Benji Schwimmer

Last updated

Benji Schwimmer
Benji-schwimmer.jpg
Born
Benjiman Daniel Schwimmer

(1984-01-18) January 18, 1984 (age 40)
Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Dancer, choreographer, actor
Years active2006–present
Television So You Think You Can Dance
Parent Buddy Schwimmer (father)
Relatives Lacey Schwimmer (sister)
Heidi Groskreutz (cousin)
Website Benji Schwimmer official website

Benjiman Daniel Schwimmer (born January 18, 1984) [1] is an American professional dancer, choreographer, actor and director. He was the winner of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance (2006) and has choreographed for both the U.S. and the international versions of the show. He is the only dancer in the world to hold World titles in solo, partner and group divisions at the same time. Schwimmer works on TV, film and stage both in front and behind camera. He was the specialties choreographer for Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time In Hollywood".

Contents

Early life

Schwimmer was born on January 18, 1984, in Newport Beach, California, and grew up in a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) household in Moreno Valley, California. He is the son of choreographer and West Coast Swing dancer Buddy Schwimmer. [2] His mother, Laurie Schwimmer, and sister, Lacey Schwimmer, are also renowned partner and solo dancers. [3]

He began acting at two, landing nationwide commercials for McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Power Wheels and a guest stint on Full House .

He started competing at five years old. He finished his studies early,[ clarification needed ] and then taught dance at 17 years of age for one semester at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa. [4]

Schwimmer and his cousin, Heidi Groskreutz (Top 4 finalist on the same season of So You Think You Can Dance), are also U.S. Open and World Showcase Swing champions. [5] Schwimmer put dancing on hold to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. [6] He returned afterwards to the dance circuit. He founded D.E.M.A.N.D., a non-profit organization that helps the less fortunate and provides health care for dancers with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, [7] and was a co-owner of 5678 Dance Studio in Redlands since 2011. [8]

Career

After his two year mission and stint on So You Think You Can Dance tours, Schwimmer reclaimed his titles as both US and World Swing Champion with a new partner, Kellese Key in 2008. [9] He has never lost a routine competition.

Schwimmer also appeared in the independent film, Love N' Dancing , starring Amy Smart. [10] He was the cover story in a 10-page spread in "Dancer Magazine", January 9 issue, which featured his own photography. [11] Schwimmer also costarred in the comedy "Leading Ladies". [12]

Paula Abdul hired Schwimmer as her creative director and choreographer for her final performance on American Idol and for her opening show for VH1's Divas:Live '09. He also danced alongside her in both performances.

Working with his father, he choreographed [13] the short program of American figure skater Jeremy Abbott, which was first performed at the 2011 Cup of China. Benji has since choreographed for two different Winter Olympics, including Adam Rippon's "O" .

In 2018, Schwimmer announced his retirement [14] from competing at The Open Swing Dance Champions, being the only dancer to win 14 World Titles with four different partners, never taking a loss.

Personal life

Schwimmer is gay. He came out publicly in 2012, after completing his choice of reparative therapy, struggling with his sexuality for a number of years. The catalyst for his decision was the death by suicide of two gay friends. [15] [16] [17] He has since left the LDS Church [18] and publicly criticized their policies against members of the LGBT community. [18]

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Schwimmer</span> American actor (born 1966)

David Lawrence Schwimmer is an American actor, director, comedian, and producer. He gained worldwide recognition for portraying Ross Geller in the sitcom Friends, for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1995. While still acting in Friends, his first leading film role was in The Pallbearer (1996), followed by roles in Kissing a Fool;Six Days, Seven Nights;Apt Pupil ; and Picking Up the Pieces (2000). He was then cast in the miniseries Band of Brothers (2001) as Herbert Sobel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heidi Klum</span> German-American model, television host and businesswoman (born 1973)

Heidi Klum is a German-American model, television host, producer, and businesswoman. She appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1998 and was the first German model to become a Victoria's Secret Angel.

