Benji Schwimmer
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| Benji Schwimmer | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Benjiman Daniel Schwimmer |
| Occupation | Dancer |
Benjiman "Benji" Daniel Schwimmer (born January 18, 1984)[1] is an American professional swing dancer. On August 16, 2006 he was crowned "America's Favorite Dancer", as the winner of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance.
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[edit] Biography
Schwimmer was born January 18, 1984 in Newport Beach, California, and grew up in a Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) household in Moreno Valley, California. He is the son of "King of Swing" Buddy Schwimmer, who is famed in the West Coast Swing world.[2] His mother, Laurie Kauffman, and sister, Lacey Schwimmer, are also West Coast Swing dancers. Benji is also related to actor David Schwimmer.
He started competing when he was 5 years old. He attended high school in Moreno Valley and Redlands, but then transferred to independent study because of his pusuit of dance. He finished his studies early, and then taught dance for one semester at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa.[1]
Benji Schwimmer and his older cousin, Heidi Groskreutz (herself a top-4 finalist on the same season of So You Think You Can Dance), are also U.S. Open Showcase Swing champions in West Coast Swing style. Schwimmer left the dancing scene at the top of his game to serve a two-year mission for the Mormon Church in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. He has subsequently founded the non-profit charity organization "Dancers Everywhere Making a Needed Difference" (D.E.M.A.N.D.) for helping those that are less fortunate and providing healthcare for dancers with HIV/AIDS and other illness, and is a co-owner of 5678 Dance Studio in Redlands, California.
[edit] So You Think You Can Dance 2006
After returning to the United States from Mexico, Schwimmer learned that his promised sweetheart had broken up with him (he stated on the show that he learned this by seeing her wedding invitation, and noting that his picture wasn't on it). To combat the resulting depression, Schwimmer returned to dancing. He was shown a video of the performance of the 2005 winner of So You Think You Can Dance, Nick Lazzarini, and decided that he would himself audition for the 2006 season of the show, along with his cousin and childhood dance partner Heidi Groskreutz, and her former dance partner, Dmitry Chaplin. All three of them made it to the top 20 finalists and then to the top 10. Schwimmer and his first assigned dance partner, Donyelle Jones, successfully competed through the entire first part of the season without either of them being in the bottom three couples, with both making it to the top 4. Throughout the duration of the show, Benji was widely popular for his trademark "booty".
Schwimmer was named the overall winner on August 16, 2006 in an emotional finale. This was a different kind of title from his earlier swing dance awards, as the televised competition required versatility in several different dance styles, and the final voting was done not by a panel of judges, but by American phone-in voters. According to the show, the finale brought in 16 million votes, with a total of 70 million over the course of the season. During the course of the show, the judges routinely said that while Schwimmer was not necessarily the best technical dancer in styles other than his own, that he was clearly outstanding in terms of performance and entertainment and had an amazing personality.
The prizes for winning the competition included a car, a one-year contract to perform in Celine Dion's Las Vegas show, and $100,000 USD. However, in an interview for Seattle Times, Schwimmer indicated that he had turned down the Dion contract, saying that though it was an honor, it wasn't really his desire to stay in vegas for a year. His focus was more based on television and travel. Schwimmer and the rest of the top-10 finalists performed in a North American tour starting in September 2006 (see So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2) for details). Most of the dates sold out within hours (Seattle sold out within 30 minutes, and New York within 11 minutes[3]).
The following year, Benji was invited to perform on the opening live episode of season 3 and to become the first "So You Think" alumni to choreograph on the show. Choreographing a high-octane west coast swing number to "The Rockafeller Skank" left both the audience and the judges on their feet. Executive Producer and head judge, Nigel Lythgoe said the piece finally brought the magic lacking from the new season. The west coast swing piece became a crowd favorite on the national tour in 2007.
[edit] Post SYTYCD
[edit] 2006
In August, in an interview for Entertainment Weekly, Schwimmer revealed that he may be being cast as Fred Astaire in an upcoming motion picture.[4]. However, during an interview with Regis Philbin, Schwimmer backpedaled a bit and referred to the part as a possibility. In Benji's mySpace blog, it stated that the Astaire movie fell through and will not happen after all.
According to a September 2006 Redlands article, Schwimmer was asked by Regis Philbin to be an alternate host on his program[5]
According to the Seattle Times, Schwimmer is writing and co-producing a movie about dancing, in which both he and his cousin Heidi Groskreutz will appear. He is also working on a TV show on the lives of dancers. He has signed on to do a TV movie called Love N' Dancing. [2]
He and Groskreutz danced on FOX's New Years Eve show[3] and talked about their instructional dance DVD.
[edit] 2007
Schwimmer began the year selling His & Heidi's West Coast Swing DVDs and filming Christina Aguilera's music video "Candyman" with his sister, Lacey. Benji played the role of the "Candyman" and was seen dancing with Christina.
Benji was extremely busy in 2007 teaching, performing, competing and hosting events, and traveling. He went to locations all over the world including Oslo, Norway, Singapore, Toronto, Ottawa, and China. On some rare occasions, he went to events with other members of his family including Heidi, Lacey, and Buddy. He taught at many conventions from coast to coast that featured a number of different dance styles, including West Coast Swing. He also taught at a multitude of dance studios across the nation. He performed in other dance styles like SWAZZ (swing/jazz).
