I have been dancing since the age of 10, I discovered Line dance while on holiday in America. At the age of 13 I started to instruct near my home in Manchester and now teach 3 nights a week to all ages and levels.
As well as instructing I choreograph my own dances and in a Masters In Line Choreography Competition was placed 3rd with my dance The Best In Me. One of my choreography highs was hearing that The Best In Me had been voted Number 1 at a Best of British event held in Australia. To know that people on the other side of the world are dancing your dance and enjoying it is an amazing feeling. Many of my dances have now been published in Linedancer Magazine including The Best In Me, 99.9%, Out Of My Mind, Viva La Fiesta and I'm Movin On. Click here for the step sheets.
Line dancing has given me the opportunity to meet many interesting people and make many lasting friendships. It has also given me many opportunities and experiences which I would never have had if it where not for line dance. One of my most memorable experiences was being involved in the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony; it was an experience I will never forget.
In 2003 I was nominated for 2 Crystal Boots ("Dance Of The Year" and "Rising Star"). At 2004's Crystal Boot Awards I was nominated for 5 Crystal Boots: Rising Star, UK instructor Of The Year, Intermediate Dance Of The Year (for I'm Movin On), Advance Dance Of The Year (for Viva La Fiesta) and the 'Open' nomination!
In March 2005 I toured America starting in Fort Wayne, at the Fort Wayne Showdown with the lovely Barry and Dari-Anne Amato then flew to Las Vegas to join Doug and Jackie Miranda for their Cool Country 10 event! It was great teaching in the US, and I made many friends there! One such friend was Mr Showcase himself, John Robinson. We even choreographed a dance together called Keep It Burnin', which is currently being danced all around the world.
I love to dance and you will rarely see me sitting down at dance events. I believe dance is a gift and hope I can share that gift with others. The friends I have made through dancing will never be forgotten: I love you all!
Live your life to the max and enjoy every day as if it's your last.
Craig Bennett has choreographed 159 dances, of which 47 have been co-choreographed. Their first published stepsheet on CopperKnob is Love Is Alive from October 2007, with their most recent stepsheet of Love Grows (fr) in August 2022.
Additionally, Craig Bennett had a CopperKnob no.1 dance in March 2022 with Love Grows.