COMING third in Britain’s Got Talent 2009 hasn’t stopped dance troupe Flawless from ‘chasing the dream’.

“It has been crazy and all good stuff,” said 26-year-old founder and choreographer Marlon ‘Swoosh’ Wallen.

In the two years since the live finals of BGT, where they finished third behind winning dance troupe Diversity and shock runner-up Susan Boyle, Flawless have travelled the world, dancing and modelling, and starring in hit movie Street Dance 3D.

“From the beginning it has always been about what we want to achieve, our look and coming across as a collective, as well as being amazing dancers.

“It’s not just been dancing but we’ve been working a lot in fashion.

"It has always been one of our big things. People are into the looks and it’s important to us.”

Marlon, who began dancing by copying Michael Jackson’s moves before training in ballet, contemporary and jazz dance, hand-picked the members of Flawless in 2004.

They then spent a year training and bonding before entering competitions.

They quickly started picking up UK and international trophies.

“We were going up the ladder but needed a way to expose dance, and at that time Britain’s Got Talent was the only platform for dance.

“When we got to the live shows we had no idea what the perception would be — we didn’t really get that until we did the BGT tour.

“Of course you’re confident in what you have, but getting a great comment from Simon Cowell is brilliant.”

Under normal circumstances, Flawless would have been odds-on favourites to win BGT.

But pitched against the bookies’ star SuBo and Diversity, it was a close call.

But there’s no bad feeling from the Flawless camp: “It was inspiring to watch both groups do so well,” Marlon said.

“Diversity had been inspired by seeing us at competitions and they’ve done so well — it’s really about sharing and inspiring each other.

“Both of our groups are role models to young people, as people who’ve gone and chased their own dream.”

Flawless’s revamped Chase The Dream tour sees each of the 10-strong troupe getting the chance to showcase various styles of dance.

Marlon said: “By everyone being involved, you get expression, personality, feeling and that's all more important and interesting to see what comes out in the show.

“Back in 2004, if you heard of a guy dancing, it was one guy in a whole class of girls — which was good for him, but it wasn't cool.

"Now there are so many young guys getting into dance and finding that it is cool and they are not just learning dance — it’s expression, respect, discipline.”

While they have achieved a lot during the past two years, there are still dreams to be chased — with aims including a Las Vegas show and launching their own chain of dance studios, while developing their skills in other areas, including acting and music.

* Flawless, Chase The Dream, The Lowry, Salford Quays, February 4 and 5; then Liverpool Empire Theatre, February 7.