Suleman Mirza

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Suleman Mirza
Background information
Birth name Suleman Mirza
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Bhangra, Pop
Occupation(s) Singer, Dancer
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 2008 – present
Associated acts Signature
Madhu Singh

Suleman Mirza (born in London) is a British Asian with Pakistani background. He is a dancer and singer who rose to fame when he performed with Madhu Singh as the dance duo Signature on the second series of television talent show Britain's Got Talent on ITV1 in May 2008, in which they finished as runners-up on 31 May.[1]

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[edit] Background

Mirza is a trainee solicitor who performs as a Michael Jackson dance tribute act.[2] He is also a solo singer. He lives in Ilford, London.[3] He first met Madhu Singh in 2000 at an audition for a talent show at Westminster University.[4] As part of Signature Mirza appeared at the BBC Asian Mega Mela held at the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull alongside Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhary. He started performing Michael Jackson dance moves as a child, and would spend up to five hours a day freeze-framing the singers' music videos to perfect his routines. Mirza has also performed with Sunil Shetty and Anil Kapoor.[2]

[edit] Britain's Got Talent

On Britain's Got Talent in their audition in London, which aired on 24 April, Signature performed to "Nachna Onda Nei" (by Tigerstyle featuring Kaka Bhainiwala) - a 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 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.[2][5]

In the first semi-final on 26 May they performed to "Thriller", winning the public vote and so went through to the final.[6]

Before the final show, Simon Cowell said that he believed that Signature were one of five acts who could win the show.[7] In the final they again performed to "Nachna Ondei Nei" and were announced as finishing in the top three alongside street dancer, George Sampson, and boy soprano, Andrew Johnston. Sampson won the show with Signature finishing as runners-up.

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