are inferior in a working capacity and rather than working against one another.

Women in CTRL

Women in CTRL is a Not-For-Profit organisation that was set up to empower and inspire women in the entertainment, creative and business sectors of the music industry.

Women in CTRL encourage women to find their strengths, develop their own personal brand and build the tools and confidence to become female leaders. We support women’s professional development on their journey to leadership, and create opportunities to develop talent.

Women in CTRL provide a collective voice for women and minorities and underrepresented groups to advocate for fairness and equality in the music industry.

Women in CTRL campaigns, lobbies and advises industry associates and organisations on issues relevant to women.

Women in Live Music / WILM Facebook Group (includes a database of women in live music)

Women In Live Music (WILM) is an European platform and online community that was founded at the beginning of 2018, because currently women only make up a very small percentage of the live music industry, (est. 5-10%).

We believe in diversity and that the music industry is a place for everyone, so we started this organisation to grow a positive community and share our knowledge, skills and opportunities with the aim to equalise the gender balance in the years to come.

We encompass all backstage roles: Sound Engineers, Tour Managers, Lighting Designers, Riggers, Backliners, Stage Managers, Stagehands & many more!

Wom+n in the Entertainment Industry Facebook group

This is a safe place for women (including trans women), non-binary folx, and anyone who identifies with “the female experience” working in the entertainment industry. This includes workers in touring, broadcast, theatre, and other aspects of event production. We all have unique stories and experiences, and have all faced some sort of harassment or discrimination while trying to do our job. This is a safe space to talk about these experiences, ask questions, find resources, and share job posts.

Women in the Music Industry (WIMI)

Our goal is to highlight and recognize women who are normally behind the scenes in the music industry. These are managers of your favorite artists, crew members, producers, photographers, plus so many more. This website will give these women the credit they deserve.

Women of Touring World Unite Facebook group

This is a place for ladies who work as crew in touring industry to connect and build community. The only rules are you must have previously worked at least one tour. (An actual full tour be it bus, van or fly)

Yorkshire Sound Women Network

Yorkshire Sound Women Network (YSWN) was founded in 2015 by women working in the sound technology industry who wanted to use their skills and influence to address gender and racial inequality. Our mission is to support a flourishing industry which welcomes, encourages and progresses the inclusion of women at all levels from studio floor to boardroom, and reflects the diversity of its participating communities.

YSWN enables the artistic and technical development of women and girls through access to resources, skills sharing, and collaborative opportunities. Through its network YSWN provides strong, skilled and professional role models who actively encourage women and girls to participate and develop skills in sound and music digital technology. Our meetings are open to all women and non-binary, agender and gender variant people. Men are welcome to support the network in other ways.

Diversity panels:

People Power: Centering Equity & Relationships In A Music Industry Career - Diversify the Stage (11/23/2021)

Turn Up Her Mic "In Conversation: Gender Equity On the Road" Panel (01/05/2021)

Disability Awareness in the Music Industry - Women In Music Panel - Moderated by Lachi - 2020

Pollstar Live Digital Roundtable on Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity in Music Industry

Soundgirls.org presents: Transitioning in the Music Industry

#FiqueEmCasaOnStage | Mês do Orgulho LGTBQIA+ (in Portuguese / English)

Diversity training:

(I would love to get more resources listed here, if you know of any, please contact me!)

Aspiration to Action: Training for DEI Leaders

Aspiration to Action is a 3-month mentoring and training program for those leading and participating in workplace DEI Councils who desire to be more effective and have greater impact on their organizations as a whole.

Beloved Community 

Beloved Community is a non-profit consulting firm focused on implementing regional, sustainable solutions for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through individualized and personalized support, Beloved Community fosters open lines of communication and realistic plans to create and implement tangible, measurable systemic change at work, at home, and in schools.

Emancipator (NL)

Emancipator is working on the emancipation of men. Our work is about preventing violent masculinity, stimulating caring masculinity, and freeing men from traditional masculinity. We are trying to achieve this by transforming norms and expectations of, and from, men.

Inclusive web designing

Hollaback! is a global, people-powered movement to end harassment — in all its forms. We believe that we all deserve to be who we are, wherever we are. 

We believe we all have a role to play in disrupting harassment and building a culture where it is no longer seen as “just the price you have to pay” for being a woman, LGBTQ+, a person of color, or any other marginalized identity. We teach people to take action, and to reach across their own identities to ally with others and establish a united front against harassment each time we witness it.

Misc Berlin

Misc Berlin offers workshops, training, coaching etc. on diversity and inclusion, based in Germany. 

Privilege Training (NL)

Project Implicit

Find out your implicit associations (unconscious bias) about race, gender, sexual orientation, and other topics!

Safe the Dance

Sexism, violence, racism and discrimination are still part of many events. "Safe The Dance" develops individual concepts to turn your events into places where people can feel safe(r). We provide workshops, trainings, talks and more - get in touch!

Shift (Los Angeles)

Shift is here to consult your organization on JDEI & sexual harassment prevention needs, provide racial & gender equity training & workshops, & radical reimagine workplace practices.

The #1 Web Accessibility Solution for WCAG & ADA Compliance

Whiteness at Work

Whiteness at Work is an online, on demand training program with five modules designed to help you and your colleagues build skills most of us don’t have. Together, we’ll imagine new ways of working and sharing power. We’ll commit to the personal, interpersonal, and organizational growth required to create cultures of racial equity and justice. Develop the shared language, frameworks, and skill sets to help you push back against white dominant culture and institutional racism. 

Interesting articles:

The Atlantic 30 August 2017:

Why Aren’t There More Women Working in Audio?

The Guardian 6 October 2020:

'You're left to rot if you speak up': the abuse faced by female roadies

Forbes 23 October 2020: 

Women Are Underrepresented In The Music Industry—LÜM Is Trying To Change That

TPI Mag 9 December 2020: 

3T – Tour Tech Training Course for Black Women in Live Music

Rolling Stone, 17 December 2020: 

Music’s Road Crews Are Overwhelmingly White and Male. Meet the People Trying to Change That

IQ Mag 5 January 2021: 

Unsung Heroes of 2020

The Guardian 31 January 2021:

From sharehousing with AC/DC to comforting Sharon Osbourne: life as the world’s first female roadie

More about inclusion and some research resources:

Annenberg Inclusion Initiative

Inclusion Rider – GRAMMY Awards 2022

From Intention to Impact - Steps for a Diverse and Inclusive Festival Culture by Green Events

female:pressure FACTS survey

The female:pressure FACTS survey is a continuous project, undertaken by volunteer members of the female:pressure network, that quantifies the gender distribution of artists performing at electronic music festivals worldwide.

Creative Diversity

The state of diversity in the UK’s creative industries, and what we can do about it.

General indus  try resources

Podcasts/webcasts.

Beyond the Spotlight | Spotify | Apple

Don’t Shit on the Bus | Spotify | Apple

Everything but the show | Spotify | Apple

Feed the Crew | Spotify | Apple

First Act Podcast   Spotify | Apple (A “How-To” guide on breaking into the music and entertainment industry)

Good for a Girl | Spotify | Apple

Hustle Like U Broke | Spotify | Apple

Loud Culture | Spotify | Apple

Meet Me Backstage | Spotify | Apple

More 4 Tours | Spotify

MPW Podcast   | Spotify | Apple (A podcast about different areas of music production and audio engineering for the everyday musician)

Music Industry Insights Worldwide | Spotify    (Equality & Diversity In the Music Industry Across U.K., Europe The USA & Canada)

Party Like a Rockstar Podcast | Spotify | Apple

Pooch & Rabold | Spotify | Apple

Promoter 101 | Spotify | Apple

Roadcase Pod | Spotify | Apple

Roadie Free Radio | Spotify | Apple

Signal to Noise | Spotify | Apple

Talking Touring | Spotify | Apple

The First Act | Spotify | Apple

The Tour Life | Spotify | Apple

The Music Biz 101 | Spotify | Apple

We Are the Road Crew | Spotify | Apple

We Need Crew | Spotify | Apple

Wrong end of the snake (not very diverse with their guests)