Some of the events Benji performed at included The Dance Floor TV show in Singapore, Mary Murphy's Champion Ballroom Academy's 17th Anniversary Party, Presentation of CTV Network lineup, iHollywood Dance, Coastal Dance Rage Workshop, FOX Reality Channel Really Awards 2007, The Laguna Dance Festival Gala, CanDance Conventions, and the Career Transition For Dancers Gala.
When SYTYCD Season 3 auditions began, Benji partnered Lacey as she auditioned in Los Angeles. When she was picked as one of the top 10 girls, Benji & his parents made it a point to attend almost every show. Benji danced on the 1st results show. On July 8, Benji choreographed a West Coast Swing number for Pasha & Sara. It was a huge hit with the audience and featured many of Benji/Heidi's signature tricks. Benji was also tapped to be a correspondent reporter for the show Reality Remix on the FOX Reality Network.
By late summer, Benji & Heidi as well as some of the biggest names in West Coast Swing were in Albuquerque, NM filming Love N' Dancing.
He visits Mexico on missionaries quite frequently. He also started a DEMAND organization.
[edit] Current and future projects
In 2008, Benji will continue to teach and perform.
- Tremaine Dance Convention Vancouver, WA; New York, NY; Indianapolis, IN; Dallas, TX
- X Dance Festival 25-27 Jan 08.
- Host/MC with Thrive National Talent Competition
- SOUTHPORT - Jive Addiction
- [4]
[edit] Awards
- 1991 US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6-11), 1st Place, partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 1992 "Future Stars" Champion, Sabado Gigante (TV), partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 1993 "Future Stars" Champion, Sabado Gigante (TV), partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 1994 World Swing Dance Championships Youth Division, 1st Place partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 1995 World Swing Dance Championships Youth Division, 1st Place partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 1995 US Open Swing Dance Championships, Adult Team Division , 1st Place Jump Start
- 1995 Feather Award "Outstanding Dancer(youth)"
- 1995 World Swing Dance Championships, Adult Team Division, 1st place, Jump Start
- 1996 World Swing Dance Championships, Youth Division, 1st Place partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 1996 World Swing Dance Championships, Adult Team Division, 1st Place, Jump Start
- 1997 Skippy Blair "Footsteps Award"
- 1998 Sabado Gigante's "Best Dance Couple" (multiple winner), partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 1999 World Swing Dance Championships, Youth Division, 1st Place partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 1999 World Swing Dance Championships, Team Division, 1st Place, Jump Start
- 2001 World Swing Dance Championships, Youth Division, 1st Place partner Heidi Groskreutz
- 2001 US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division, 1st Place, partner Heidi Groskreutz Video [6]
- 2002 USA Swing Net "Person of the Year"
- 2002 US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division, 1st Place, partner Heidi Groskreutz[7][8] [9]
- 2005 US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division, 1st Place, partner Heidi Groskreutz Video[10]
- 2005 US Open Swing Dance Championships, Team Division, 1st Place Jump Start 2
- 2006 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, 1st Place, "America's Favorite Dancer", after a tally of 16 million votes for the Finale
- 2007 World Swing Dance Championships Strictly Swing Division, 1st Place, partner Molina Ramirez
- 2007 World Swing Dance Championships Classic Division, 1st Place, partner Lacey Schwimmer
- 2008 LAPD Jack and Jill (improv) Championships, 1st Place, partner Deborah Szekely
[edit] References
- ^ Schwimmer's profile at Fox website
- ^ Video of July 2006 Access Hollywood segment
- ^ "So You Think You Can Dance" Swings into Seattle, Seattle Times, September 12, 2006
- ^ August 2006, Entertainment Weekly'
- ^ "5-6-7-8 reopens, Benji considers offers", September 7, 2006, Redlandsdailyfacts.com
- ^ 2001 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships - Results
- ^ US Open awards
- ^ 2002 list of US Open Swing Dance winners
- ^ 2002 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships - Results
- ^ US Open Swing Dance, 2005 division winners
- Benji and Heidi DVDs The official website to purchase instructional WCS videos taught by Benji Schwimmer and Heidi Groskreutz.
- Benji Schwimmer photos and video clips Benji Schwimmer photos and video clips from SYTYCD TOUR
- Benji Schwimmer Biographical information and an interview with Benji by USA Swing Net.
- US Open awards
- Video interview and dance clips on Access Hollywood
- "Benji Shows Why He's Your 'Favorite Dancer'", TV Guide "Insider", August 21, 2006
- Benji Schwimmer's Myspace page
- http://jjb.yuku.com/topic/140227 The controversial picture
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Benji and cousin Heidi Groskreutz's official site
- 5678 Dance Studios (Schwimmer family studio)
- The Benji & Heidi Zone (USA Swing Dance Network)
- BenjiSchwimmer.com (Fan site)
- BenjiSchwimmer.org (Site unavailable as of May 2007)
- Interview: Benji's Spiritual Side
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Schwimmer, Benji |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Schwimmer, Benjiman Daniel (birth name) |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Swing dance champion and TV personality. |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 18 January 1984 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Newport Beach, California |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
