Our Story
Chantelle and Joel have been partners in both life and dance since 2021, blending their unique strengths to create something remarkable in the world of West Coast Swing. Their journey began in 2017 when they first connected on the dance floor—though it wasn’t love at first (left side) pass. Years later, a shared goal of learning German during the pandemic sparked a romance that led to their engagement and marriage in late summer 2024.
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Renowned for their polished physical aesthetic, captivating routines, and approachable teaching style, Chantelle and Joel have made their mark in the competitive WCS world. They have placed in the top five of all three of their Showcase routines at the Open Swing Dance Championships, including a second-place world ranking in 2024. Dedicated to inspiring dancers around the globe, they bring complementary perspectives and a shared passion for excellence to every class, performance, and competition.
Chantelle Pianetta
Chantelle’s dance journey began at age 5 at the Contra Costa Ballet Centre in the San Francisco Bay Area, leading her to the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City by age 14. Later on, while studying at Columbia University, she discovered her passion for swing dance through the CU Swing Club, starting with Lindy Hop and eventually transitioning to West Coast Swing.
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In 2010, Chantelle made the leap to pursue dance full-time, returning to California to teach and perform professionally. She is uniquely distinguished as the only individual to excel simultaneously as a Champion West Coast Swing dancer and a company-level professional ballet dancer. As a Soloist with Golden State Ballet, she balances her ballet career with a dynamic schedule of teaching and performing West Coast Swing around the world alongside her husband, Joel Torgeson.
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A NASM-certified personal trainer, Chantelle is passionate about the intersection of health, movement potential, and artistic expression. She channels this passion into her teaching, helping students unlock their full potential on and off the dance floor. Her accolades include top 5 finishes in the Showcase division at the last four US Open Swing Dance Championships and top 10 placements in the Classic division for all three of her routines with Christopher Dumond. In 2022, she was honored as a Nova Star inductee into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.
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When she’s not dancing or teaching, Chantelle enjoys taking naps with Ginny, her tiny orange cat, who brings an extra touch of joy to her life.
Joel Torgeson
Joel grew up in rural Minnesota, where his love for dance was sparked by a friend's suggestion to try the University of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club. That spark quickly grew into a passion, eventually leading him to put his studies in Biological Anthropology on hold to pursue his dance dreams in California.
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Now a Champion West Coast Swing dancer, Joel tours the world with his wife, Chantelle Pianetta, teaching, performing, and emceeing. Joel has achieved top 10 finishes in the Classic Division of the US Open Swing Dance Championships with Larisa Tingle. In 2024, he was honored as a Rising Star inductee into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame and also found time to make his reality TV debut, winning season 11 of Alt for Norge, a beloved Norwegian show.
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Outside of competition, Joel is the founder of Feather Three, a dancewear brand, and serves as Director of Operations at Golden State Ballet. Known for his gregarious laugh, exuberant teaching style, and impeccably coiffed hair (his wife confirms he just wakes up that way), Joel brings energy, charisma, and a deep love for dance to every endeavor.
