What happens when you spend 3 hours choreographing a routine and place 2nd at a major competition? When you try desperately NOT to date your dance partner? When an Emmy Award winner marries a guy who got manipulated into the Champions Division by event directors lying to him?
Join Harold Baker for the most candid conversation yet with West Coast Swing power couple Ben and Cameo McHenry. Recorded at Swingsota 2025, this episode delivers everything from romantic confessions to controversial takes on WCS history that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about our dance.
The Tea Includes:
- How they choreographed a competition routine in THREE HOURS and shocked everyone by placing 2nd
- The months they spent trying not to date each other (spoiler: it was "the dumbest idea ever")
- Why Cameo's parents already loved Ben before they started dating
- Ben's hot take that destroys the "blues is the root of WCS" narrative
- The real reason Ben retired from competition and what's bringing them back
- How Cameo casually won an Emmy for a baseball-ballet fusion project
Plus: Ben drops truth bombs about WCS evolution, Cameo reveals her classical training secrets, and they both explain why most people's "swing content" is just "what they've seen before" (Glenn Ball quote that will change how you see judging forever).
Perfect for: Anyone who loves dance drama, couples navigating partnerships, competition junkies, and people ready to have their WCS history beliefs completely shattered.
People Mentioned:
Main Guests:
- Ben McHenry - Professional WCS dancer, teacher, and the guy who somehow won by being lied to
- Cameo McHenry (formerly Cross) - US Open cabaret champion, Emmy winner, and daughter of WCS royalty
WCS Legends:
- Ben Morris - Instagram: @benmorrisdance ("Name brand Ben" to Ben's "Kirkland Signature")
- Michael and Amber Cross - First-ever US Open swing champions (Cameo's parents who loved Ben first)
- Thomas Parrott - Cameo's first partner, Young America champion
- Robert Royston - Instagram: @robertroyston (WCS historian dropping knowledge)
- Glenn Ball - Instagram: @glennball7 (The "swing content" quote that breaks everything)
The Roster:
- Brandy Guild - Instagram: @brandiguild
- Tara Trafzer - Instagram: @taratrafzer
- Benji Schwimmer - Instagram: @benjischwimmer
- Demetre "Meech" Souliotes - Instagram: @meechy
Warning: Contains strong opinions about WCS history, relationship oversharing, and at least one Costco tangent
Host: Harold Baker - Affinity Swing
Instagram: @affinityswing
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