During the very first series of the UK’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’, two contestants took the competition by storm from their first week right through to the very end. The first of these contestants was Charlie Bruce, a dancer from Cropston, Leicestershire. At the time of the series, she was 19 and working in a shoe shop. The other contestant was Tommy Franzen, a young dancer from Sweden. While impressive in their solos, these dancers’ duets impressed audiences from week one of the show.
Their first performance together was at the very start of the show, in which they performed a hip-hop routine to ‘The Way I Are’ by Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson and D.O.E. The performance told the story of a couple that met on a park bench and showcased the dancers’ ability to perform hip-hop as well as acrobatics such as flips and aerials. Audiences loved the dancers together, commenting, “It’s so great, they work so well together.” on the YouTube video of the performance.
Throughout the competition, Tommy and Charlie remained favorites of the judges and audience members. As the weeks went on, they proved their abilities to dance in many different styles, including jazz, contemporary and musical theatre. They demonstrated their solo abilities throughout, as well as being paired with many other contestants to perform duets. Tommy and Charlie were often paired together for duet performances over the weeks, with the strength of their partnership shining through.
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In the very final week of the show, Tommy and Charlie were paired together once more. This time, they danced a tango to El Tango De Roxanne from Moulin Rouge. The performance mirrored their first dance together on the park bench as they danced around two chairs in their final routine. While showcasing their versatility as dancers, they once again proved their strength as duet partners, prompting fans to comment that their chemistry together was what made them such a strong duo.
Tommy and Charlie’s dancing abilities paid off as they took the two top spots in the competition, with Tommy Franzen as runner-up and Charlie Bruce taking the crown. Since their success on the show, they have both gone on to have successful careers in dance. Charlie Bruce went straight to the West End after her win to perform in Dirty Dancing. Now a mother of one, she runs her own dance studio. Tommy Franzen has also performed on the West End, receiving an Olivier nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Dance, as well as in many movie musicals, including Mamma Mia, Aladdin, Cats, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
For more exceptional performances from breakout dancer Tommy Franzen, subscribe to his YouTube Channel. You can also follow his journey on his official Facebook page and his personal Instagram account.