Winning US Open routines (2005) on You Tube

[David Franklin]

Also, series 2 of "So You Think You Can Dance?", a US program very like Strictly Dance Fever has just started; Benji and Heidi have both made it "to the house", albeit not paired together. From the Benji/Heidi clip above, if you look in the "related videoes" bit you can find links to some footage from the show.

[Geordieed]

I would love to see Benji and Heidi do that routine when they visit Southport later this year.

[Donna]

wow. too good to be true!!! speechless!

[Beowulf]

If I may borrow a line from Jim Carrey in "The Mask"

Smoooookin' !!

[Stuart]

For some reason I looked at the title of this and thought it related to the golf at the weekend!

[Yliander]

you can also down load clips of the winning routines from the US Open Site

[Alice]

Also, series 2 of "So You Think You Can Dance?", a US program very like Strictly Dance Fever has just started; Benji and Heidi have both made it "to the house", albeit not paired together. From the Benji/Heidi clip above, if you look in the "related videoes" bit you can find links to some footage from the show.

<still reeling>

That was amazing!

[Tessalicious]

Yes there were some cool moves in Benji and Heidi's, and some great dramatic stuff, and he looks like he would be fun to dance with - but I can't get excited about her at all, and I don't know why. Maybe it's just that she's too thin so her arms look like they're going to break, or maybe it's a style of WCS that I'm not used to seeing, but whereas Jordan/Tatiana, Kyle/Sarah, Robert/Deborah, or Paul/Cat all have me holding my breath and thinking wow, I wish I could dance like that, Benji and Heidi didn't do it for me - yet (maybe it will be different if I see them in person). Please don't hate me, it's an inspiration thing I guess.

[David Franklin]

whereas Jordan/Tatiana, Kyle/Sarah, Robert/Deborah, or Paul/Cat all have me holding my breath and thinking wow, I wish I could dance like that, Benji and Heidi didn't do it for me - yet (maybe it will be different if I see them in person). Please don't hate me, it's an inspiration thing I guess.

Have to say, their routine didn't wow me, either. It's certainly a very difficult and technically demanding routine, but it doesn't do a lot for me on an artistic or emotional level.

It seems to me that some routines are mainly impressive due to their content - the bravura lifts, the accuracy, speed and complexity of moves, and so on, while some manage to be more than the sum of their parts. I think you can go too far in either direction and as someone who likes to see the big tricks, I'm glad Benji and Heidi pushing their content way beyond the minimum requirements. But a bit more emotional content and feeling would make them even stronger performers.

In fairness, I don't know how much time they had to work on it - they live on opposite sides of the US these days.

[Lory]

I'm glad others feel the same as me. Benji and Heidi's routine was very clever, precise and no one could argue with the fact it was certainly a polished performance but personally, I much prefer the relaxed, effortless look that J&T seem to pull off so easily

[under par]

I'm glad others feel the same as me. Benji and Heidi's routine was very clever, precise and no one could argue with the fact it was certainly a polished performance but personally, I much prefer the relaxed, effortless look that J&T seem to pull off so easily

I think the difference between the 2 styles has a lot to do with the categories they were dancing in.

I don't know the names of the categories but one is obviously involved with loads of aerials which is totally different and more energetic than the other more smooth category.

I agree with the sentiments posted above with the proviso that we are comparing chalk and cheese "category wise".

I am looking forward to see Benji and partner at Southport. in Sept and J&T next june

[MartinHarper]

I guess dancing to multiple songs mixed together, or weird conceptual songs that sound like multiple songs mixed together, is pretty good for winning competitions. As a viewer, I can't say I'm keen on it. Oh well.

[under par]

I guess dancing to multiple songs mixed together, or weird conceptual songs that sound like multiple songs mixed together, is pretty good for winning competitions.

I think music selection is one part of their multi-facetted talents.