# Benjamin Steffan

Benjamin Steffan (born 12 January 1996) is a German ice dancer. With his skating partner, Jennifer Janse van Rensburg, he is the 2020 Santa Claus Cup champion, the 2021 Egna Dance Trophy silver medalist, a three-time Bavarian Open champion (2022–24), and four time German national champions (2022–25).

## Personal life

Steffan was born on January 12, 1996 in Chemnitz, Germany. His younger sister, Leah, is also a former competitive ice dancer.

## Career
### Early career

Originally a hockey player, Steffan decided to switch to ice dancing in 2006 at the age of ten. His first ice dance coach was Annerose Wetzel and he was briefly partnered with Camilla Barth for a short period. Steffan would eventually decide to team up with his sister, Leah, in 2012, and the siblings were coached by Susan Fichtelmann in Chemnitz. Together, the siblings would win bronze at the 2014 and 2015 German Junior Championships. Their partnership would dissolve, however, following the 2014–15 figure skating season, with Leah electing to retire from competing.
Steffan would eventually team up with Sandrine Hofstetter during the 2015–16 figure skating season. The team were coached by Alexander Gazsi in Duebendorf, Switzerland. Together, they would win bronze at the 2016 German Junior Championships before parting ways after the season ended.

### Partnership with Janse van Rensburg
#### Early years in partnership

Prior to the 2016–17 figure skating season, it was announced that Steffan had teamed with fellow German ice dancer, Jennifer Janse van Rensburg and that the duo would train in Oberstdorf under coaches, Rostislav Sinicyn and Natalia Karamysheva. For the first few seasons of their career, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan competed at various ISU Challenger Series events. They won their first national medal together, a bronze, at the 2019 German Championships and won their first international medal together, a silver, at the 2019 Bavarian Open. The following year, they would win silver at the 2020 German Championships.

#### 2020–21 season

Janse van Rensburg/Steffan only competed at two events that season, medalling at both. They would win gold at the 2020 Santa Claus Cup and silver at the 2021 Egna Dance Trophy.

#### 2021–22 season

Janse van Rensburg/Steffan started the season by competing at the 2021 Lake Placid Ice Dance International. Going on to compete on the 2021–22 ISU Challenger Series, the duo finished seventh at the 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy, tenth at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy, and seventh at the 2021 CS Cup of Austria.
Assigned to an event on the 2021–22 Grand Prix circuit for the first time, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan finished tenth at the 2021 Internationaux de France.
In December, they won their first national title at the 2022 German Championships. They would then close the season by winning gold at the 2022 Bavarian Open and the 2022 Egna Dance Trophy.

#### 2022–23 season

Assigned to compete at 2022 Skate America, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan started the season by finishing ninth at the event. They would then compete on the 2022–23 ISU Challenger Series, finishing winning silver at the 2022 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge and the 2022 CS Warsaw Cup as well as sixth at the 2022 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb.
At the 2023 German Championships in January, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan won their second national title. For the first time, they were selected to represent Germany as a team at the European and World Championships. Going on to compete at the 2023 European Championships in Espoo, Finland, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan finished in ninth place. One week following the event, they won gold at the 2023 Bavarian Open for a second consecutive time.
In March, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan competed at the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Japan. They would finish the event in fifteenth place.

#### 2023–24 season

Janse van Rensburg/Steffan began the season by competing on the 2023–24 ISU Challenger Series, finishing fourth at the 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy and fourth at the 2023 CS Budapest Trophy. Assigned to two Grand Prix events for the first time, they would finish eighth at 2023 Skate Canada International and ninth at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo. Between these events, they would also take silver at the 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge.
After winning their third national title at the 2024 German Championships, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan were selected to compete at the 2024 European Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, where they finished eleventh.
At the end of January, Rensburg/Steffan took gold at the 2024 Bavarian Open. Two months later, they competed at the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where they would finish in twenty-second place.

#### 2024–25 season

Beginning their season on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, Janse van Rensburg/Steffan finished seventh at the 2024 NHK Trophy.

## Programs
### Ice dance with Jennifer Janse van Rensburg

| Season | Rhythm dance | Free dance | Exhibition |
| 2024–2025 | Boogie Shoes by KC and the Sunshine Band Land of a Thousand Dances by Chris Kenner performed by Wilson Pickett choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | Phantasia (Based on The Phantom of the Opera) by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Julian Lloyd Webber, & Sarah Chang choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | |
| 2023–2024 | Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil Don't Leave Me Now by Supertramp Runaway by Bon Jovi choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | Tango by Mgzavrebi Libertango by Astor Piazzolla, performed by Aydar Gaynullin choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | Moana: How Far I'll Go by Auliʻi Cravalho You're Welcome by Dwayne Johnson |
| 2022–2023 | Samba: Safari by J Balvin, Pharrell Williams, Bia, Sky Rompiendo Cha Cha: Havana by Camila Cabello performed by Pentatonix Samba: I Like to Move It by Reel to Real ft. The Mad Stuntman choreo. by Mariia Tumanovska-Chaiika | Prelude (Age of Heroes) by Balázs Havasi choreo. by Mariia Tumanovska-Chaiika | Is This Love by Bob Marley & The Wailers |
| 2021–2022 | Is This Love by Bob Marley & The Wailers Blues: Ain't No Sunshine by Matt Andersen choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | The Wedding (from You Only Live Twice) by John Barry James Bond Theme (from Dr. No) by John Barry Live and Let Die (from Live and Let Die) performed by 2Cellos & Lang Lang choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | |
| 2020–2021 | Foxtrot: Cabaret performed by Janice Hagan Quickstep: Cabaret (English version) performed by Edurne Charleston: Mein Herr performed by Ute Lemper (from Cabaret) by John Kander choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones performed by Ciara Deer Stop by Goldfrapp Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics performed by Escala choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | |
| 2019–2020 | Foxtrot: Cabaret performed by Janice Hagan Quickstep: Cabaret (English version) performed by Edurne Charleston: Mein Herr performed by Ute Lemper (from Cabaret) by John Kander choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | Paint It Black by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika |
| 2018–2019 | Paso Doble: Battle Dawn by Q-Factory Tango: Angelica (from Pirates of the Caribbean) by Hans Zimmer choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | Human by Goldfrapp Deer Stop by Goldfrapp Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics performed by Escala choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | |
| | Short dance | |
| 2017–2018 | Rhumba: Mil Pasos performed by Soha Samba: Travels performed by Samba Carnja choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | Little Drop of Poison by Rebekka Bakken Love Is the Drug by Bryan Ferry These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) by Eric Maschwitz performed by Emmy Rossum Crazy in Love (from The Great Gatsby) by Beyoncé performed by Emeli Sandé with The Bryan Ferry Orchestra choreo. by Maria Tumanovskaia-Chaika | |