Heidi Elizabeth Groskreutz is an American ballroom dancer, specializing in the fields of Latin and swing dancing. She is known for making the final in the second season of the Fox TV series So You With Think You Can Dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dmitry Chaplin</span> Russian ballroom dancer and reality TV contestant (born 1982)

Dmitry Chaplin is a Russian dancer, choreographer, and actor, best known for being a Top 10 finalist on the second season of the dance competition series So You Think You Can Dance. While competing on the series, he became known for performing shirtless, with one solo routine having him rip off his shirt. In 2009, Chaplin was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his choreography.

The second season of So You Think You Can Dance premiered on May 25, 2006, with new host Cat Deeley.

Buddy Schwimmer was a West Coast Swing dancer and choreographer, credited with inventing nightclub two-step in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Wall</span> American dancer and choreographer

Travis Michael Wall is an American dancer, instructor, and choreographer specializing in contemporary and jazz dance styles. He rose to international attention in 2006 as a competitor on the second season of the Fox television show So You Think You Can Dance. As of 2009, he was a choreographer for the show earning Emmy nominations every year from 2011 to 2019; and winning twice. In 2012, he starred in the Oxygen reality show All The Right Moves, where he, Teddy Forance, Nick Lazzarini and Kyle Robinson launched their own dance company called Shaping Sound.

Schwimmer and Schwimer are surnames which may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donnie Burns</span> Scottish professional ballroom dancer

Donnie Burns MBE was born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1959, where he attended Holy Cross High School. He is a Scottish professional ballroom dancer, specialising in Latin dance.

Louis Philip "Louie" Vito III is an Italian-American professional snowboarder. He is an Olympian, Winter X Games, and U.S. Grand Prix Champion.

Lacey Mae Schwimmer is an American ballroom danceer and singer. She is best known as a fourth place finalist of the third season of So You Think You Can Dance. She is the daughter of noted dancer Buddy Schwimmer, as well as the cousin of Heidi Groskreutz, who placed fourth on the second season of So You Think You Can Dance and younger sister of Benji Schwimmer, the winner of the show's second season. She participated in the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer paired with Lance Bass of 'N Sync, in the eighth season of the show paired with Jackass star Steve-O and in the ninth season paired with actor and Iron Chef America host Mark Dacascos. Schwimmer returned to Dancing with the Stars for its eleventh season and she was partnered with Disney Channel star Kyle Massey and in the 12th season, paired with radio host Mike Catherwood. In the thirteenth season, she was paired with transgender activist Chaz Bono. Schwimmer did not return for season 14 of Dancing With The Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champion Ballroom Academy</span>

The Champion Ballroom Academy is a dance studio in San Diego, California. Its main specialties are social partner-dancing, competitive ballroom dance and the Latin-dance-based aerobic program Core Rhythms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Da Silva (dancer)</span> Salsa dance champion and choreographer

Alex Da Silva is a Brazilian dancer and choreographer, specializing in Salsa dancing. Da Silva is also known for being a recurring guest choreographer on the Fox TV show So You Think You Can Dance.

Valentin Aleksandrovich "Val" Chmerkovskiy is a Ukrainian-American professional dancer, best known for his appearances on the U.S. version of Dancing with the Stars, which he won three times. Chmerkovskiy is a two-time World Latin Dance Champion and a 14-time U.S. National Latin Dance champion.

Jared Makaio Murillo is an American professional dancer, choreographer, actor, and musician. known for his works as a dancer in the Disney Channel movies, High School Musical, High School Musical 2 and for having a special cameo appearance in High School Musical 3: Senior Year. He was also in a boyband called V Factory.

Daniella Karagach Pashkova is an American dancer. Karagach and dance partner Leonid Juashkovsky are three-time United States junior I and II Latin champions. They were the 2007 junior II 10 dance champions. Abroad, they reached the finals in the Celtic Classic, Moscow Open and Barcelona Open. Karagach and Juashkovsky were the United States representatives to the World Championships in Latvia, Russia and Barcelona. They appeared on seasons 2 and 3 of America's Ballroom Challenge on PBS. After Leonid, she paired with Pasha Pashkov, with whom they won numerous US and world championships, including, National titles in Latin, Ballroom, 10 dance and showdance. They won the Rising Star championships in Blackpool, UK Open and UK Open 10-dance. She became a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars in 2020, when she was paired up with Nelly. She went on to win her first Mirrorball trophy in her second season (30) with celebrity Iman Shumpert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Parsons (figure skater)</span> American ice dancer

Michael Parsons is an American ice dancer. With his skating partner, Caroline Green, he is the 2022 Four Continents champion, a two-time ISU Grand Prix medalist, a four-time medalist on the ISU Challenger Series, and a four-time U.S. national medalist.

