Heidi Groskreutz
Encyclopedia
Heidi Groskreutz is a 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 Think You Can Dance
.
, and raised in Newport Beach, California
. She specializes in Latin and swing dancing
, and as of 2006, is a six-time U.S.A. Open Swing Dance champion. She has also the winner of the World Invitation Swing Dance Championship and many other top NASDE events. Popularly, she is best known for being a top four finalist in the second season of the So You Think You Can Dance competition (which was won by her cousin Benji Schwimmer
).
Since six years old, Groskreutz and her cousin Benji, longtime dance partners, have been winning national swing dance titles together. They are both Mormon
s, and when Schwimmer left to serve a mission in Mexico, Groskreutz began competing with a new partner, Dmitry Chaplin
. After Schwimmer's return from Mexico, all three of them auditioned for the second season of So You Think You Can Dance, and all proceeded to the top 20 finalists. At first, Groskreutz was partnered with contestant Ryan Rankine, and then later with Travis Wall
. She was often cited by the judges as the "most improved" contestant during the course of the show, and as a dancer that can"take anything that is thrown[at her]." Nigel Lythgoe stated "Heidi you are the best partner dancer of the girls, just as Benji is for the boys, you're both incredible."
She was also one of the dancers in the tour based on the show. Heidi and Benji danced on Fox's New Year's Eve show and talked about their instructional dance DVD, appeared on Much Music on Demand in Canada, the Tyra Banks Show, Teen Choice Awards, "E", Extra, Megan Mullally Show. She is also cousins with Lacey Schwimmer
In 2008, she married former Latin dance world champion
Donnie Burns
.
On July 23, 2009, Heidi reunited with former season two contestant Travis Wall
, on the 100th episode of So You Think You Can Dance to recreate their Emmy award winning piece, The Park Bench. She also danced with Wade Robson and the other top ten contestants from season 2, recreating "Rama Lama" another Emmy award winning piece on the same 100th episode.
Heidi and her cousin Benji performed this summer at Orlando Florida for the Tremaine Dance Competition.
Swing (dance)
"Swing dance" is a group of dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s-1950s, although the earliest of these dances predate swing jazz music. The best known of these dances is the Lindy Hop, a popular partner dance that originated in Harlem and is still danced today...
. She is known for making the final in the second season of the Fox TV series So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2)
The second season of So You Think You Can Dance premiered May 25, 2006, with new host Cat Deeley.On August 16, Benji Schwimmer was announced as the winner of season 2 and received the grand prize of $100,000, a new hybrid SUV, and a one year contract with Celine Dion's Las Vegas show, A New...
.
Biography
Heidi Groskreutz, born September 3, 1981, is an award-winning dancer from Cliffside Park, New JerseyCliffside Park, New Jersey
Cliffside Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 23,594....
, and raised in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
. She specializes in Latin and swing dancing
Swing (dance)
"Swing dance" is a group of dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s-1950s, although the earliest of these dances predate swing jazz music. The best known of these dances is the Lindy Hop, a popular partner dance that originated in Harlem and is still danced today...
, and as of 2006, is a six-time U.S.A. Open Swing Dance champion. She has also the winner of the World Invitation Swing Dance Championship and many other top NASDE events. Popularly, she is best known for being a top four finalist in the second season of the So You Think You Can Dance competition (which was won by her cousin Benji Schwimmer
Benji Schwimmer
Benjamin "Benji" Daniel Schwimmer is an American professional dancer, choreographer, actor, and soon-to-be lead singer of the band "The Weekend Forecast". 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 and has...
).
Since six years old, Groskreutz and her cousin Benji, longtime dance partners, have been winning national swing dance titles together. They are both Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s, and when Schwimmer left to serve a mission in Mexico, Groskreutz began competing with a new partner, Dmitry Chaplin
Dmitry Chaplin
Dmitry Chaplin is an Russian dancer and an Emmy Nominated choreographer, best known for being a Top 10 finalist on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance . He was famous for constantly performing shirtless, with one solo routine having him rip off his shirt.-Biography:Chaplin was born in...
