imported>Nosebagbear: Removing link(s) Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Sham Idress closed as delete (XFDcloser)

2021-07-28T00:44:06Z

Removing link(s) Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Sham Idress closed as delete (XFDcloser)

New page

{{Short description|English dance duo}}{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Signature
| image = Save The World Awards 2009 show24 - Suleman Mirza and Madhu Singh.jpg
| caption = Performing at the Save The World Award 2009
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| origin = London, England
| genre = pop, [[Bhangra (dance)|bhangra]]
| years_active = 2001–present
| label =
| associated_acts = [[Tigerstyle]]
| website ={{url|signatureofficial.com}}
| current_members = Suleman Mirza<br>Madhu Singh
| past_members =}}
'''Signature''' are English dance duo '''Suleman Mirza''' and '''Madhu Singh'''. Their style of dance is British [[Bhangra (dance)|Bhangra]] and they frequently base their performances around [[Michael Jackson]] songs, such as "[[Billie Jean]]" and "[[Thriller (song)|Thriller]]". They gained wide recognition during their performances in the [[Britain's Got Talent (series 2)|second series]] of ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]'', in which they were runners-up to the winner [[street dance]]r [[George Sampson]].<ref name="dt2060958">{{cite news
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2060958/George-Sampson-wins-Britain%27s-Got-Talent.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080604042018/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2060958/George-Sampson-wins-Britain%27s-Got-Talent.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 4 June 2008
| title = George Sampson wins Britain's Got Talent
| date = 1 June 2008
| access-date = 1 June 2008
| publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>

==Early years==
Suleman Mirza is a trainee solicitor/lawyer<ref name="rg2310620">{{cite news
| url = http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2310620.0.redbridge_britains_got_talent_dancer_loses_final.php
| title = REDBRIDGE: Britain's Got Talent dancer loses final
| date= 1 June 2008
| access-date = 1 June 2008
| publisher = Redbridge Guardian}}</ref> His involvement concerns the [[Michael Jackson]] [[tribute]] moves of the dance. Madhu Singh works at [[PC World (retailer)|PC World]] in [[Heathrow Terminal 5|Terminal 5]] at [[Heathrow Airport]].<ref name="dt130">{{cite news
| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2008/05/30/fttalent130.xml
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080530104547/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2008/05/30/fttalent130.xml
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 30 May 2008
| first = Celia
| last = Walden
| title = Britain's Got Talent: dancing to the same beat
| date = 30 May 2008
| access-date = 2 June 2008
| publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph]]
| location=London}}</ref> Singh's main involvement is entering part-way through the act and performing [[Bhangra (dance)|Bhangra]] dance. Mirza, a [[Islam in the United Kingdom|British Muslim]] of [[Pakistani people|Pakistani]] descent, and Singh, a [[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|British Sikh]] of Indian descent, met when they were both auditioning separately for a student talent contest in 2000 at the [[University of Westminster]].<ref name="dt130"/> Being from the same part of South Asia, [[Punjab region|Punjab]] (a region that was carved into modern Pakistan and India during the [[Partition of India|Partition]] of 1947), a place well known for its dance and music, they were both interested in performing together. At the time, Mirza was a full-time economics and business student at the [[University of Westminster]].{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} This led to the formation of their dance group, Signature, in 2001. Since then, they performed their acts in various [[British Asian]] and [[Bollywood]]-themed shows, sometimes alongside several Bollywood movie stars.<ref name=Suleman/><ref name=Madhu/>

In addition, Mirza has worked with [[Chris Brown (American singer)|Chris Brown]], [[Leona Lewis]], [[McFly]], [[Dannii Minogue]], [[Jay Sean]], [[Alexandra Burke]], [[Sugababes]], and choreographer Lavelle Smith Junior (who has choreographed for [[Michael Jackson]], [[Janet Jackson]], and [[Beyoncé Knowles]]).<ref name=Suleman/> In 2006, Mirza performed for Michael Jackson at the televised [[World Music Awards 2006]] held at the [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre]], London, where he had met Jackson in person.<ref name=Suleman>{{cite web|title=Suleman Mirza|publisher=Signature|url=http://signatureofficial.com/suleman_biography|access-date=3 January 2009}}</ref> Singh, meanwhile, has hosted television shows on the [[Zee Music]] channel,<ref name=Madhu>{{cite web|title=Mashu Singh|publisher=Signature|url=http://signatureofficial.com/madhu_biography|access-date=3 January 2009}}</ref> and had also appeared on the music video for Jay Sean's "[[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Eyes on You]]" in 2004.<ref>{{YouTube|id=Qcq3oSdUj50|title=Jay Sean – Eyes on You}}</ref>

==''Britain's Got Talent''==

===Audition===
On ''Britain's Got Talent'' in their audition in London, which aired on 24 April 2008, Signature performed to "[[Nachna Onda Nei]]" by [[Tigerstyle]] featuring [[Kaka Bhaniawala]]—a [[Bhangra (music)|bhangra]] tune mixed to the beat of Michael Jackson's "[[Billie Jean]]". They combined the Michael Jackson lyrics and style of dancing with traditional bhangra style music and dancing in a comedy dance act.
Before the audition, Mirza said: "I don't think the judges will have ever seen an act like mine before...in this act there will be a lot of moon walking, but there is a twist, and if they weren't Michael Jackson fans before they may even turn into one."

Mirza is then shown [[Moonwalk (dance)|moonwalking]] around the stage, and performing Michael Jackson style dance moves. As he dances, Madhu Singh, dressed in a white coat, walks past the show presenters [[Ant & Dec]] at the side of the stage and makes his way onto the stage with a [[broom]]. The two then start a Bhangra/Michael Jackson "dance off", bringing with it a [[standing ovation]] from the audience and one of the judges, [[Amanda Holden]].<ref name="news10229">
{{cite news
| title = Dancer thrills on Britain's Got Talent
| publisher = news.com.au
| date = 28 April 2008
| url = http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/dancer-thrills-on-britains-got-talent/story-e6frfmyi-1111116120633
| access-date = 2 June 2008}}</ref>

===Semi-final===
In the first semi-final on 26 May they performed to "[[Thriller (song)|Thriller]]", winning the public vote and so went through to the final.<ref name="ds96832">
{{cite news
| last = Hilton
| first = Ben
| title = Two 'Talent' acts make it through to final
| publisher = [[Digital Spy]]
| date = 27 May 2008
| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a96832/two-talent-acts-make-it-through-to-final.html
| access-date = 2 June 2008}}</ref>

===Final===
Before the final show, [[Simon Cowell]] said that he believed that Signature were one of five acts who could win the show.<ref name="ds-a97172">
{{cite news
| last = Kilkelly
| first = Daniel
| title = Cowell reveals five 'Talent' favourites
| publisher = [[Digital Spy]]
| date = 31 May 2008
| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a97172/cowell-reveals-five-talent-favourites.html
| access-date = 2 June 2008}}</ref> In the final they again performed to "Nachna Onda Nei" and finished in the top three alongside [[street dance]]r, [[George Sampson]] and [[boy soprano]], [[Andrew Johnston (singer)|Andrew Johnston]]. Sampson won the show with Signature finishing as runners-up.

==After ''Britain's Got Talent''==
[[Image:Save The World Awards 2009 show23 - Suleman Mirza.jpg|thumb|Suleman Mirza (2009)]]
Following the end of the second series of ''Britain's Got Talent'', Signature were given the "official stamp of approval by Michael Jackson himself", while members of the [[Jackson family]] have become their fans and got in touch with Signature soon after the show ended.<ref name="Jamen Somasu">{{cite news |first=Tom|last=Bryant|title=For Britain's Got Talent Final!|publisher=[[Unrealitytv]]|date=2 June 2008|url=http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/reality-tv/the-jackson-family-wished-signature-good-luck-for-britains-got-talent-final|access-date=9 January 2010}}</ref>

In June 2008, Signature were "offered a six-figure deal to be the face of [[Virgin Media]]" for its forthcoming "Bollywood on Demand" TV service. The managing director of marketing at Virgin Media, James Kydd, has commented, "Getting Signature on-board could be the perfect way for new audiences to find out more about [[Bollywood]]."<ref name="mirror89520">{{cite news |first=Tom|last=Bryant|title=BGT's dance act Signature to be face of Virgin's Bolly TV|publisher=[[Daily Mirror]]|date=4 June 2008|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2008/06/04/bgt-s-dance-act-signature-to-be-face-of-virgin-s-bolly-tv-89520-20594218|access-date=3 January 2009}}</ref>

In December 2008, it was announced that Signature would appear on the live tour for the [[The X Factor (UK series 5)|fifth series]] of ''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=The X Factor show is coming|date=19 December 2008|publisher=Belper News|url=http://www.belpernews.co.uk/entertainment/The-X-Factor-show-is.4810109.jp|access-date=3 January 2009}}</ref>

On 29 January 2009, they appeared as contestants on ''[[Ready Steady Cook]]'', where they announced that they were working on a sitcom and [[Screenplay|movie script]].<ref>{{YouTube|id=Mx8rIoz23ds|title=Suleman Mirza – Signature – Ready Steady Cook part 3}}</ref>

In May 2009 they appeared in series 2, episode 5 of ''[[The Omid Djalili Show]]'' where they danced and Djalili joined in with their dance act. Signature also appeared at the Spice Times Awards 2010 as the main act.<ref name="test">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.spicetimes.co.uk/spice-times-awards-press-release/
| title = Spice Times Restaurant Awards 2010 Press Release
| work = Spice Times
| date = 13 December 2010
| quote = The show featured breathtaking performances from the energetic and hilarious Signature...
| access-date = 24 November 2011
}}</ref> On 27 July 2012, Signature made an appearance at the [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] of the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London Olympics]].

On 21 May 2016, they performed in one of London's biggest [[British Asian|Asian]] comedy and entertainment events hosted by Studio1 Media. They performed alongside many other notable faces such as; [[Nadia Ali (broadcaster)|Nadia Ali]], Ezza (Ezzakins), Rumena Begum (Rumena_101), Sham Idrees, Karim Metwaly (AreWeFamousNow), [[Sheikh Akbar]], Tasha Tah, [[Zack Knight]], [[Mumzy Stranger]], Char Avell, Shaful Khan, Jernade Miah, Babrul Hoque (Bengali Blitz), Kawsar Ahmed (Kash), Nishat Monsur (Nish), [[Islah Abdur-Rahman]] and Michael Truong from [[Corner Shop Show|the Corner Shop Show]], Dulzy Ahmed, Hussnain Lahori, [[Humza Arshad]], Rameet Kaur, [[Iksy]] and [[PBN (producer)|Bambi Bains (TeamPBN)]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Britain's Got Talent}}
{{Dance}}

[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:British dance groups]]
[[Category:English people of Pakistani descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Britain's Got Talent contestants]]
[[Category:Contemporary dance companies]]
[[Category:British male dancers]]
[[Category:Michael Jackson impersonators]]
[[Category:Pakistani dance groups]]

Signature (dance group) - Revision history

imported>Nosebagbear: Removing link(s) Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Sham Idress closed as delete (XFDcloser)