What I really love about this video is that you can clearly see - age difference doesn't mean anything if you dance and like each other!! Totally awesome chemistry and - of course! - technique!!
Amazing song, amazing dance! I wish they played more oldies at WCS dances. (60s,70s,80s,90s) I feel as if 80% of what is played is contemporary stuff, it's a rarity to hear a really great old school song.
OMG, the music industry must LOVE this video too as they have restored the music!!! Woohoo. Thank you Aretha! It just never gets old. Have watched it over and over even without the sound.
I watched this via the live stream. It was so cool. Mary Ann was so funny in the beginning. These two have J&J'd before through the years & its always interesting when when they dance.
I wonder if NON WCS dancers can watch this vid and understand the brilliance of the timing and musicality these J&J dancers bring. Wonder if they get even a fraction what really goes into it all. Benji on the 3rd Freedom, raising his arm to the heavens, pure bliss. Maryanne simply pointing to her head on Think! Simple, yet so strong. Benji knowing exactly when to lift his long leg over the handhold. Pure Schwimmer.
OMG! I have tears in my eyes and goosbumps! I was actually gasping at some of those follows as I was watching this. Of course the music is very familiar, but Mary Ann is just psychic that way. This was so fabulous. It takes a lot to get their "opponents" in a compitition on their feet--don't you love that about WCS? Thanks for posting this, which is on my list of favorites and which I'll watch many more times.
I've watched so many WCS videos and this my favorite one. My second favorite is his dads video. ( Melissa Rutz, Buddy Schwimmer dancing to James Cotton song.) Amazing dancers.
Be born into a dance family (Benji's father Buddy is one of the "grand old men" of west coast swing, and that's just for starters) and be totally immersed in dance from almost the time you can walk. Easy :)
I opened a separate youtube video with a performance of Think by Arethra to watch this dance, at least I can sort of envision how awesome this dance was.
@mrsmjackson1 I believe some of us do understand the higher form of dancing where it's no longer about the dance but a connection to the music, your partner and the 2 interpretation to the music. ;) That's when it becomes an art form. Well at least that's what I see ;)
Love it. Benji is such a pro with mad skills. As a mere mortal I identify with Mary Ann's OMG-I'm-paired-with Benji. Great song pick. She brings it on. You can see her really following and has the sass to nail a few on her own. You go, girl! Nice to see Benji so tuned in with his lead, smart and generous. There are other Jack and Jills with partners so well matched that their ease makes you forget these dances are improvised. Here you're privy to more of the interplay. Pure win.
What I really love about this video is that you can clearly see - age difference doesn't mean anything if you dance and like each other!! Totally awesome chemistry and - of course! - technique!!
Really one of the all time great competition dances.
Ok, a dozen years later …. his daring, yet clear leads and her psychic follows and lovely stylings. Magic to watch 🥰
BRAVO. this is real wcs. AT its best.
Amazing song, amazing dance! I wish they played more oldies at WCS dances. (60s,70s,80s,90s) I feel as if 80% of what is played is contemporary stuff, it's a rarity to hear a really great old school song.
This was amazing to watch. They looked like they had a great time too. I love the musicality of the dance and just the pure fun of it.
OMG, the music industry must LOVE this video too as they have restored the music!!! Woohoo. Thank you Aretha! It just never gets old. Have watched it over and over even without the sound.
UGH! Her follow blows my mind! This was an AWESOME dance! They got the crowd going :)
I watched this via the live stream. It was so cool. Mary Ann was so funny in the beginning. These two have J&J'd before through the years & its always interesting when when they dance.
Mary Ann, my idol!!!
I wonder if NON WCS dancers can watch this vid and understand the brilliance of the timing and musicality these J&J dancers bring. Wonder if they get even a fraction what really goes into it all.
Benji on the 3rd Freedom, raising his arm to the heavens, pure bliss.
Maryanne simply pointing to her head on Think! Simple, yet so strong.
Benji knowing exactly when to lift his long leg over the handhold. Pure Schwimmer.
Yes, we do!
It just never gets old.
She is AMAZING!!!!!!
