Doin' A Little West Coast Swing - Joel Torgeson
“Your goals should always be about things you can control and not about factors you can’t control. ”
Joel Torgeson and Emily Huang at the US Open - Photo Credit Bradford Whelan
When I set out to find an ambassador of West Coast Swing to educate the Pop Nerd Lounge audience about this dance I fell in love with, I gave the potential guest some serious thought. I wanted someone who was enthusiastic about this dance, who could speak articulately about it, and someone who represented the friendly dance community the West Coast Swing circuit has built. Enter Joel Torgeson.
Torgeson grew up in Minnesota where his dance origins began with ballroom dance. He joined the ballroom dance club and eventually competitive team at the University of Minnesota. Throughout his ventures in ballroom dance, he stumbled upon a dance that grabbed his attention. With years of hard work, Torgeson is now an All-Star (one of the highest divisions of the dance) and travels the world to perform and teach West Coast Swing. He recently competed at what is the biggest event, The US Open.
It was such a fun hour dishing all things West Coast Swing with Torgeson! It reminded me why I became a part of this community. We talk about his dance story, the ebb and flow of competition, and we nerd out on some of the songs we dance to! Listen here!