Websites & FB groups

ALEEP - Association of Live Event & Entertainment Professionals Facebook group

Backstage Learning Resource Facebook group

The Back Lounge Touring and Events group

Bobnet / Bobnet Facebook group

BOH (Back of House) weekly industry newsletter

Complete Music Update Jobs (job board)

C.R.E.W. Coalition Community Facebook group

Doors Open (job board)

Entourage Pro (crew database)

Event/Festival Work Opportunities

Foot in the Door - Entry level music jobs and internships

FUPP (crew database)

Gen Admission (music industry basics explained)

Haulix Daily (job board)

Hey Audio Student

IQ Magazine

Live Touring Crew Facebook group  

Merch Madness Facebook group

Merchandise Tour Crew Facebook group

Music Careers

Music/Entertainment Industry Women Working Together Jobs/Careers/Advice/Etc Facebook group

Music Industry Career Networking Facebook group

Music Business Worldwide Jobs

Music Industry Careers

ProSoundWeb

PSA (live production trade association)

Shadow me Women

Showcase - the international music industry directory

Tour Production Group TPG | Instagram

Touring Professionals Alliance TPA | Facebook

TPI Magazine

UK Live Events Freelancers Forum Facebook grou p

UK Touring Crew Facebook group

UK Touring Crew - Vans/drivers Facebook group

Women+/Femme Stagehands Facebook group

Women and Diverse Genders in Audio

Industry Conferences:

September 20 - 23  - Reeperbahn Festival Conference 2021 (DE)

September - The Green Events & Innovations Conference Summer Edition Online

September - Ditto X: Meet the Music Industry 

September - Music Forward's All Access Fest (US)

September - MIL - LISBON INTERNATIONAL MUSIC NETWORK (PT)

October - PMC 2021

October - Amsterdam Dance Event (NL)

October - LeatCon Hamburg (DE)

October - The Showman's show (UK)

October 19 - 21 SoAlive (Bulgaria)

November- Event Production Forum East (dates 2023 TBC)

November 21 - 25 - Linecheck MIlan (IT)

January 18 - 20 2024 Live Production Summit (US)

January 15 - 17 2024 https://www.cue.nl/ (NL)

January 17 - 20 2024 - Eurosonic Noorderslag (NL)

January 2024 - NAMM - Believe in Music (US)

February 2024 - Pollstar Live (US)

March 1-2 2024 Event Production Show (UK)

March 8 - 9 2024 International Confex (UK)

March 2024 - IPM (ILMC Production Meeting) (UK)

March 2024 - ILMC (UK)

March 2024 - 15th Green Events & Innovations Conference  (GEI 1 5 ) by A Greener Festival

March 2024 - SXSW (US)

April 2024 - Musikmesse (DE)

May 10 - 13 - Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) (ES)

May 11 - 14 - The Great Escape (UK)

May 16 - 19 - Indie101 (US)

June 3 - 5 - The NAMM show (US)

September 7 - 9 - Music Pro Summit (US)

Webinars & Online Courses:

ACT Lighting courses

Paid courses for operating GrandMA2 and GrandMA3 (101 course is USD 195)

Paid courses for anything AV

Free Dante Certification Program

Backstage Learning Resources

A Facebook group dedicated to sharing educational music industry webinars on other platforms

Video / projection courses (some free, some paid)

Brittania Row

Online live sound training for beginners and intermediate level

Video / media server courses (some free, some paid)

Event Crew Training

​​Our Event Crew Essentials course has been designed by industry professionals to get your new crew work ready from their first shift. (20 GBP)

Event Safety Alliance

Several online courses on event safety, most notably the 30 hour OSHA General Industry Training

IATSE Guide to Free Online Training

Dozens of links to free training courses in a variety of event production related fields

Intro to Ableton Live

A month-long comprehensive course to learn how to produce in Ableton Live. FREE for womxn of colour.

Jen Kellogg’s Concert Business Basics

A FREE virtual workshop series for concert industry professionals (donations welcome)

Need for Reed

Free written tour management guide

Roadie Wrap

2 minute tutorial how to properly roll a cable

Shure e-learning and online training

FREE online audio courses

Sonic Workshops

Paid courses on tour management, live audio, and other music management topics. (starts at GBP 100 per course)

Stage Automation Operation & Programming

A 1 hour workshop by Mimi Stal

The New Music Biz: Bands, Brands, Managers, & Tours

A paid course on music management by Kevin Lyman (USD 29 per course)

TheatreArtLife: Masterclass Show Calling for Events  

paid 90 min masterclass on event and theatre show calling

Tourmanagement 101

A webinar series for aspiring and experienced tour managers. Interesting for anyone interested in working on tour.

Tourmanager.info

Tour Manager Info is an online educational resource for aspiring and experienced touring professionals.

Schools: 

Herman Brood Academie (Utrecht, NL)

Backstage Academy (Liverpool, UK )

Blackbird Academy (Nashville, US)

Books: 

These all link to Amazon but I encourage you to order from a local independent bookseller.

Claire Murphy’s ‘Girl on the Road: How to Break into Touring from a Female Perspective’

All You Need To Know About The Music Business 

This Business of Concert Promotion and Touring: A Practical Guide to Creating, Selling, Organizing, and Staging Concerts

One for the Road: How to Be a Music Tour Manager 

Tour:Smart: And Break the Band

5 Steps To A Roadie Job: How to Get Working On-The-Road With Touring Bands

Sound Advice: The Ultimate Guide to a Healthy and Successful Career in Music

Loads more books in this Google doc by Victoria Hamersky!

Did you enjoy the tips and resources on this website? Feel free to add a small donation to keep this website live:

© All rights reserved. Website by Lotje Horvers

Diversity are one of the UK's most known dance troupes who rocketed to fame when they won Britain's Got Talent in 2009 and have since sold out more...

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Diversity tour: Dates, venues and how to get tickets to Supernova

The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Street dance troupe Diversity has announced a new UK and Ireland tour .

The dance superstars were formed in 2007 and are best known for winning the third series of Britain’s Got Talent back in 2009, beating Susan Boyle in the live final.

Over the past 12 years, the band has amassed a legion of fans and continues to captivate audiences with impressive dance moves.

Now the group will be touring the country, including Ireland, throughout 2023 and 2024, on a tour called Supernova.

What is Supernova?

Supernova is the new show created by the group’s frontman, Ashley Banjo , and follows the group’s sold-out Connected tour. It plays 66 dates across the UK and Ireland, kicking off in October 2023.

Diversity will be supporting the Trussell Trust charity , which provides emergency food and support.

Attendees are invited to bring food donations to the shows, where there will be collection points across the venue each night. There will also be collection buckets for cash donations.

Where is Diversity going on tour?

Tour locations in 2023.

• Eastbourne Congress Theatre
• Northampton Derngate
• Portsmouth Guildhall
• Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
• Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
• Oct Truro Hall for Cornwall
• Dundee Caird Hall
• Edinburgh Usher Hall
• Concert Hall
• Glasgow SEC Armadillo
• Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• Swansea Arena
• Cardiff International Arena
• Reading Hexagon
• Birmingham Alexandra Theatre
• Oxford New Theatre

Tour locations in 2024

• Carlisle Sands Centre
• Blackpool Opera House
• Bradford St Georges Hall
• London Palladium, Gateshead
• Stockton Globe
• Sheffield City Hall
• Hull Bonus Arena
• Leicester De Montfort Hall
• Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre
• Belfast waterfront
• Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre
• Bristol Hippodrome
• Bournemouth International Centre
• Brighton Centre
• York Grand Opera House
• Harrogate Convention Centre
• Peterborough New Theatre
• Salford Lowry Lyric Theatre
• Stoke-On-Trent Regent Theatre
• Southend Cliffs Pavilion
• Ipswich Regent

How to get Diversity tour tickets

Supernova tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday, November 18, via gigsandtours.com and ticketmaster.co.uk . Tickets for Belfast and Dublin will be available via ticketmaster.ie with VIP tickets available at www.sjm-vip.com . However, Southend tickets will not be available until January 2023.

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How to get tickets to see Diversity's 'Supernova' tour

It kicks off in October!

