Following UDI's success on the UK television show Britain's Got Talent, the Tomsk Region Governor Sergey Zhvachkin has promised to fund the facility. Picture: Tomsk.ru
By Anna Liesowska, They have spent 17 years working with under-privileged children, now dance group get chance to help more at their own facility. Dance sensations Team UDI were welcomed back to Siberia to the news that a new purpose-built school is to be constructed for them. Following their success on the UK television show Britain's Got Talent, the Tomsk Region Governor Sergey Zhvachkin has promised to fund the facility. When they appeared on the series, the group said they wanted to win the £250,000 (19 million roubles) star prize in order to build a school of their own to teach more children. More than 250 youngsters, many of them from under-privileged backgrounds, are currently on a waiting list for a place with UDI. But having finished in 10th place after taking part in Sunday’s televised final, they returned home to Tomsk without the money and the feeling that their hopes had been dashed. However, during a meeting on Tuesday, the Governor told them: 'We have supported, and will continue to support, such initiatives and people like you. 'We see that you are passionate not about your own image and records but painstakingly work with children, helping the younger generation to believe in themselves.'
Mr Zhvachkin said that the local authorities have already allocated a 2,500 square metre plot of land for the construction of the school, and the funds to have it designed. Pictures: TV2, Denis Vishnyak
Mr Zhvachkin said that the local authorities have already allocated a 2,500 square metre plot of land for the construction of the school, and the funds to have it designed. After that he said they will then also finance the building itself. It is estimated that the construction will cost more than 70 million roubles ($1.3million). The members of Team UDI returned home to a heroes’ welcome following their spectacular performance on British television. Sunday night’s show was the highest rated TV programme of 2015 in the UK, and more than 4.5 million people voted for their favourites. UDI finished in 10th place of 12 acts behind the eventual winner, Jules O'Dwyer and her dog Matisse. Their routine - involving floating faces, fluttering birds that transformed into a bike, and flying dancers – was described as 'absolutely fantastic' by judge Simon Cowell. Mr Zhvachkin told them on Tuesday: 'You glorify Tomsk throughout the world and have shown real skill and the will to win. But it is also important for us that you spent ten years working with children and that you are doing very important educational and social work.' UDI was originally formed in Tomsk in 1998 by friends Yuri Bakin, Igor Andrikevich and Denis Vishnyak. They have spent the past decade dedicating their time to working with orphans and other disadvantaged youngsters at their gymnastic school in the city.
More than 250 youngsters, many of them from under-privileged backgrounds, are currently on a waiting list for a place with UDI. Pictures: Vera Salnitskaya
And while they have a number of international performances lined up following their TV success, they remain focused on their dreams in Siberia. Igor told the governor: 'We were very nervous to perform in a foreign country without knowing the language. But we saw how Tomsk residents were rooting for us and the Russian audience. This support inspired us very much. 'We had prepared ourselves that we would not have any chance to perform for the Queen (the winners also take part in the Royal Variety Performance later this year). Our main goal was to get to final that was all. 'The main thing that surprised us in the final was the fact that we could prepare a new performance just in one day. It was surprising and very good.' In an interview with TV2, Denis said: 'To get to the final of a world famous show is already a win for us. We did not think that we could win, because the title of the show is Britain's Got Talent – and to us that means they are searching for British talent, and we are Russians.'
The members of Team UDI returned home to a heroes’ welcome following their spectacular performance on British television. Pictures: Vera Salnitskaya, Olga Tsygankova
Anatoly Rozhkov, the Deputy Governor for Domestic Policy and Territorial Development, said local officials are keen for the new school to be built as soon as possible. He said: 'The mayor's office agreed with UDI the place where the school is to be built. There are sketches of the project and five million roubles are already allocated for the design. 'As soon as the project documentation is completed, either at the end of this year or early next year, we will know the cost of construction.' Source: Article
