Benji Schwimmer

Benji and his cousin Heidi Groskreutz acted as choreographers for Sara and Pasha, who danced a swing routine to "That Rockerfeller Skank" by Fatboy Slim in the July 11th episode of So You Think You Can Dance?. They were both in the audience to see the dance performed.

Benji appeared in the Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 So You Think You Can Dance. He was there with his sister, Lacey, who was auditioning for the show; he acted as her dance partner for her routine. He was also in the audience for the first 'Top 20' performance on June 13, 2007, and then danced to "Tu Vuo Fa L'Americano" from The Talented Mr. Ripley Soundtrack the following night, on the results show. He was again in the audience for the final dance show on August 15, 2007, to cheer on his sister, Lacey, who made it to the final four.

Benji appears in Christina Aguilera's video for Candyman as the G.I. who dances with her (when she's dressed in pink) in the dance hall.

In mid-September, 2006, Benji announced that he would not be participating in the Celine Dion show in Las Vegas. The one-year contract was part of the prize package for season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance, but Benji turned it down for a couple of reasons: it wasn't his style of dance; and it would keep him too far away from his family and the dance studio he runs in Redlands, California.

In mid-September, 2006, Benji and his sister, Lacey, made a surprise visit to the SOS show at the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel. The two of them danced a swing routine on stage.

When asked how he felt to be competing against his cousin, Heidi, in the finale of So You Think You Can Dance, Benji indicated that he didn't feel that the two of them were competing, and that both had agreed to share the prize money if either of them won.

Benji was disappointed that he never got to do a contemporary dance routine (other than in group dances) on So You Think You Can Dance.

Benji met with American Idol's Kellie Pickler after she expressed interest in him in a magazine article.

Benji was engaged to be married before he left for his two-year mission in Mexico; due to a mix up in the mail, his letters never got to his fiancee, and she married someone else, which caused him to fall into a depression.

While dancing on Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance, Benji and all the other dancers had some tough conditions to contend with: cold studios (about 30 degrees fahrenheit) and no warm-up time. He, like many of the other dancers, suffered a string of injuries.

According to Benji, the toughest thing about being on So You Think You Can Dance was the lack of sleep and the lack of proper diet.

After winning the title "America's Favorite Dancer" in the second season of So You Think You Can Dance, Benji was chosen to play Fred Astaire in an upcoming movie. However, plans for the movie fell through in late 2006.

Benji and co-contestant Travis Wall bet each other $500 that the other would win the title "America's Favorite Dancer" on So You Think You Can Dance.

According to Benji, he had an ESP sense of who would be going home on So You Think You Can Dance each week, and he was 98.9% right. However, in the finale, he predicted that Travis would win.

Benji chose to dance the Mambo routine with Heidi in the finale as his favorite dance of the season from So You Think You Can Dance.

Benji's father calls him the "Prince of Swing", which Benji doesn't like.

In 1991, Benji and his partner Heidi Groskreutz (a co-contestant on So You Think You Can Dance), won the US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6-11).

In 1992, Benji and his partner Heidi Groskreutz (a co-contestant on So You Think You Can Dance), placed third in the US Open, Young America Div.

In 1994, Benji and his partner Heidi Groskreutz (a co-contestant on So You Think You Can Dance), placed second in the US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6-12).

In 2005, Benji competed in the World Swing Dance Championships (Classics) with his sister, Lacey.

While in Oaxaca, Mexico, performing missionary work for his Church, Benji was almost completely cut off from friends and family for two years. He was not allowed any visits, could only call his parents twice a year, and had only occasional access to e-mail.

Benji is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (the Mormons).

According to Benji, his whole family dances.

Although he was born in Newport Beach, CA, Benji lists both Moreno Valley, CA and Oaxaca, Mexico, as his "hometowns."

Benji is cousin to David Schwimmer, Ross of Friends fame.

Benji and his cousin Heidi Groskreutz have won the US Open Dance Championships, showcase division in 2001, 2002, and 2005, all as a team.

After working as a missionary in Mexico for two years, Benji founded "Dancers Everywhere Making A Noticeable Difference" (D.E.M.A.N.D.), a charitable organization to benefit orphans in Mexico.

As a contestant in the second season of So You Think You Can Dance, Benji and his partner Donyelle Jones were popular favorites in the first half of the top 10 couples, and were never in the bottom three couples. This means that until the format changed on July 19th, 2006, with each dancer being required to do two couples' dances and one solo each, Benji had never done a solo dance on the show.

Benji is related to So You Think You Can Dance co-contestant Heidi Groskreutz; they are cousins.

In 2005, Benji and his partner Heidi Groskreutz (a co-contestant on So You Think You Can Dance), won the US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division.

In 2002, Benji and his partner Heidi Groskreutz (a co-contestant on So You Think You Can Dance), won the US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division for the second year in a row.

In 2001, Benji and his partner Heidi Groskreutz (a co-contestant on So You Think You Can Dance), won the US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division.

In 1993, Benji and his partner Heidi Groskreutz (a co-contestant on So You Think You Can Dance), placed fourth in the US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6-12).

In 1990, Benji and his partner Heidi Groskreutz (a co-contestant on So You Think You Can Dance), placed second in the US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6-11).

As a result of spending two years in Mexico, Benji can now speak fluent Spanish.

Benji hopes that as a result of being on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance?, he will come out of the experience a better person; raise awareness for his charitable organization, D.E.M.A.N.D.; and be able to work like crazy.

Benji lists his most memorable experience as becoming a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance?

Benji's favorite professional dancers are: his parents; Donnie Burns and Gaynor Fairweather; Fred Astaire; Nick Lazz; and Gene Kelly.

As of 2006, Benji has studied various dance styles: 19 years swing, 3 years latin, 2 months lyrical/Jazz.

Benji quit school in order to be a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance?

Benji, whose full name is Benjiman, says his nicknames are "Benji", "Geege" and "6-6 pants."

Benji's father, Buddy Schwimmer, is known as the "King of Swing".