Our very own KISS Breakfast Show presenters Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely will be going on an epic tour with their Diversity friends! Britain's most-successful dance group will be taking their all-new 'Supernova' tour on a 64-date run around the UK in 2023 and 2024.

This tour follows their sold-out 'Connected' tour which took place in 2022, and saw the Britain's Got Talent winners show off their comedic routines along with powerful statements.

Buy tickets NOW to see Diversity from KISS-Tickets.com

Diversity shared their very exciting news with a fancy video showing off many of their impressive moves, and confirming they will be on tour throughout 2023 and 2024, with more than 60 dates across the country, including Edinburgh, Liverpool, Birmingham, London and more more.

Fans of the group have been leaving comments of excitement on their socials, with one writing: 'Yesssss can’t wait to see you again!! 😍' (sic), another wrote: 'Omg so excited!!'.

A third commented: 'This is amazing! Congratulations ❤️ we can’t wait to see it'.

Where are Diversity going on tour?

Diversity have more than 60 dates over two years for their 'Supernova' tour, including multiple dates in London, Birmingham, York and many more locations.

October 2023

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre - Wed 25th

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre - Thur 26th

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre - Fri 27th

Cornwall Truro Hall MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 28th

Cornwall Truro Hall - Sun 29th

November 2023

Dundee Caird Hall - Wed 1st Nov

Edinburgh Usher Hall - Thu 2nd Nov

Perth Concert Hall - Fri 3rd Nov

Glasgow SEC Armadillo MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 4th Nov

Glasgow SEC Armadillo - Sun 5th Nov

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall - Tue 7th Nov

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall - Wed 8th Nov

Swansea Arena MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 11th Nov

Cardiff International Arena MATINEE - Sun 12th Nov

Reading Hexagon - Wed 15th Nov

Reading Hexagon - Thu 16th Nov

Birmingham Alexandra Theatre - Fri 17th Nov

Birmingham Alexandra Theatre MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 18th Nov

Birmingham Alexandra Theatre - Sun 19th Nov

Oxford New Theatre - Wed 22nd Nov

January 2024

Northampton Derngate Theatre - Mon 29th Jan

Northampton Derngate Theatre - Tue 30th Jan

Northampton Derngate Theatre - Tue 31st Jan

February 2024

Carlisle Sands Centre - Thu 1st Feb

Carlisle Sands Centre - Fri 2nd Feb

Blackpool Opera House MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 3rd Feb

Bradford St Georges Hall - Tue 6th Feb

Bradford St Georges Hall - Wed 7th Feb

London Palladium - Fri 9th Feb

London Palladium MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 10th Feb

Portsmouth Guildhall - Sun 11th Feb

Gateshead Glasshouse International Centre for Music - Thur 15th Feb

Stockton Globe - Fri 16th Feb

Sheffield City Hal MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 17th Feb

Leicester De Montfort Hall - Tue 20th Feb

Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre - Wed 21st Feb

Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre - Thur 22nd Feb

Bristol Hippodrome - Wed 28th Feb

Bristol Hippodrome - Thu 29th Feb

Bristol Hippodrome - Fri 1st Mar

Bournemouth International Centre MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 2nd Mar

Brighton Centre MATINEE + EVENING - Sun 3rd Mar

York Grand Opera House - Thu 7th Mar

York Grand Opera House - Fri 8th Mar

Harrogate Convention Centre MATINEE - Sat 9th Mar

Peterborough New Theatre - Tue 12th Mar

Peterborough New Theatre - Wed 13th Mar

Salford Lowry Lyric Theatre - Fri 15th Mar

Salford Lowry Lyric Theatre MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 16th Mar

Brighton Centre MATINEE + EVENING - Sun 17th Mar

Stoke-On-Trent Regent Theatre - Wed 20th Mar

Stoke-On-Trent Regent Theatre - Thu 21st Mar

Southend Cliffs Pavilion - Fri 22nd Mar

Southend Cliffs Pavilion MATINEE - Sat 23rd Mar

Ipswich Regent - Tue 26th Mar

Ipswich Regent - Wed 27th Mar

Southend Cliffs Pavilion - Fri 29th Mar

Southend Cliffs Pavilion MATINEE + EVENING - Sat 30th Mar

Southend Cliffs Pavilion - Sun 31st Mar

Guildford G Live - Tue 2nd Apr

Guildford G Live - Wed 3rd Apr

Guildford G Live - Thu 4th Apr

Wolverhampton Civic Hall MATINEE - Sat 6th Apr

Hull Connexin Live MATINEE - Sun 7th Apr

Nottingham Royal Concert Hall - Mon 8th Apr

Nottingham Royal Concert Hall MATINEE + EVENING - Tue 9th Apr

Eastbourne Congress Theatre - Thur 11th Apr

Eastbourne Congress Theatre - Fri 12th Apr

Eastbourne Congress Theatre MATINEE - Sat 13th Apr

How to buy tickets to see Diversity's 'Supernova' tour

You can buy tickets to see Diversity on tour from KISS-Tickets.com

When are tickets for the tour on sale?

Tickets to see Diversity are on sale now!

How to listen to KISS Breakfast with Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely

Every weekday you can listen to our very own Diversity stars, Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely! You can listen to KISS Breakfast every weekday from 7am.

Take a look through Perri Kiely's fantastic career:

2009: diversity competes on britain's got talent.

After dance troupe Diversity were formed in 2007, the group auditioned for Britain's Got Talent in 2009 and took the show by storm! The lads, including a 14-year-old Perri, went on to win the third series of the talent show... and the rest is history.

2009: Perri Kiely meets the Queen

As part of their prize for winning Britain's Got Talent, Perri and the rest of the Diversity boys performed at The Royal Variety Performance at the end of 2009, even getting to meet Her Majesty backstage!

2010: Diversity appear in Street Dance 3D

Perri made his debut on the big screen in 2010 when Diversity joined fellow BGT stars George Sampson and Flawless to appear in hit movie Street Dance 3D.

2013: Perri becomes Got To Dance backstage presenter

After Diversity leader and Perri's friend Ashley Banjo landed a job on the panel of Sky One show Got To Dance, Perri was cast as the backstage co-presenter in 2013 alongside Jordan Banjo.

2013: Jordan & Perri's Ultimate Block Party launches

In the same year, Perri and Jordan went on to work together once more, this time landing their own show called Jordan & Perri's Ultimate Block Party. Perri and Jordan took to the streets each week in an attempt to look for a group of friends to throw the Ultimate Block Party.

2014-2016: Perri and Jordan host UK Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards

Showing they were a match-made in presenting heaven, Perri teamed up with Jordan once again when the boys hosted the UK Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 2014 - landing the job again in both 2015 and 2016.

2014: Perri wins Splash!

With his amazing acrobatics and dance skills, Perri joined the cast of Tom Daley's diving show Splash! in 2014. After some impressive dives, Perri was crowned the winner of Splash! series two ahead of Paralympic athlete Richard Whitehead.

2014: Perri appears on Release The Hounds: Jingle Hell

In late 2014 Perri joined his Diversity pals Jordan and Ashley Banjo to take part in a festive version of ITV2 show Release The Hounds, hosted by Reggie Yates. Despite getting scared for their lives, Perri and the boys raised £12 million for the NSPCC and Princess Diana Anti Bullying Trust.

2017: Perri looks for love on Celebs Go Dating

Perri attempted to find love in 2017 when he joined the Celebs Go Dating agency for the popular E4 reality show. However, despite enjoying a number of dates, Perri left the show single...

2018: Perri competes on The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off

In 2018, Perri showed off his baking skills when he joined the celebrity line-up for The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off. Perri was up against the likes of Stacey Solomon, Nick Hewer and Ruth Davidson MP, and was even named Star Baker by Mr Paul Hollywood!

2019: KISS welcomes Perri and Jordan as Weekend hosts

At the start of 2019, we revealed Perri would be joining the KISS team alongside his BFF Jordan Banjo. The boys hosted the evening show on Sunday nights throughout the year, before moving to a Saturday morning in December 2019.

2019: Perri takes part in Dancing On Ice

In late 2019, it was announced that Perri had signed up for the 2020 series of popular ITV show Dancing On Ice. After some amazing performances, which even involved an epic backflip, Perri finished in second place, behind eventual winner Joe Swash.