### Ice dance with Sandrine Hofstetter

| Season | Short dance | Free dance |
| 2015–2016 | Waltz: I Feel Pretty (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein performed by Hayley Westenra Foxtrot: Sandy (from Grease) by Louis St. Louis, Screamin' Scott Simon performed by John Travolta choreo. by Alexander Gazsi | Ederlezi performed by The No Smoking Orchestra Malahaguesca by Shantei choreo. by Alexander Gazsi |

### Ice dance with Leah Steffan

| Season | Short dance | Free dance |
| 2014–2015 | Rhumba: Perfidia by Alberto Domínguez performed by Nat King Cole Samba: Ay! Cosita Linda performed by Nat King Cole choreo. by Sascha Rabe | This Business of Love You Would Be My Baby Hey! Pachuco! (from The Mask) choreo. by Sascha Rabe |
| 2013–2014 | Quickstep: Puttin' On the Ritz by Irving Berlin performed by Miss Kookie Slow Fox: Summertime Quickstep: Puttin' On the Ritz by Irving Berlin performed by Miss Kookie choreo. by Maurizio Margaglio | Battle Without Honor or Humanity by Tomoyasu Hotei Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) performed by Lyn Paul Woo-Hoo performed by The 5.6.7.8's (from Kill Bill) by RZA choreo. by Maurizio Margaglio |

## Competitive highlights

* GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
* JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
* CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series

### Ice dance with Jennifer Janse van Rensburg

Competition placements at senior level :
| Season | 2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |
| World Championships | | | | | | | 15th | 22nd | TBD |
| European Championships | | | | | | | 9th | 11th | 11th |
| German Championships | 4th | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| GP Finland | | | | | | | | 9th | |
| GP France | | | | | | 10th | | | |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | | | | | | 7th |
| GP Skate America | | | | | | | 9th | | |
| GP Skate Canada | | | | | | | | 8th | |
| CS Alpen Trophy | | | 8th | | | | | | |
| CS Asian Open Trophy | | | | 4th | | | | | |
| CS Budapest Trophy | | | | | | | | 4th | |
| CS Denis Ten Memorial | | | | | | | 2nd | 2nd | |
| CS Finlandia Trophy | | 13th | | | | 10th | | | |
| CS Golden Spin of Zagreb | 10th | | | 5th | | | 6th | | 3rd |
| CS Ice Challenge | | 4th | | | | 7th | | | |
| CS Ice Star | 9th | 10th | | | | | | | |
| CS Lombardia Trophy | | | | | | 7th | | | |
| CS Nebelhorn Trophy | | | 6th | 8th | | | | 7th | |
| CS Tallinn Trophy | | 6th | 6th | | | | | | |
| CS Warsaw Cup | | | | | | | 2nd | | 6th |
| Bavarian Open | 10th | 4th | 2nd | | | 1st | 1st | 1st | |
| Egna Dance Trophy | | | | 6th | 2nd | 1st | | | |
| Halloween Cup | | | 5th | | | | | | |
| Lake Placid Ice Dance | | | | | | 8th | | | |
| Open d'Andorra | | | | 5th | | | | | |
| Open Ice Mall Cup | | | 6th | | | | | | |
| Road to 26 Trophy | | | | | | | | | 3rd |
| Santa Claus Cup | | 7th | | | 1st | | | | |
| Winter Universiade | 9th | | | | | | | | |

### Ice dance with Sandrine Hofstetter

International: Junior :
| Event | 2015–16 |
| JGP Croatia | 15th |
| JGP Poland | 11th |
| Santa Claus Cup | 10th |
| Tallinn Trophy | WD |
| National ||
| German Junior | 3rd |

### Ice dance with Leah Steffan

International: Junior :
| Event | 12–13 | 13–14 | 14–15 |
| JGP Belarus | | 11th | |
| JGP Germany | | | 12th |
| JGP Slovakia | | 13th | |
| Bavarian Open | 19th | | |
| Grand Prize SNP | 4th | | |
| Leo Scheu | | | 11th |
| NRW Trophy | 23rd | 5th | 12th |
| Pavel Roman | | | 4th |
| Santa Claus Cup | | 5th | |
| National ||||
| German Champ. | | | 3rd J |
| German Junior | 7th | 3rd | |