3 Minutes : by Benji Schwimmer

Benji Schwimmer ( with partner Nicole Clonch ) and his final World Championship competition performance.
3 Minutes
They call your names
The towns where you came
the crowd quiets down
the music - they wait.
This is all that’s left. Youve put your all into it.
So take a deep breath, it’s only three minutes.
Rise...
stretch...
walk walk triple hold .... connect.
A balance
Heed your muse
Always pushing forward
... yet never neglect your roots....
....three minutes
Nightmares creep as the time closes near
A cocktail of excitement, exhaustion - fear
Rhinestones are dry, you shine the day
Yet you’re sick to your stomach
- smile anyway
Every rock and go, syncopation and line
Represents the years of putting in effort and time
Time... it’s your only limit.
So take a deep breath,
... it’s only three minutes.
A lift
Drop
Compression to anchor step...change the slot.
Something old
... and new
Something borrowed
... and even something blues....
3 minutes
Truth be told, it pains to hear
Comparing our works year after year
“ The old partners were better “
“ The costumes, all wrong “
Why do they keep choosing such difficult songs?
Yeah, We’ve felt it all, what is whispered and said
If the dance is now modern, is the swing not dead?
“ No! “ (Screaming this live) -
the answer : It thrives!
From a worm to a cocoon now a butterfly -
The humble beginnings/coached by mom and dad
They’ve passed down the torch to all willing of hand
From carrying our talents to every foreign land
To holding them up when they cannot stand
- We don’t do this just for you, you and you (at judges )
But we do it for you, you and all of you. (Three sides of audience )
For Them.... ( our family corner )
For us....
180 seconds...3 minutes.
You’ve given your all, be glad you did it.
So Take a deep breath,
It was only....
- By Benji Schwimmer
3 Minutes
They call your names
The towns where you came
the crowd quiets down
the music we wait.
This is all that’s left. Youve put your all into it.
So take a deep breath, it’s only three minutes.
Rise...
stretch...
walk walk triple hold .... connect.
A balance
Head your muse
Always pushing forward
... yet never deny your roots....
....three minutes
Nightmares creep as the time closes near
A cocktail of excitement, exhaustion - fear
Rhinestones are dry, you shine the day
You’re sick to your stomach
- smile anyway
Every rock and go, syncopation and line
Represents the years of putting in effort and time
Time... it’s your only limit.
So take a deep breath,
... it’s only three minutes.
A lift
Drop
Compression to anchor step...change the slot.
Something old
... and new
Something borrowed
... and even something blues....
3 minutes
Truth be told, it pains to hear
Comparing our works year after year
The old partners were better
The costumes, all wrong
Why do they keep choosing such difficult songs?
Yeah We’ve felt it all, what is whispered and said
If the dance is now modern, is the swing not dead?
“ No! “ (Screaming this live) -
the answer : It thrives!
From a worm to a cocoon now a butterfly -
The humble beginnings/coached by mom and dad
They’ve passed the torch to all willing of hand
From carrying our talents to every foreign land
To holding them up when they cannot stand
- We don’t do this just for you, you and you (at judges )
But we do it for you, you and all of you. (Three sides of audience )
For Them.... ( our family corner )
For us....
180 seconds...3 minutes.
You’ve given your all, be glad you did it.
So Take a deep breath,
It was only....
By Benji Schwimmer

[@ZebaKnight]

Nicole Clonch (now Nicole Ramirez) Benji's partner here, is _such_ a gifted dancer. She is talented, she has trained herself beautifully in dance and gymnastics, and when given free rein, she is exuberant, joyful and spontaneous. She does herself (and Benji) proud here. Brava Nicole!

[@helantopia]

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER !!!! just listened to the poem without watching the dancing and it's already incredible. Watching you two dance to it and seeing all the small details is just amazing! You've gone above and beyond with this one Benji

[@SwinginSanDiego]

Benji, to watch you on the floor has been amazing! You have NEVER stopped pushing the limits of the dance and you hae never stopped teaching the dance. Congratulations on your successes and I think that we all look forward to what is next in your up coming career!! Thank you for touching all of us through the years!

[@leanneworwood2808]

Writing, dancing, music--the blend is phenomenal. Thank you for sharing your soul.

[@andresp.9841]

So beautiful,!!! The dancing, the voice, the poem , the piano... Amazing 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@katharinaschmidt8499]

I basically hold my breath for 3 minutes. I am Full of tears, excitement, gratefulness and every emotion you could think of. Thank you for being a huge inspiration ❤️

[@tatianaovcharova9388]

Benji, it is amazing performance, sincere and full of real emotions) I even propose our community in Ukraine to put this song in a playlist, but unfortunately we have no in KZbin, only original piano version. It would be great to have this song so that everybody in the world could dance by your velvet voice) Thank you so much for your talent and inspiration to all us! Greetings from Kiev)

[@OmniphonProductions]

Darlene Ash (Chapman) shared this video with me. She's so proud (and rightfully so) to have known you "back in the day"...and so proud of what you've become (and what's still to come)!

[@sharonvisini5531]

Every time I watch this performance-- I cry at the sheer genius of performance . So many years ago and yet brings joy every time I watch it.

[@thomaspaderna1537]

Brilliant Art in Motion.

[@floridajeanp]

That is unreal. ♡

[@delff9504]

This is great! really cool job. it will be remembered.

[@janetnewton9269]

AWESOME ❤️❤️

[@cynthiamccullough3718]

Wow

[@brianjensen4754]

This was pretty damn amazing Benji!!! Proud of how you have progressed from the RM boy to a confident Man!

[@vincentmasoni4205]

Well done. Nothing to say

[@anitakirby2964]

Beautiful Routine ..100% Perfection.May God Bless you with Your new Endeavors and Challenges God has in plan for you..Your are an emasculate Dancer...Good Luck to you...

[@chifortudor5105]

Oh my God.

[@dwhitesmith]

That was breathtaking!!

[@ylekiote99999]

The moves Benji does in any dance with anyone are so far above anything I have ever seen from any other dancer EVER!

[@bryanllaneza7761]

wow

[@amyncope]

Totally gave me chills! This is such a perfect piece for this moment.

[@DanSedaPhD]

Ughmayzing!!! Love, Dr. Dan

[@user-janus]

OMG......excellent !

[@exilover1]

i am speechless

[@KevonLindenberg]

The dance was fire, but where can I find the song? I want to put it on repeat.

[@ostfeldhahnemoser]

GOAT

[@debbieperkins8824]

WOW...Just WOW

[@mikecahill4151]

Always Amazing! Does anyone happen to know what shoes he is wear?

[@josh-max]

😱😳😱😳😶😶😶😮😮😮

[@igorliberty1235]

Benji, come to Ukraine. Please.

[@snoopy01101969]

Benji, did you write this song, is that your voice? I’m in awe of you and everything you do! You and Nicole move me to tears!

[@checkmate1LP]

The Music is by Guillaume Ferran: Childhood. But it's without text, so this has somehow gotta be Benjis work

[@GutsAndGall]

My favorite dance of all-time.

[@morningmidnight9398]

This nigga is on whole other level

[@nataliasheridan6941]

They should audition for next season of world of dance

[@droundyCubby]

It is awesome, but does not look like swing to me. More modern interpretive, which I like! But I like real swing, too.

[@BenjiSchwimmerDance]

Luckily you’re not the worlds authority on swing and what it is. 😊