2020: Perri becomes a host on KISS Breakfast

After some time in the KISS team, Perri and Jordan Banjo became the new hosts of KISS Breakfast in August 2020, hyping you up for the day ahead with the freshest new tunes and biggest anthems. You can listen to KISS Breakfast with Jordan & Perri every weekday from 7am on KISS.

2020: Perri appears on The Real Full Monty on Ice

In a programme which was led by Coleen Nolan and Perri's Diversity BFF Ashley Banjo, Perri took part in The Real Full Monty on Ice in order to raise awareness about cancer. After his successful stint on Dancing On Ice, in 2020, Perri put his skates on once again, this time to strip off alongside 11 other celebs, and viewers were certainly impressed!

2021: Diversity's 'Connected Tour'

Since winning Britain's Got Talent in 2009, Perri, along with the rest of dance group Diversity, have toured the UK with some amazing arena shows. The group planned to head on a tour called the 'Connected Tour' in 2021, which centres around the world of social media, the internet, and the digital era we live in. However, due to Covid restrictions, this was pushed back with tour dates rescheduled to early 2022.

2021: Jordan and Perri win an ARIA Award

Alongside his BFF and KISS Breakfast host Jordan Banjo, Perri won an ARIA Award in May 2021, in the public-voted Radio Times Moment of the Year category. The award was for the poignant moment of reflection the boys did live on KISS Breakfast following the national reaction to Diversity's Britain's Got Talent performance, which was inspired by the Black Lives Matter campaign. Perri said about the win: 'We've only gone and done it 🤯 I mean I can't even put into words how proud this makes me feel. We've just won our first ever ARIAS Award!! Thank you so much to every single person who voted for us to win 'moment of the year' this one represents more than you'll ever know for me @jordbanjo and of course the rest of the gang @diversity_official and to the amazing team @kissfmuk for letting us really use our voices. This ones for the entire team 🙏🏽❤️ WE DID IT!!'. (sic)

2021: Diversity win a BAFTA TV Award

Along with his Diversity family, Perri picked up a BAFTA TV Award in June 2021, winning in the 'Must-See Moment' category for their controversial performance on Britain's Got Talent. Perri said of the win: 'WE WON A BAFTA! Just listen… this means more than you'll ever know. @ashleybanjogram you said it perfectly, I couldn't be prouder 🙏🏽❤️ man I love my team! @diversity_official And to everyone who complained… HA.' (sic)

2021: Perri takes part in Celebrity Gogglebox

In September 2021, it was announced that Perri, alongside Jordan and Ashley Banjo, would be appearing on Channel 4's Celebrity Gogglebox! The show brought a whole host of huge names to the screen, as part of Channel 4's Black to Front takeover - which aimed to put Black talent in the spotlight.

2021: Perri and Jordan play The Cube Celebrity Special

In December 2021, Perri was joined by Jordan Banjo on the celebrity special of ITV show The Cube. The boys played five games, winning an impressive £50,000 for charity!

2022: Diversity perform at The Platinum Party at the Palace

Diversity were one of the many talented acts to perform at The Platinum Party at the Palace in June 2022 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubliee. Their routine took the audience on a journey through 70 years of British pop music. Sharing a snap of his team at the event, Perri wrote: 'Another moment to hold on to right here!! Party at the palace for the queen's platinum jubilee 🙏🏽 Love my team @diversity_official ❤️🔥'.

2022: Diversity complete postponed 'Connected Tour'

From March to June 2022, Diversity embarked on their rescheduled 'Connected Tour'. Perri reflected on the tour in an Instagram post and wrote: 'It's very easy sometimes to get swept up in everything that's happening all at once but I just wanna take a step back for a second because this right here sums up exactly why I love what we do. 3 months on the road and 78 shows later WE DID THAT!! IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED!! We're still living this dream and achieving goals that we never thought possible. I honestly couldn't be prouder every time I hear "WE ARE DIVERSITY" that's my team right there!! 😎❤️ The Connected tour hit on a whole new level that I don't think anyone was ready for but to everyone that got to experience these special moments with us Thank you! And of course @ashleybanjogram I'm not even getting in to it! You're just a different breed 😅 beyond proud to call you a brother 👊🏽 The future is brighter than ever ❤️'. (sic)

2022: Perri and Jordan perform at KISS Haunted House Party

Not only did Jordan and Perri host the KISS Haunted House Party 2022, they also wowed the crowd with an EPIC performance with Diversity. 👏👏

2022: Diversity announce 'Supernova' tour

In November 2022, Diversity announced another tour of 66 shows all over the UK throughout 2023 and 2024. They went on to add even more shows, perform in venues across Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, London and more locations. The tour concludes in Llandudno on 18th April 2024.

2023: Diversity perform on Dancing On Ice

Perri returned to the Dancing On Ice rink in 2023 to perform an INCREDIBLE routine with his Diversity teammates. He said of the night: 'That had me GASSED!!! After 3 years away it felt so good to be back on the ice, and this time with my team @diversity_official ❤️man I miss this!! ⛸️🧊🔥'.

Tyler gets an emotional surprise while on air with Jordan and Perri on KISS Breakfast ❤️

Stars open up about working on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever without Chadwick Boseman

Jordan Banjo: Get to know the KISS Breakfast presenter

Everything you need to know about KISS Breakfast presenter Perri Kiely

How to listen to KISS:

Listen to KISS, KISSTORY and KISS Fresh on digital radio, via our free app, by hitting that play button on the bottom of your screen and on your smart speaker (‘Play KISS FM’, ‘Play KISSTORY’, ‘Play KISS Fresh’).

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Diversity to go on massive UK tour with performances across 44 towns and cities

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Dance troupe Diversity have announced presale tickets for their upcoming Supernova tour that will stop in 44 towns and cities across the UK.

Founded by dancer and presenter Ashley Banjo , the group rose to fame during their stint on Britain’s Got Talent and, more than a decade on, they’re still going strong.

Giving fans across the country something to look forward to, they released a video teasing the extravaganza that’s set to be one of their biggest tours yet.

Calling it The Supernova Tour, presale tickets will go on sale this Friday, November 18 at 10am for locations including Eastbourne, Northampton, Nottingham, Portsmouth and Cornwall.

Posting an explosive reel hinting at what audiences can expect from the event, the announcement said: ‘We’re so excited to announce we will be touring with a brand new show!

‘THE SUPERNOVA TOUR! We can’t wait to create something special for you all!

‘Tickets go on general sale 10am Friday 18th November and presale starts this Thursday at 10am. Hit the link in our bio for more info [sic]’.

Fans were quick to virtually share their delight and excitement following the news as congratulatory comments poured in.

One wrote: ‘Can I afford it?! Nope but will I be there Yes yes I will!!! [sic]’

‘Yesssss can’t wait to see you again!! [sic]’, was another’s response.

Members of the group took time out to share their own joy at heading back out on the road with Perri Kiely posting: ‘HERE WE GO AGAIN!! [sic]’ and wife of Ashley, Francesca confirming: ‘It’s happening’.

Beginning next October, the tour schedule will continue on into 2024 where it will finish its run in April 2024 at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

This new showcase follows in the wake of the troop’s current sold-out Connected tour that combined comedic routines with routines that made statements on human connectivity.

Never ones to shy away from promoting activism through dance, the group made their mark after winning a Bafta for their take on The Black Lives Matter movement during a performance on Britain’s Got Talent .

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Bagging them the award for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment of 2020, the routine that walked viewers through what happened to George Floyd and the incident’s aftermath, caused a stir after receiving thousands of Ofcom complaints .