OMG! I have tears in my eyes and goosbumps! I was actually gasping at some of those follows as I was watching this. Of course the music is very familiar, but Mary Ann is just psychic that way. This was so fabulous. It takes a lot to get their "opponents" in a compitition on their feet--don't you love that about WCS? Thanks for posting this, which is on my list of favorites and which I'll watch many more times.
Wow... it is amazing with music!!!
This really shows what you can accomplish with lead/follow and musicality. AMAZING!
BRAVO. this is real wcs.
Man this video is so awesome !
Gives me a big smile each time I watch it ! Awesomness at its finest !!!!
that was fabulous...love the J&J!!
Mary Ann Nunez still rocks...!!
She makes anybody and everybody look good!
never gets old.
THINK, How awesome they are!!
I've watched so many WCS videos and this my favorite one. My second favorite is his dads video. ( Melissa Rutz, Buddy Schwimmer dancing to James Cotton song.) Amazing dancers.
I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove this piece!
il est magique ce mec!!!
GOOOO Benji!! And she is an amazing follower.
this video gives me all kinds of happy feelings!
WOW WOW WOW Musicality & beyond! :)
WOW!!! make ya want to get up and dance....Fantastic dancing from both of you.!!
love this so much
WOW. That was amazing.
I tell you, it just never gets old.
All i can say is WOOOOOOOW
so amazing.... I loved to be so close to you for this so great moment!!! LOVE YOU SO MUCH, thanks again for this so moving moment:!
Be born into a dance family (Benji's father Buddy is one of the "grand old men" of west coast swing, and that's just for starters) and be totally immersed in dance from almost the time you can walk. Easy :)
Love it!!
"A man who looks very happy"
that was improv, right? BENJI is ridiculous...seriously!!! what a natural. you can tell he really loves to dance.
Yes! The music is back! :D
J&J, THE BEST SWING STEP DANCERS
Amazing!
Fantastic!! Benji´s amazing!!
Leading and following that double-beat at 2:04...cosmic
Irresistible
This is the best I've seen.....I would love to do this......and to think what the kids are missing now days
I opened a separate youtube video with a performance of Think by Arethra to watch this dance, at least I can sort of envision how awesome this dance was.
@mrsmjackson1
I believe some of us do understand the higher form of dancing where it's no longer about the dance but a connection to the music, your partner and the 2 interpretation to the music. ;) That's when it becomes an art form. Well at least that's what I see ;)
Check this out! Benji having fun and Mary Ann still having it!
I cant believe they the song is now muted. It was RESPECT by AF. Bummer. I love this video even with the music gone. :(
at 1:38, Benji killed me !!! OMG !! just fantastic !!
wowzers
@mrsmjackson1, yo sí puedo verlo. Fantástico.
Yes! J&J (Jack & Jill) means that both the song AND the dance partner are picked at random.
Kevin Voss .,
We do!
...yes...
Mary Ann is always a winner. She makes all her partners look good. See video of Mary Ann and Jason Colacino.
Song is "Think (feat. The Blues Brothers)"
Love it. Benji is such a pro with mad skills. As a mere mortal I identify with Mary Ann's OMG-I'm-paired-with Benji. Great song pick. She brings it on. You can see her really following and has the sass to nail a few on her own. You go, girl! Nice to see Benji so tuned in with his lead, smart and generous. There are other Jack and Jills with partners so well matched that their ease makes you forget these dances are improvised. Here you're privy to more of the interplay. Pure win.
I hate it when you mute the videos. :((((
The song wasn't "Respect." It's "Think," by Aretha Franklin.
God. This was incredible to watch in person.
This is great even without the music. I hate that they muted it though. :-(
Jordan at 2:12 (white shirt, dark vest) sums up this dance perfectly.
Beginner me needs to learn that move at 2:01. I keep seeing other people do that and need to get it.
what song is it?
It is things like them muting the songs from a dance video that make me hate the music industry.
Deserved first place!
Oh, no. It skips ahead if you click on the time. Try 1:59 for what I meant.
Jordan @ 2:10: "Knocked it out of the park..."
1:35
I wish these corporate bullys would piss off. They are alienating their own customers.
just look and pick it up, the got ti.
this sux that they removed the audio
I thought the three T's were Michael Jackson's nephews ??
Benji Schwimmer = dance
Very unhappy o well was thinking of buying the music,lol not anymore.
I want her phone number.