Harry Daniel "Buddy" Schwimmer (February 22, 1949September 13, 2023) 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 ; 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.
Known as the "King of Swing", Schwimmer was inducted into the California Swing Hall of Fame and World Swing Dance Council Hall of Fame.
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, .
Schwimmer died September 13, 2023, of cardiac arrest.
Children , 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 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 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
Bibliography "5-6-7-8 reopens, Benji considers offers", September 7, 2006, Redlandsdailyfacts.com San Bernardino Sun, September 15, 2006
External links Interview with Buddy Schwimmer regarding his creation of Nightclub Two Step (1995) Instructor profile "So You Think You Can Dance" interviews, 2006