Diversity's tour dates:

Fri Oct 13 Eastbourne Congress Theatre

Sat Oct 14 Eastbourne Congress Theatre MATINEE

Tue Oct 17 Northampton Derngate

Wed Oct 18 Northampton Derngate

Fri Oct 20 Portsmouth Guildhall

Sat Oct 21 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall

Sun Oct 22 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall MATINEE

Thu Oct 26 Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Fri Oct 27 Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Sat Oct 28 Truro Hall for Cornwall MATINEE + EVENING

Wed Nov 1 Dundee Caird Hall

Thu Nov 2 Edinburgh Usher Hall

Fri Nov 3 Perth Concert Hall

Sat Nov 4 Glasgow SEC Armadillo MATINEE + EVENING

Wed Nov 8 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Sat Nov 11 Swansea Arena MATINEE

Sun Nov 12 Cardiff International Arena MATINEE

Wed Nov 15 Reading Hexagon

Thu Nov 16 Reading Hexagon

Fri Nov 17 Birmingham Alexandra Theatre

Sat Nov 18 Birmingham Alexandra Theatre MATINEE + EVENING

Wed Nov 22 Oxford New Theatre

WedJan 31 Carlisle Sands Centre

Thu Feb 1 Carlisle Sands Centre

Sat Feb 3 Blackpool Opera House MATINEE + EVENING

Wed Feb 7 Bradford St Georges Hall

FriFeb 9 London Palladium

Sat Feb 10 London Palladium MATINEE + EVENING

Thu Feb 15 Gateshead Sage

Fri Feb 16 Stockton Globe

Sat Feb 17 Sheffield City Hall MATINEE + EVENING

Sun Feb 18 Hull Bonus Arena MATINEE

Tue Feb 20 Leicester De Montfort Hall

Wed Feb 21 Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre

Sat Feb 24 Belfast Waterfront MATINEE

Sun Feb 25 Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre MATINEE

Wed Feb 28 Bristol Hippodrome

Thu Feb 29 Bristol Hippodrome

Sat Mar 2 Bournemouth International Centre MATINEE + EVENING

Sun Mar 3 Brighton Centre MATINEE + EVENING

Thu Mar 7 York Grand Opera House

Fri Mar 8 York Grand Opera House

Sat Mar 9 Harrogate Convention Centre MATINEE

Tue Mar 12 Peterborough New Theatre

Fri Mar 15 Salford Lowry Lyric Theatre

SatMar 16 Salford Lowry Lyric Theatre MATINEE + EVENING

Wed Mar 20 Stoke-On-Trent Regent Theatre

Thu Mar 21 Stoke-On-Trent Regent Theatre

Fri Mar 22 Southend Cliffs Pavilion

Sat Mar 23 Southend Cliffs Pavilion MATINEE

Tue Mar 26 Ipswich Regent

Wed Mar 27 Ipswich Regent

Fri Mar 29 Southend Cliffs Pavilion

Sat Mar 30 Southend Cliffs Pavilion MATINEE

Wed Apr 3 Guildford G Live

Thu Apr 4 Guildford G Live

Sat Apr 6 Wolverhampton Civic Hall MATINEE

Tickets for their Wolverhampton shows are available through AXS here , with other shows available through Ticketmaster .

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MORE : Perri Kiely reveals Tyler West can join Diversity ‘only if he wins’ Strictly Come Dancing

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Diversity in golf: gen z sees changes ahead for the future of the game, share this article.

Golf is a game built on tradition. It is a sport defined by respect and rules of etiquette that span attire, behavior and care for the course. During a culture-shifting year like 2020, these norms were challenged with the goal of bringing change to golf.

Clubs like Augusta National and professional golfers like Cameron Champ promoted diversity and initiated conversations about making the sport visually represent the United States, but these actions only mark the beginning of a cultural and demographic shift that is overdue.

That’s where the next generation steps in.

This next generation of golfers and golf leaders is already comfortable addressing the status quo in golf.  Members of Generation Z, born from the late 1990s through the mid-2010s, are already thinking about how the sport is changing and how they want the game they love to be perceived by future generations.

While all under the age of 30, their insights and experiences speak of where the sport is headed in the areas of distance, traditional fashion and most importantly, diversity.

This is part one of a three-part series analyzing Gen Z’s perception of the changing landscape of golf.

Diversity, or lack thereof

Maya Torpey can’t remember the last time she saw someone her age who looks like her on the golf course.

Torpey, who has a white father and Black mother, has had plenty of opportunity to interact with golfers her age since being introduced to the sport at age 6, but over the past 13 years, the sophomore at Hofstra said she has consistently been alone.

“Growing up, all my friends who played golf were all white and even at my course, there wasn’t anybody who was African American or Black at my course,” Torpey said. “Now I think we might have three or four older gentlemen now but growing up, there were none. And every time I went to tournaments, I can’t even remember seeing any Black girls my age that I was playing against or playing with.”

Torpey, from Malvern, Pennsylvania, has grown so accustomed to being the only young, Black woman on the course that in October, she and her mother froze when they saw Mariah Stackhouse at Aronimink Golf Club. Torpey was following the leaders during the final round of the KMPG Women’s PGA Championship when she spotted Stackhouse. The only full-time Black woman on the LPGA, Stackhouse, 26, wasn’t playing her best game that Sunday — she finished the day 4-over 74 for a T-65 finish — but her placement didn’t matter to Torpey. The 19-year-old saw herself out on the course in Stackhouse and it left a mark.

“We were like, ‘Oh my God,’” Torpey said. “We were so surprised because we’re just not used to seeing Black people on tour like that.”

Stackhouse’s presence alone has led her to become a role model for players like Torpey. In September, Stackhouse starred in the LPGA’s Drive On campaign, which promotes stories of perseverance among LPGA players.

“Golf has been an integral part of my life story and a gateway of opportunity,” Stackhouse told the LPGA. “Part of my mission is to reach more people who may not have thought of golf as their sport too.

“The popular saying, ‘You cannot be what you do not see,’ really resonates with me, but I also think ‘you cannot be what you do not believe.’”

White women far outnumber Black women and other minorities in golf. Out of the 582 members of the LPGA and Symetra Tours, 183 are Asian (31 percent), 10 are Black or African American (2 percent), 51 are Latina or Hispanic (9 percent), eight are Native American or other Pacific Islander, six identify as multiracial and 323 are white (55 percent), according to statistics provided by the LPGA.

When speaking with the LPGA regarding these numbers, the tour boasted the diversity of girls entering the game is headed in a more diverse, “optimistic” direction. The tour’s goal is to keep these players involved in the game as they mature.

LPGA and Symetra Tour combined ethnicity and race breakdown provided by the LPGA. Data collected in August 2020.

On the men’s side, the PGA Tour said out of its approximately 400 card-carrying members, there were 94 international players from 29 countries and territories outside the United States, but did not have a numerical breakdown of players by ethnicity. The Tour did confirm there were four players currently on Tour with Black heritage: Joseph Bramlett, Cameron Champ, Harold Varner III and Tiger Woods.

Representation in golf matters, notes Sandy Cross, the Chief People Officer for the PGA of America who oversees diversity, equity and inclusion. A lack of Black golfers can, in part, be traced to a Caucasian-only clause that existed on the PGA Tour from 1934-1961.

“Because we had this Caucasian-only clause, we have lost a generation – or generations, plural – of Black Americans electing the PGA member career path,” Cross said. “Because there wasn’t someone in their family lineage who was already on that path.”

Every time a Black PGA professional matriculates into the industry, it inspires others. Numbers grow. But diversity is about more than numbers. Cross notes that golf must be authentically inclusive at the point of play – whether that’s a public, private or resort course. The PGA of America is developing inclusion and engagement guidelines to help in that effort, and also runs PGA WORKS, an initiative to diversity the golf industry workforce.

“We want to have a game that mirrors America, we want to have a workforce that mirrors America,” Cross said. “The third part that we want to have mirror America is the golf industry supply chain.”

Cross said the PGA of America is working to that diverse-owned businesses are included in the procurement of goods and services within an $84 billion dollar a year industry.

A spark to fuel the fire for change

The Nike golf shoes worn by Cameron Champ with messages written in support of Black Lives Matter at the 2020 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club. (Photo: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

George Floyd’s tragic death on May 25 in Minneapolis while in police custody sparked worldwide outrage and protests. Cries of “Black Lives Matter” and “Say His Name” rang through the streets of the nation’s biggest cities and small towns as Americans of all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations and socioeconomic statuses called for justice.

