Apolo Anton Ohno vs. Benji Schwimmer — War!

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  • May 6, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Dancing with the Stars · So You Think You Can Dance · · · ·

dancing 01 2007 05 06 Apolo Anton Ohno vs. Benji Schwimmer War!

dancing 02 2007 05 06 Apolo Anton Ohno vs. Benji Schwimmer War!

Kath just informed me about a fan war going on between Olympic Gold-Medalist Apolo Anton Ohno of Dancing with the Stars and Benji Schwimmer, winner of last summer’s So You Think You Can Dance, over a mambo routine choreographed by Alex da Silva, allegedly copied by Anton’s partner Julianne Hough. I can see some similar dance moves, but the entire dance choreography was not copied.

A couple of days ago, Benji posted about it in his blog which triggered the Apolo-bashing on the DWTS boards. Julianne’s mistake was that some of the tricks in the routine looked like they were lifted straight from Benji’s mambo — which is a fair observation — but I don’t think that anyone has exclusive use of a trick or dance move, as some of Benji’s fans might suggest. Does Benji and Heidi have exclusive use of spinning under someone’s right leg? I don’t think so. Are the copyright lawyers of SYTYCD now supposed to sue DWTS because this? Benji should be careful and not hold himself to that standard because he might just run out of unique dance moves since someone out there has more than likely done the same leg lift, turn or slide, which some of his fans claim as his. In fact he didn’t even choreograph the mambo in question.

For those interested, here’s an article on Copyright of Choreographic Works

Video clips:


Benji and Heidi:


Apolo and Julianne:

— Rickey

Twitter: @rickey • Facebook: http://facebook.com/rickey.org • Full Blog Feed: @rickeybot • Rickey Links • Google

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17 comments
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Lotus Blossom
Lotus Blossom

Rickey- I read Benji's May 03 2007 blog, but it looks like he revised and retracted his original DWTS and Julianne/Apolo bashing. What did he say, initially?

Yeah, this changes my opinion of "America's Favorite Dancer." Travis should have won.

Plus that horrendous solo he did last night? My eyes are blinded for life. But it doesn't matter because I have that scary mental image of a flag on his crotch burned and scarred into my memory forever.

aquamarin
aquamarin

This has nothing to do with the above ... but guess whom I found when I was watching the Malaysian version of SYTYCD on youtube?
Sorry, I don't know how to link it, so you'll have to copy and paste. Also, audio and video are not in sync, but I think fans will still appreciate seeing this person! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw8ijWVlzkU

heaven
heaven

NO. 12, that's right. And please, Benji and Heidi choreograph their own moves sometimes too (like the doughnut drop and split leg lift turn, both incorporated during sytycd). Also, saying that a move is similar to mine is not the same as saying that the move is mine.

DealMeAnAce
DealMeAnAce

..imitation is the best form of flattery.

sweetangel1051
sweetangel1051

I'm sure Apolo sat home all summer long last year watching SYTYCD, saw Benji's mambo routine, and thought to himself "Gee, I need to remember this move one day so I can use it!"

*rolls-eyes*

And it's not like he's the only one to ever use that move.

shayne9
shayne9

I don't know a lot about dancing but I think in these "dance" type competition they have to do a certain required number of moves - so sooner or later they all start looking something a like. Does anyone know what happened to the 2nd place guy from last year - Travis I think was his name?

snappydresser
snappydresser

What a Pissy Little Bitch Benji is...it's not even his dance, how Gay! LOL

Chicago-48
Chicago-48

copywrited dance moves? Hmm...that's a new one. There were some moves that were copied, but Schwimmer or whatever his name is, shouldn't be so p**** about it. My god, it's TV, who cares? It's not like Apollo is going to be a pro dancer. He's going back to skating.

baymon
baymon

you could easily see that lots of the dance moves were "copied" or whatever you wanna call it, but I agree that it's ridiculous to say that Apollo is copying Benji's moves because Benji and Heidi were merely performing the moves choreographed by other ppl as well, unless there is a way to prove that the particular moves were original footwork that were created by Benji himself,

richie
richie

Sounds like 'much ado about nothing' to me. The dancer's role is not to own the moves, but to portray a particular feeling or emotion for a dance. Unless you could convince me every single move Benji [or any of the dancers from SYTYCD last season] were completely original, then I see what they did as much the same as what Julianna & Apolo did, which was to perform choreography. Any ensuing argument would seem to define 'enjoying hearing yourself blow hot air.'

LoveMusa
LoveMusa

Good idea..

They need to have a dance-off.

Benji would slaughter Apolo!

Jaggie O
Jaggie O

There's only one way to settle this -- DANCE-OFF!

sprout
sprout

apolo shouldn't be blamed for that. but you know how it is on these officials forums. they like to blame people for stuff.

GO APOLO!!!!

FloridaGirl
FloridaGirl

Wow! Exclusive rights to a dance move?? A dance move that Benji didn't even "invent"? Did someone's ego get a bit out of control? And isn't imitation suppose to be the greatest form of flattery for an entertainer? Hmmm This one has left me with nothing but questions....