Street dance crew IMD Legion crashed out of last night’s semi-final of the popular ITV talent programme.

Newham Recorder: IMD Legion perform with Fleur East from the X FactorIMD Legion perform with Fleur East from the X Factor (Image: Archant)

Viewers watched as the 23-strong troupe, founded and led by Rokeby school teacher Omar Ansah-Awuah, came third in the talent contest, narrowly missing out on a place in Sunday’s final.

The group had performed a routine that was jam packed with back flips and high kicks to a musical mash up which included Missy Elliot’s Lose Control and they received a standing ovation from the four judges, who saluted the group.

Simon Cowell likened the performance to watching a super hero movie and Amanda Holden said they were the new generation Diversity, the street dance group which won the show in 2009.

David Walliams said: “It was incredible. You are the best dance group we have in this series by a mile and if you don’t get through to the final there is no justice.”

But the routine wasn’t enough to send the young performers, aged between nine and 18, through to Sunday’s final and instead Jamie Raven and UDI took the two spaces.

However there is still a slither of hope for IMD Legion as one of the semi-final acts who missed out on a spot in the final will be taken through as a wildcard chosen by the judges.

Speaking about the effect the dance group has had on the young dancers lives, Omar Ansah-Awuah said: “The kids have found something, a common goal, and that is dance.”

IMD Legion has been a firm favourite since they burst onto TV screens in April during the audition stages of the talent contest and their audition has had the highest viewing rating out of all of the audition shows, hitting more than 11 million views.

Since the group was formed in 2010, the talented dance group have appeared on TV shows including Got to Dance and Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street Dance Crew and supported Fleur East on last year’s X Factor.