. After Schwimmer's return from Mexico, all three of them auditioned for the second season of So You Think You Can Dance, and all proceeded to the top 20 finalists. At first, Groskreutz was partnered with contestant Ryan Rankine, and then later with Travis Wall
Travis Wall
Travis Michael Wall , an American dancer and dance instructor specializing in contemporary dance and jazz dance. He is best known for his 2006 appearance as a competitor on the second season of the television show So You Think You Can Dance, which airs on the Fox Network. As of 2009, he is...
. She was often cited by the judges as the "most improved" contestant during the course of the show, and as a dancer that can"take anything that is thrown[at her]." Nigel Lythgoe stated "Heidi you are the best partner dancer of the girls, just as Benji is for the boys, you're both incredible."
She was also one of the dancers in the tour based on the show. Heidi and Benji danced on Fox's New Year's Eve show and talked about their instructional dance DVD, appeared on Much Music on Demand in Canada, the Tyra Banks Show, Teen Choice Awards, "E", Extra, Megan Mullally Show. She is also cousins with Lacey Schwimmer
Lacey Schwimmer
Lacey-Mae Schwimmer is an American competitive ballroom dancer, singer, and the winner of multiple youth championships. She is best known as the fourth place finalist of the third season of So You Think You Can Dance...
In 2008, she married former Latin dance world champion
Dancesport World Champions (Professional Latin)
This page lists the official World Champions – Professional Latin of the World Dance Council . The championships are authorized and organized under the auspices of the WDC, and held annually in the last quarter of each year...
Donnie Burns
Donnie Burns
Donnie Burns MBE was born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1961. He is a Scottish professional ballroom dancer, specialising in Latin dance....
.
On July 23, 2009, Heidi reunited with former season two contestant Travis Wall
Travis Wall
Travis Michael Wall , an American dancer and dance instructor specializing in contemporary dance and jazz dance. He is best known for his 2006 appearance as a competitor on the second season of the television show So You Think You Can Dance, which airs on the Fox Network. As of 2009, he is...
, on the 100th episode of So You Think You Can Dance to recreate their Emmy award winning piece, The Park Bench. She also danced with Wade Robson and the other top ten contestants from season 2, recreating "Rama Lama" another Emmy award winning piece on the same 100th episode.
Awards
- 1990 US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6–11), 2nd Place, partner Benji SchwimmerBenji SchwimmerBenjamin "Benji" Daniel Schwimmer is an American professional dancer, choreographer, actor, and soon-to-be lead singer of the band "The Weekend Forecast". 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 and has...
- 1991 US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6–11), 1st Place, partner Benji Schwimmer
- 1992 US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6–12), 3rd Place, partner Benji Schwimmer
- 1993 US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6–12), 4th Place, partner Benji Schwimmer
- 1994 US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6–12), 2nd Place, partner Benji Schwimmer
- 2001 US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division, partner Benji Schwimmer
- 2002 US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division, partner Benji Schwimmer
- 2005 US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division, partner Benji Schwimmer Video Clip
Heidi and her cousin Benji performed this summer at Orlando Florida for the Tremaine Dance Competition.
See also
- So You Think You Can Dance (US)
- So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2)So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2)The second season of So You Think You Can Dance premiered May 25, 2006, with new host Cat Deeley.On August 16, Benji Schwimmer was announced as the winner of season 2 and received the grand prize of $100,000, a new hybrid SUV, and a one year contract with Celine Dion's Las Vegas show, A New...
- So You Think You Can Dance (Season 2)
- Benji SchwimmerBenji SchwimmerBenjamin "Benji" Daniel Schwimmer is an American professional dancer, choreographer, actor, and soon-to-be lead singer of the band "The Weekend Forecast". 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 and has...