Devina Tavathia
The UK, US, Canada, Germany, Finland, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, India, Senegal, Mexico and Brazil. These fourteen countries are represented by the fourteen members of the latest teen pop group Now United. Now United’s purpose is to unite singers and dancers from around the globe in a show of unity through performance.
The group was created by Simon Fuller in 2017, who is largely revered as the brain behind So You Think You Can Dance, and The Spice Girls. Since then, they have been touring the world, performing in each of the fourteen countries the group members represent. These representatives are symbols of possibility and acceptance, especially since Now United brought some of its performers to fame.
During the selection process, applicants entered a week-long boot-camp to prove their worth. No previous experience or popularity was needed; if the dancer was found impressive during the audition, they became a part of the team.
Although some hidden gems were discovered, a lot of previously famous performers are part of the group as well, which is yet another aspect of diversity. For example, Canada’s Josh Beauchamp has over a million followers on instagram because of his participation in prestigious competitions such as World of Dance and So You Think You Can Dance.
“I thought this is perfect for what the world needs right now. Kids showing that you can come together [..] All the amazing acceptance we have for everyone I feel like the world is not all like that,” Beauchamp said in an interview.
In order to show their desire to promote inclusiveness, Now United works to incorporate aspects of the countries into their song lyrics and dance moves. For example, Who Would Think That Love is set in Mexico, while All Day is set in California. Because of their unique appeal to different cultures around the globe, their fan base is ever growing.
Not only does Now United have the talent, it has a purpose. Bands, dancers, singers, and performers often go out of style. However, the concept behind Now United, equality and acceptance for all, never will.