Across the landscape of sports, athletes, teams and nearly all other sports leagues — college and professional — released statements addressing Floyd’s death and affirming Black lives do matter, participated in protests and supported Black athletes as protests began. The U.S. Golf Association issued a statement about racial and social injustice 10 days after Floyd’s death pledging to “use our voice, our position and our actions to inspire change within our society.”

On June 2, the USGA, LPGA and Symetra Tour participated in Blackout Tuesday, a trend designed to amplify Black voices on social media platforms as an act of solidarity with those protesting injustice. Eleven days after Floyd’s death, on June 5, the Tour released a recorded interview with Varner  and commissioner Jay Mohanan discussing Floyd’s death, the lack of diversity on Tour and how the Tour planned to correct it.

The same day, Monahan sent a letter to Tour personnel writing that in the days after Floyd’s death, he spent time reflecting on the national protests stemming from “hardships and injustices that have and continue to impact the African-American community.” He also said while he was “struggling with what my role should be” in rectifying racial inequality and disparity in America, he was determined to find a way to make an impact.

“We might not know exactly what to do right now, but we shouldn’t be deterred,” Monahan wrote in the letter. “We should communicate and learn. We should talk to our family, friends and colleagues in an open and compassionate way. We should grow as individuals and as an organization. And, most importantly, we should demand better.”

Players with Black heritage on professional tours are few, but after Floyd’s death they began speaking and haven’t stopped. Champ, Stackhouse and Cheyenne Woods were the Black golf stars most vocal in publicly addressing cries for justice and equality.

In what will be remembered as one of the most impactful weeks of sports in 2020, and perhaps in history, the Milwaukee Bucks stood against police brutality and social injustice the week of Aug. 24 after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, by not participating in their playoff game inside the NBA Bubble in Orlando, Florida. When athletes from across the sports world stood in solidarity, Champ was among them. During the BMW Championship, the 25-year-old wrote “BLM,” “Jacob Blake” and “Breonna Taylor” on his shoes and spoke about racial disparity.

“People ignore it for so long. And then it gets to a point where it just blows up,” Champ told media. “This is just the tipping of the iceberg. Change needs to happen. I feel like it’s going in the right direction, but again, with all the stuff that’s going on, it has to end.”

Champ’s choice to participate in the history-making moment is notable, but he took his dedication to promote racial equality in his sport beyond the summer protests. His foundation donated $40,000 to create two scholarship funds for student-athletes on its men’s and women’s golf teams at Prairie View A&M University, an HBCU in Prairie View, Texas.

Champ said he was inspired by Augusta National’s announcement ahead of the November Masters to establish the Lee Elder scholarship at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, and to fund the creation of a women’s golf team. It’s a step toward rectifying the club’s exclusionary past both racially and based on gender, but there’s still much work to do.

Michigan golfer Hailey Borja at the Glass City Invitational on Sept. 17, 2019. (Michigan Photography

Hailey Borja, 19 and of Mexican heritage, has felt the pressure of being one of the only minorities in tournaments and golf tours when she started playing junior golf.

“I had two friends that were from Hispanic backgrounds and that was kind of like our only little clique,” the Michigan sophomore said. “Basically I’ve grown up with these girls and I’m still friends with them now but that’s why we’ve always stuck together was because we’re the only Hispanics on the tour. I’m sure there’s some more now. … As I got older I was able to meet more and now I’m more at ease but also I don’t look Mexican either so it’s kind of like not many people know that. I think it was almost like I felt the same as them because I look white.”

While thoughtful and creative on how to approach equality in golf, both on race and gender, these young golfers are the first to admit they don’t have definitive answers. But they do know optics matter.

Torpey applauded recent moves from Augusta National and Champ, but said more needs to be done for a sport that she feels has been exclusionary for most of its existence. And that will take time. But to get there, people of color and women need to be visible on the highest levels and be given the same treatment. The purpose is not only to inspire more women and minorities to see themselves in the sport, just like Stackhouse did for Torpey at Aronimink, but to prove that golf truly values players from all walks of life.

“I definitely felt like an outsider for a while and I still do but I just wish more people (of color) were able to get into the sport. … I wish I could be playing and see a lot more African American people out there with me,” Torpey said.

Julie Williams contributed reporting.

Cameron Champ leads efforts to establish golf scholarships at Prairie View A&M

Golfweek rewind: jon rahm wins bmw championship, cameron champ says black lives matter, the big listen: racial injustice and golf.

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‘Anything is possible’, one year after TOUR’s $100 million pledge to support racial equity and inclusion efforts in golf

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - JULY 09: Willie Mack III smiles during an interview following the first round of an APGA Tour event on the Slammer & Squire Course at World Golf Village on July 9, 2020 in Saint Augustine, Florida. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

What has been done and what’s still to come one year after TOUR’s $100 million pledge to support racial equity and inclusion efforts in golf

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PGA TOUR’s commitment to racial equity and inclusion

Friends and family in Willie Mack III T-shirts cheered and high-fived. Wayne Birch, Troy Merritt’s caddie, recorded the moment on his phone. Mack himself exhaled, having holed a knee-knocker on 18 to save par and take a vital next step in his journey.

The occasion was the Rocket Mortgage Classic in July, and Mack, a Flint native who had played Detroit Golf Club hundreds of times, had made his first PGA TOUR cut.

Anyone paying attention knew it was big.

“It’s so inspiring,” said Birch, who played for Southern University before embarking on his career as a caddie. “My dream was to play on the PGA TOUR, but that’s over with. With Willie – it’s almost like I’m living through him. It just goes to show that if you keep grinding, stay the course, and believe in yourself, anything can happen.”

It’s been one year since PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the TOUR’s $100 million pledge to support racial equity and inclusion efforts in golf. Although it’s still early days and the TOUR continues to do more listening than talking, the past 12 months have brought a slew of positive developments, with more coming.

Enhancing its relationship with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the TOUR in conjunction with United Airlines announced Tuesday a $10,000 grant to each of the 51 current men’s and women’s HBCU golf programs in the country, helping to cover travel costs. The money will allow programs to compete in some events for the first time.

“Our HBCU task force surveyed these programs at length and, repeatedly, we heard that engaging the TOUR’s vast and diverse partner network to offset the financial burdens many HBCU golf programs face was the priority,” Monahan said. “We’re thankful to United Airlines for taking initiative and supporting the HBCU grant program.”

As with Mack, HBCU golfers could eventually become a beacon of hope.

“There’s not many people coming from HBCUs on the TOUR,” said North Carolina A&T golfer A.J. Ford, who led the all-Black Drew Charter squad to its historic 2019 Georgia state high school title. “So if I do make it to the TOUR, it would be a good inspiration for the young people that it doesn’t matter where you go to college – as long as you put the work in and believe that you can make it, anything is possible.”

In addition to its commitment to HBCUs, the TOUR has strengthened its commitment to the Advocates Pro Golf Association Tour, which was founded in 2010 to increase opportunities for Black players and other minorities who aspire to make a career in golf.

The APGA just completed a landmark season with a record $350,000 in prizemoney and 13 events. TPC properties hosted six of them, including the inaugural Billy Horschel APGA Tour Invitational at TPC Sawgrass. Mack, who also made the cut at the TOUR’s John Deere Classic, won that event, plus the Mastercard APGA Tour Championship.

Not surprisingly, he earned Player of the Year honors for the third time. He will have his entry fee covered for the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament in September.

Others, too, have benefited from the enhanced APGA Tour/PGA TOUR alliance. Former Alabama A&M MVP Rovonta Young got his first professional victory at the APGA Tour event at the King & Bear course at North Florida’s World Golf Village, after which he cited the circuit’s “greatly improved” caliber of players and courses since 2018.

The inaugural APGA Collegiate Ranking, a joint initiative from the PGA TOUR and APGA Tour, helped Black golfers go from college to the pro ranks. The top five African Americans from Div. I, II and III programs, including HBCUs, earned APGA Tour invites, plus scholarships and entry into KFT Q school pre-qualifying.

And the new title sponsor of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba will also become the new title sponsor of the APGA Player Development Program, which will provide vital new resources to the APGA Tour and its players.

