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Onwards and upwards for DaleDiva
Last weekend millions of people were glued to their screens for the latest live instalment of Channel Five's Don't Stop Believing
And those millions who were watching the latest reality TV phenomenon would have seen Derbyshire choir DaleDiva display their vast talent and sail through to the final.
The choir, which has five members from Belper, will now go on to face competition from nine other finalists when the competition comes to a head later this month.
They will need the support of everyone in Belper to make sure they make it through and get the recognition they deserve.
Reporter Laura Hammond spoke to some of the members from Belper to see how they were feeling about their new national-level success.
Two years ago many of the members of Derbyshire choir DaleDiva were just ordinary women with jobs, families, and a passion for singing.
Now they are experiencing national success after going through to the final of TV talent contest Don't Stop Believing.
They have come a long way since the group first formed – now dozens of women have joined the DaleDiva family.
"I'm amazed at how good they have got in such a short time," said
Marylin Ligo, one of the founding members of the group. "I'm not just blowing their trumpet,they really are amazing, and we're all just one big happy family."
There are 57 women in DaleDiva, ranging from 23-year-old Pippa Blundell, who lives in Belper, to one member of the group who is 82.
They come from all over the Dales area.
The Divas meet weekly in Cromford to practise and enjoy a catch up with their friends.
It is this spirit of closeness and community which is key to the group's success, said members.
Belper member Jackie Ligo added: "Don't Stop Believing is a very special experience to share with 60 of your friends. It means a lot to share it with everybody."
Jackie, 42, has been a member of the group since it was formed in 2007, when musical director Ally Laws decided to set up a barbershop group celebrating the inner-diva of Derbyshire ladies.
Liz Tomes, whose family run ironmongers Alfred Tomes on Bridge Street in Belper, said: "Most of us had no previous musical or vocal training and had certainly never performed in public.
"We work hard to strive for high standards of performance. What drives us most is our commitment to each other and the sense of community and fun that comes from singing in harmony together. We believe the pleasure we get from singing and performing is infectious and we aim to bring joy to all our audiences."
The group has been entering competitions and performing around the county since it formed. The ladies' first taste of competing landed them with a bronze medal, after they performed at The Sage, in Newcastle. They have also seen success at festivals in Derbyshire and further afield and made it through the regional heats of the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition. They are justifiably thrilled with all these achievements, but if they won Don't Stop Believing, it would take them to another plain. The final is on August 22.
Liz, who lives in Matlock, said: "We were up against some strong competition on the night too which makes the win even more amazing for us.
"We love what we do and if people watching enjoy it too it means the world to us.
"We know we have to raise the bar for the live final and only have three weeks to learn some new material - but as always the Divas are up for the challenge. This is the experience of a lifetime for us and we'll be doing our very best to make Derbyshire proud."
For more information about joining the DaleDivas you can can call Ally Law on 01629 821884 or visit www.dalediva.co.uk
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Weather for Belper
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
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Wind direction: South west
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Light snow
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