Buddy Schwimmer

{{Short description|American dancer}}

{{sources|date=September 2009}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2012}}

Harry Daniel "Buddy" Schwimmer (February 22, 1949{{Spaced en dash}}September 13, 2023{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Stacy |date=2024-02-27 |title=Former DWTS Pro Navigating Devastating Family Loss: 'The Pain Is Too Deep' |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/dancing-with-the-stars/lacey-schwimmer-father-died/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Heavy.com |language=en-US}}) was a West Coast Swing dancer and choreographer, credited with inventing nightclub two-step in the 1960s.web.archive.org/web/20060204194635/http://www.lovemusiclovedance.com/niteclub.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060204194635/http://www.lovemusiclovedance.com/niteclub.htm |date=February 4, 2006 }}; Schwimmer is interviewed by dance teacher Philip Seyer of Sacramento

Biography

Schwimmer was born in Gary, Indiana, and began dancing in 1953. He introduced the nightclub two step in 1964.{{Cite web |title=Buddy Schwimmer – California Swing Dance Hall of Fame |url=https://csdhof.com/hof-inductees/buddy-schwimmer |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=csdhof.com}}

Known as the "King of Swing", Schwimmer was inducted into the California Swing Hall of Fame and World Swing Dance Council Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=BUDDY SCHWIMMER {{!}} 2006 |url=https://www.worldsdc.com/hall-of-fame/buddy-schwimmer-2006/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=World Swing Dance Council |language=en-US}}

On July 31, 2006, Schwimmer's 5-6-7-8 Dance Studio suffered a major fire while Schwimmer was in Los Angeles watching his son, Benji, compete on the program So You Think You Can Dance. The studio resumed full operations in September 2006.Garcia, Catherine (2006-09-07). 5-6-7-8 reopens, Benji considers offers. Redlands Daily Facts, September 7, 2006. Retrieved on 2009-09-29, {{Cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10976714.html |title=5-6-7-8 reopens, Benji considers offers - Redlands Daily Facts | HighBeam Research |access-date=September 18, 2009 |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026143027/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10976714.html |url-status=dead }}.

Schwimmer died September 13, 2023, of cardiac arrest.

Children

{{As of|2008}}, Schwimmer's son, Benji Schwimmer was an eight-time United States Showcase Champion of West Coast Swing.2005 Showcase champion: https://web.archive.org/web/20141021225451/http://usopenswing.com/2005_division_winners.html2008 Showcase champion: https://usopenswing.com/2008_division_winners.html {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907141529/https://usopenswing.com/2008_division_winners.html |date=September 7, 2015 }}2009 Showcase champion: https://web.archive.org/web/20150407210329/http://usopenswing.com/2009_division_winners.html2010 Showcase Champion: https://usopenswing.com/2010_division_winners.html {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219010431/https://usopenswing.com/2010_division_winners.html |date=December 19, 2014 }}2011 Showcase champion: https://web.archive.org/web/20141021225455/http://usopenswing.com/2011_division_winners.html2012 Showcase Champion: https://web.archive.org/web/20141203073901/http://usopenswing.com/2012_division_winners.html2013 Showcase Champion: https://web.archive.org/web/20141127192413/http://usopenswing.com/2013_division_winners.html2014 Showcase Champion: https://web.archive.org/web/20141203073906/http://usopenswing.com/2014_division_winners.html

Buddy Schwimmer's daughter, Lacey Schwimmer has won national dance championships and came in fourth in season three of So You Think You Can Dance. Lacey has danced for six seasons as one of the professionals on Dancing with the Stars. Buddy appeared in the 13th season to help Lacey's partner Chaz Bono.

References

{{reflist}}

Bibliography

  • "5-6-7-8 reopens, Benji considers offers", September 7, 2006, Redlandsdailyfacts.com
  • San Bernardino Sun, September 15, 2006