The TOUR also launched its Office of Social Responsibility and Inclusion under Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Neera Shetty. Marsha Oliver, Vice President of Community and Inclusion, called it, “the next step on our diversity, equity and inclusion journey.” Meanwhile, Kenyatta Ramsey takes on the new role of Senior Director of Player Development, focusing on advancing Black golfers up the ladder.

Mack and a few others are already eying the top.

“This would be one of the top stretches of my career, for sure,” he said recently.

It’s been a good stretch in other respects, as well, but it’s only beginning. For Mack, the APGA Tour, the PGA TOUR and others, the challenge now is to keep pushing.

Cameron Morfit began covering the PGA TOUR with Sports Illustrated in 1997, and after a long stretch at Golf Magazine and golf.com joined PGATOUR.COM as a Staff Writer in 2016. Follow Cameron Morfit on Twitter .

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Fri 15 March 2024 - Sat 16 March 2024

Diversity presents Supernova

Supernova follows Diversity’s sold-out Connected tour earlier this year, which combined playful, comedic routines with powerful statements on human connectivity. Big, relentless, and energetic, the tour dazzled fans across the UK.

Diversity took the nation by storm when they won the third series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 and have since sold out multiple UK and Irish tours, with countless television and live performances. Alongside preparing for their brand-new tour, and in keeping with their progressive, innovative nature, Diversity are currently preparing to launch Diversity Studios, which will offer in person and live streamed dance classes.

Last month, Ashley Banjo was awarded an MBE for his services to dance. Alongside choreographing and performing with Diversity, Ashley has been committed to educating people on dance, becoming a judge on Dancing on Ice, and offering his expertise as a host and creative in the BAFTA nominated The Real Full Monty and International Emmy Award, Broadcast Award, and Royal Television Society Award winning The Real Full Monty: Ladies Night. Ashley also had the honour of becoming a co-presenter at the Pride of Britain Awards last year, working alongside Carol Vorderman.

Jordan Banjo has also hosted a variety of TV shows, including two series of BBC 1’s Primetime and BAFTA-nominated show The Greatest Dancer. Jordan along with Perri Kiely are also part of breakfast radio royalty, presenting Kiss Breakfast every weekday.

Diversity’s illustrious career shows how they continue to innovate, grow, and achieve. Collectively Diversity recently won Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment of 2020 at the British Academy Television Awards for their incredible Britain’s Got Talent routine.

Diversity have also confirmed that they will be supporting anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust, which provides emergency food and support to people locked in poverty while campaigning for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. Right now, millions of people across the country are facing a cost of living crisis as food and energy prices soar and families are feeling the biggest squeeze on incomes in a generation. Attendees on the tour are being invited to bring along food donations to the shows, where there will be collection points across the venue each night. There will also be collection buckets for any cash donations. All donations will be distributed to people in crisis across the 1,300 food bank centres in the Trussell Trust network. For more information on the items that are requested: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-food/.

Stockton Globe

Fri 16 Feb 2024

Book Diversity Tickets at Stockton Globe Official Box Office

Britain’s most-successful dance group, diversity, have announced their brand-new uk and ireland tour, supernova, with the 66-date tour taking place across 40 towns and cities throughout 2023 and 2024..

Supernova follows Diversity ’s sold-out Connected tour earlier this year, which combined playful, comedic routines with powerful statements on human connectivity. Big, relentless, and energetic, the tour dazzled fans across the UK.

Diversity ’s illustrious career shows how they continue to innovate, grow, and achieve. Collectively Diversity recently won Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment of 2020 at the British Academy Television Awards for their incredible Britain’s Got Talent routine.

Diversity have also confirmed that they will be supporting anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust, which provides emergency food and support to people locked in poverty while campaigning for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. Attendees on the tour are being invited to bring along food donations to the shows, where there will be collection points across the venue each night. There will also be collection buckets for any cash donations.

Registered Address: 2nd Floor, Alexander House, Church Path, Woking, GU21 6EJ

** RE-SCHEDULED TO SUNDAY 17TH MARCH 2024 **

Due to unavoidable scheduling issues, we are sorry to inform fans that the Brighton Centre matinee and evening performances on Sunday 3 rd  March 2024 have been rescheduled to Sunday 17 th  March 2024.

All tickets will remain valid for the new dates.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Britain’s most-successful dance group, Diversity have announced their brand-new UK and Ireland tour, Supernova.

The 66-date tour takes place across 40 towns and cities throughout 2023 and 2024.

Supernova follows Diversity’s sold-out Connected tour, which combined playful, comedic routines with powerful statements on human connectivity. Big, relentless, and energetic, the tour dazzled fans across the UK.

Diversity took the nation by storm when they won the third series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 and have since sold out multiple UK and Irish tours, with countless television and live performances. 

Diversity have confirmed that they will be supporting anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust, which provides emergency food and support to people locked in poverty while campaigning for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. Right now, millions of people across the country are facing a cost of living crisis as food and energy prices soar and families are feeling the biggest squeeze on incomes in a generation. We are inviting attendees on the tour to bring along food donations to the shows, where there will be collection points across the venue each night. There will also be collection buckets for any cash donations.  All donations will be distributed to people in crisis across the 1,300 food bank centres in the Trussell Trust network.  Here is a link to information on the items that are requested:  https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-food/ .

Diversity thank you in advance for your generosity and look forward to seeing you at the shows.

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‘A Different World’ Hits the Road to Help Historically Black Colleges

The beloved series was set at a fictional historically Black university. Now, cast members have reunited to visit and support real-life schools.

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By Leigh-Ann Jackson

Picture a pampered socialite ostentatiously putting her generational wealth on display. Or an outspoken teenage activist leading a climate change protest. Or a charismatic opportunist luring people into his latest scam.

These descriptions apply equally to characters from “A Different World” — a sitcom that ran from 1987 to 1993 — and to today’s social media influencers. So it’s little wonder that the show, which streams on Amazon and Max, resonates with Gen Z.

The series began as a spinoff of “The Cosby Show” centered on Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet), and it became a hit in its own right .

“A Different World” broke ground by giving high visibility to an ensemble of aspirational Black young adults, following an eclectic cross-section of coeds attending Hillman College, a fictional historically Black university. There they dealt with typical collegiate growing pains — studying, partying, falling in love and stumbling into adulthood — and also with more serious subject matter, including racism, domestic abuse, gun violence, homelessness and mental health struggles.

“These things mattered, and these are issues which are still relevant today,” said Darryl M. Bell, who played the Hillman huckster Ron Johnson.

Now, more than three decades after the series finale, Bell and other core cast members, including Charnele Brown, Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Cree Summer and Glynn Turman, have reunited for a campus tour of historically Black colleges and universities . Their mission is to raise awareness and enrollment for such institutions, to establish a “Different World” scholarship fund and, of course, to give newer, younger fans a chance to see their parents’ hand-me-down TV idols in person.

“The kids can watch it on their phones,” said Hardison, who played Dwayne Wayne, a gawky math whiz turned professor. “They can really tap in anywhere — that has given us a whole different life with it.” The show premiered 37 years ago, he noted, “so to think that it’s still doing good work is a bit of a dream.”

Bell said, “There’s nothing new under the sun: Everything has its cycle, and it comes back and you find it’s new again.” (That sentiment certainly holds true for many of the show’s wardrobe staples, like oversize blazers, baggy denim overalls and bomber jackets, all of which are back in style.)

The spark for the tour came in 2016, when several cast members made an appearance at Norfolk State University in Virginia. In the years that followed, Bell courted potential backers to fund a full-fledged college tour. (Guy, who played Whitley Gilbert, the show’s resident diva, playfully calls Bell the “office manager” of the group.)

Getting the stars on board was relatively easy. “This is family,” Summer said. “The majority of us hang out on purpose .” Teaming up with Cisco and Wells Fargo, and the nonprofits Student Freedom Initiative and Minds Matter , Bell lined up six tour stops this year at schools like Spelman College in Atlanta, Howard University in Washington, D.C., and, later this fall in Alabama, Tuskegee University and Alabama State University; he hopes to schedule 10 more visits in 2025. The events are free for students, faculty and alumni, and Bell said the group is considering opening some events to the public because of demand.

Jaden Jackson, a senior at Tuskegee, has seen every episode of “A Different World” and recently started rewatching them, inspired by the tour announcement. “It’s a classic,” she said. “It’s a show I’ll never get tired of.”

“When people think of H.B.C.U.s, they already have a picture of the type of people who go there,” she said. “But it’s such a diverse group of people, and the show does a good job of encapsulating that.” She has a particular affinity for Summer’s free-spirited character, Freddie: “To see someone like me onscreen — who acted like me, who I would often be compared to — that really appealed to me and made me excited to go to my H.B.C.U.”

The tour kicked off in Atlanta on Feb. 29, with cast members giving talks at Spelman, Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College. Instagram posts from the events show crowds giving standing ovations, snapping cellphone photos and, at Clark Atlanta, greeting the cast with a marching band performance.

“The Spelman panel that we did at Sisters Chapel was off the chain,” Guy said. “I was shocked at their excitement, their verve and their vigor. I kept looking at everybody like, ‘Yo! They are treating us like rock stars or something. What is going on here?’”

Hardison likened the reception to an experience he had while accompanying his friend Lenny Kravitz on a concert tour of Japan in the late 1990s. “It took me back to when he went out onstage and the Japanese kids were screaming,” he said.

The Spelman chapel, which holds 1,000, was at capacity during the event, according to a spokeswoman. Helene D. Gayle, the president of Spelman, moderated a talk with the actors and a Q. and A. session afterward.

“When I first took on the role of president of Spelman, people would ask me, ‘What’s it like? How do you feel?’” Gayle said in an interview. “And I’d say, ‘Well, I feel like I am on the set of “A Different World” every day.’”

She said many of the students had heard of the show from older relatives and had watched it on streaming platforms. Adrian Crick, a Spelman freshman, said audience members were well versed in Hillman lore. One student serenaded the cast with her own version of the theme song.

“I hadn’t watched the show, but my mom said it’s an important cultural touchstone for Black people,” Crick said. “The level of production that Spelman, Morehouse and Clark put on for them indicated to me this is something to pay attention to, this is kind of historic .”

When the tour visited Howard last week, the campus was abuzz with “Hillman at Howard Day” activities, including step performances by fraternities and sororities and a fashion show in which students dressed as their favorite characters. (There were, of course, multiple pairs of flip-top sunglasses, Dwayne Wayne’s signature accessory.)

An estimated 1,400 attendees were at the main event at the school’s Cramton Auditorium, with many screaming and waving cardboard cutouts of the characters as the actors took the stage. Kim Coles, a star of “Living Single,” moderated a panel that included appearances by Karen Malina White, who appeared in the final season of “A Different World” (and was Miss Howard 1985), and by the “Cosby Show” actress Tempestt Bledsoe, who is Bell’s partner.

Sinbad chimed in via video and so did Debbie Allen, a Howard alumna who overhauled the series in its second season. Allen told the audience that “A Different World” mirrored her own college experiences and described the show as a vital voice for young Black America.

While the cast members were in Washington, they visited the White House to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and appear in a video promoting the Biden administration’s student loan debt relief efforts .

Summer, who grew up in Canada, was unfamiliar with predominantly Black campuses before joining the cast at 18. She said getting the Hillman experience was the next best thing and now considers herself a champion of the schools.

“There’s a reason we’re on tour right now,” she said, noting that it was imperative to remind people that an H.B.C.U. “is an incredible place to get an education and an incredible place to secure and dive deeper into our culture.”

Gayle, the Spelman president, said that the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action decision , which barred race-conscious college admissions policies, had made H.B.C.U.s even more indispensable.

“We’re at this moment where I think what we provide young people is perhaps more important than ever,” she said. “I hope that the tour can be part of that, as well — showing young Black people and their communities how important it is to be grounded in institutions that value them, that reflect who they are and reflect the excellence that is resonant within the African American community.”

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• Transcripts
• Alumni Network

Advancing Diversity in Medicine: TouroCOM Wins 2024 Inclusive Alumni Excellence Award

Nation's largest and oldest diversity and inclusion magazine selects university for prestigious honor.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) is the recipient of the 2024 Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award from Insight into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion magazine in higher education.

The award recognizes TouroCOM’s programs, culture and initiatives that encourage and support diversity, inclusion and a sense of belonging for all alumni regardless of race, ethnic background, sexual or gender identity, religion, and socio-economic status.

“From the time we opened in 2007, the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, based in Harlem, N.Y., has been committed to increasing diversity in the physician workforce,” said Executive Dean Dr. Kenneth Steier. “By reaching out to our community, we have been able to identify promising students and help guide them into careers as physicians. This prestigious award provides a degree of external validation that our efforts are working and we are extremely proud of all of our physician alumni.”

Growth and Expansion

TouroCOM opened a second campus in Middletown, N.Y. in 2017 and a third in Great Falls, Montana in 2021. The alumni department, formed in 2017, represents just over 2,400 alumni working all over the United States, with the largest concentrations of graduates in New York and California. Alumni are employed in every medical specialty but the majority work in primary care.

“TouroCOM is one of the most progressive, inclusive and diverse medical schools, with a stated mission to increase the number of underrepresented minorities (URM) in medicine and to serve the underserved,” said Director of Development and Alumni Relations Beth Portnoy, who launched the department and has since been joined by Mary Dermigny in Middletown.

In keeping with TouroCOM’s mission, diversity is front and center in alumni programming and efforts are made to involve alumni in every possible point of the student lifecycle, said Portnoy. “We want them to feel like they’re part of the life of the school.”

Lectures, Mentoring Events, Graduations   

Through an alumni lecture series, diverse alumni who are leaders in their fields share their expertise with fellow alumni, students and faculty. The lectures tackle such topics as physician burnout, unconscious bias, and mentorship.

“Speed Mentoring” events have given students a chance to get candid advice from alumni in a range of medical specialties. Online mentoring programs are co-sponsored with student organizations such as the TouroCOM Diversity Task Force, the Latino Medical Students Association, and the American Medical Women’s Association.

At a recent “Alumni of Color” event, alumni shared their experiences and success stories with students and discussed everything from work-life balance to challenges facing patients and people of color.

Alumni speakers are also featured at White Coat and graduation ceremonies, annual reunions in New York City and at receptions at national conferences, all of which offer additional opportunities for graduates to engage with the school.

Sowmya Gadey, DO, an internist at a community health center in Norwalk, CT and founding chair of the alumni board, spoke at last year’s DO commencement about the importance of community service and advocates for establishing a student-run clinic in Harlem with the help of the alumni.

“We can lead by example and show others they can do so as well,” said Gadey, who comes from a family of immigrants.

Fundraising and Communications

In 2020 the association expanded into fundraising with scholarships started by female alumni of color. The “URM UWorld Scholarship” provides annual scholarships to URM students to help defray the high cost of medical board preparation. In 2024, an alum used her first paycheck to establish a fund for students who are single mothers.

The school also communicates its commitment to diversity and inclusion by highlighting diverse alumni in the media and in internal publications, where alumni are recognized for their contributions to the school’s mission.

“Our students have a passion for mentorship, and alumni love seeing how their school has grown since they graduated and succeeded,” said Portnoy, noting residency match rates and first-pass rates on medical boards approach 100 percent every year. “The school is rapidly increasing in stature and it’s thrilling for alumni to be a part of that. Their story is our story and their success is our success.”

Santa Rosa County Farm Tour to highlight diversity of agriculture production

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. ( WKRG ) — The 57th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour is set for May.

The farm tour will be held on Thursday, May 16, and will depart from the UF/IFAS West Florida Research & Education Center at 4253 Experiment Drive in Jay.

FARM TOUR DEPARTING LOCATION:

“The tour will showcase the diversity of agriculture production in Santa Rosa County highlighting specialty crops and beef cattle production,” a release said.

Online registration opens on Monday, April 1. Registration will cost $30 and includes lunch.

Attendees can also register on the day of the event, May 16, but the release noted that space is limited for the tour. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. before the tour begins at 9 a.m.

Those looking for more information can contact the Santa Rosa County Extension office in Jay at 850-857-2313.

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