West Coast Swing is a dance that’s been sweeping the nation – even the world – for decades now. And while it takes years of practice to be great, it’s unlike any other dance in that it’s inclusive of all sorts of people and invites folks from every skill level to participate.

Champions of swing competitions are usually those (of any age) who have been practicing some kind of dance or body movement since they were young. At least that’s the case for stars Ben Morris and Tessa Cunningham.

Morris began swing dancing at the age of 12. And while he started in East Coast Swing (which tends to be faster and done in circular patterns as opposed to the slower, boxier, West Coast style), he soon took up the precursor to them all, the Lindy Hop.

In the early 2000s, he traveled to dance competitions along the East Coast which is where, ironically, he developed an interest in West Coast Swing.

Competitions generally have two rounds – partnered and “Jack and Jill.” In the latter, dancers are randomly assigned a partner from the pool contestants of the opposite sex and must dance on the spot to two songs, at least one of which is the judges’ choosing. It’s meant to show off the general capabilities of the male and female dancers and their abilities to lead and/or follow.

While Morris has danced with a few famous partners, including Carla Heiney (with whom he won the Showcase division at the 2006 US Open Swing Dance Championships among other awards), as well as Melissa Rutz, Jennifer DeLuca, and Victoria Henk.

He now runs Swing Dance events in Orange County.

But the video we’re going to show you is one of the epic dances with a partner he was matched up with in the Jack & Jill portion of a competition called “Summer Hummer” in 2011. There, he and Tessa Cunningham placed 2nd in the Improv West Coast Swing category.

But the video of their performance has earned over 3 million views since then.

Cunningham is part of the legendary Canadian Swing team of Myles & Tessa. Her skills developed first as a swimmer and musician and following her dad around to ballroom dance competitions.

She and her dance partner at the time took Swing lessons from Myles Monroe – and that’s how their own partnership was born. They debuted at competitions in 2002.

They’re now married and have been champion dancers as well as choreographers and teachers.

Despite the glamour we usually associate with the dance world, Swing competitions can sometimes take place in fairly mundane places like clubs and hotels – but don’t let that fool you into thinking these people aren’t wildly skilled.

Morris and Cunningham’s backdrop is not what’s important here, but rather it’s their ability to dance with someone who isn’t normally their dance partner. In fact, he picks her name out of a hat!

And as the two meet on the dance floor, the chemistry must begin (and that also means the dance community itself has to be pretty friendly – you never know who you’re going to have to dance with someday!).

In this competition, there are two songs – and the first one is the lady’s choice. It’s clear that Cunningham is giving her new partners some pointers as the competition begins so he knows what to expect (as well as joking around with him a bit).

But they will transition into another song halfway through the performance.

And as soon as the opening notes of a very slowed-down version of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” covered by Kurt Hunter, ring out, it’s instant chemistry.

Are they faking it? Probably – but it’s pretty darn convincing!

It’s amazing to think that these dancers have no practice at all with each other or the music – they just know how to work their own bodies and follow one another’s leads.

Commenters were awed:

“You mean this is improvisation??? Holy shi*^… that is awesome!” said one viewer.

And it is!

Morris has some serious swagger.

Then it’s time to speed things up as the music changes to “Funky Mama,” by Danny Gatton.

Even their competitors are cheering them on as they pull off their fancy footwork.

It’s a must-see performance that is made even more impressive by its improvisation.

Be sure to scroll down below to get a good look at these two in action.

We’re not sure they ever danced together again after that.

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Source: Ben Morris via YouTube, California Swing Dance Hall of Fame, Canadian Swing Champions