<i>Leading Ladies</i> (film) 2010 American film

Leading Ladies is a 2010 dance film directed by Daniel Beam and Erika Randall Beahm and starring Benji Schwimmer, Melanie LaPatin, Laurel Vail, Shannon Lea Smith, and Nicole Dionne. The film features an overbearing ballroom stage mother and her two daughters who must redefine their roles in life, and on the dance floor. The film also features dance scenes with finalists from season 3 and season 4 of the American version of So You Think You Can Dance: Katee Shean, Kherington Payne, Courtney Galiano, and Sara Von Gillern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torri Huske</span> American swimmer and Olympic gold medalist (born 2002)

Victoria "Torri" Huske is an American competitive swimmer and the reigning Olympic champion in the 100-meter butterfly. She holds world records in two relays: the 4x100-meter medley and 4x100-meter mixed medley. She is the former American record holder in the 50- and 100-meter butterfly.

References

  1. ↑ "Benji Schwimmer". So You Think You Can Dance. Archived from the original on July 5, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Dance". Access Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006.
  3. ↑ "DanceDose - Benji Schwimmer". StarQuest. January 18, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Redlands dancer swings and becomes a star - San Bernardino County Sun". Sbsun.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  5. ↑ "2005 Results". US Open Swing Dance Championships. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ Hollingshead, Natalie (September 27, 2006). "LDS Week Benji dance (life main)". Daily Herald. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  7. ↑ Faber, Judy (August 17, 2006). "Schwimmer a Winner on 'Dance'". CBS News. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Buddy Schwimmer Dance holds Grand Opening". Redlands Daily Facts. March 29, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  9. ↑ "2008 Results". The Open Swing Dance Championships. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Love 'N Dancing Full Cast & Crew". imdb.com. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Benji Meets World". Dancer Magazine Issue. January 11, 2009. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Leading Ladies :: Official Movie Site". Leadingladiesmovie.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  13. ↑ "icenetwork.com: News". Web.icenetwork.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  14. ↑ Eric B. Jacobson, Benji Schwimmer's Retirement at The Open 2018, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved December 26, 2018
  15. ↑ Shana Naomi Krochmal (June 18, 2012). "Benji Schwimmer's Naked Truth". Out Magazine. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  16. ↑ Lyndsey Parker (June 4, 2012). "'SYTYCD' Champ Benji Schwimmer Comes Out as Gay in Fascinating Interview". Reality Rocks (New) - Yahoo! Music. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Mormon Dance Champion Benji Schwimmer". Mormon Stories Podcast. May 30, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  18. 1 2 "1000-1001: Benji Schwimmer – Life After Mormonism". Mormon Stories. October 19, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  19. ↑ "2001 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships". Streetswing.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  20. ↑ "2002 "Person of the Year"". USA Sing Dance Network. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  21. ↑ "US Open awards". Usopenswingdc.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  22. ↑ "2002 list of US Open Swing Dance winners". Usopenswingdc.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  23. ↑ "2002 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships". Streetswing.com. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  24. ↑ "US Open Swing Dance, 2005 division winners". Usopenswingdc.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  25. ↑ "US Open Swing Dance, 2009 division winners". Usopenswingdc.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  26. ↑ "2011 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships Winners". Usopenswingdc.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  27. ↑ "2013". US Open Swing Dance Championships. Archived from the original on November 27, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  28. ↑ "2014 Results". US Open Swing Dance Championships. Archived from the original on December 3, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  29. ↑ "2015 Results". The Open Swing Dance Championships. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  30. ↑ "2016 Competition Results and Videos – The US Open Swing Dance Championships" . Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  31. ↑ "2017 Competition Results – The US Open Swing Dance Championships" . Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Judge Marks and Results | Event Express Pro, LLC". eepro.com. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
Preceded by Winner of So You Think You Can Dance
2006		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.