Heidi Groskreutz

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Heidi Groskreutz

Born September 3, 1981 (1981-09-03) (age 26)
Flag of California California
Flag of the United States U.S.A.
Occupation Ballroom Dancer

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

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[edit] Biography

Heidi Groskreutz, born September 3, 1981, is an award-winning dancer from Cliffside Park, New Jersey[1], 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. 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).[2]

Since six years old, Groskreutz and her cousin Benji, longtime dance partners, have been winning national swing dance titles together.[3] They are both Mormons,[4] 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. According to a September 29, 2006 interview on The Tyra Banks Show, Groskreutz had concerns about being able to dance Hip hop style, and so created a psychological alter-ego for herself named "Shadawn" to get into character. She was often cited by the judges as the "most improved" contestant during the course of the show, and successfully proceeded to the top four finalists.

She was also one of the dancers in the sold out tour based on the show. Heidi and Benji danced on Fox's New Years Eve show[5] and talked about their instructional dance DVD.[6] She is also cousins with Lacey Schwimmer.

Heidi is also related to David Schwimmer, who is her 3rd cousin.[citation needed]

Heidi assisted Benji in his choreographer appearance on Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance (July 11, 2007). She also assisted Dimitry on July 25, 2007.

[edit] Awards

  • 1990 US Open, Young America Div. (ages 6-11), 2nd Place, partner Benji Schwimmer
  • 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 [7][8]
  • 2005 US Open Swing Dance Championship, Showcase Division, partner Benji Schwimmer[9] Video Clip

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Heidi Groskreutz
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Ballroom dancer and Reality TV contestant
DATE OF BIRTH 3 September, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH California, U.S.A
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH