SNOWINSTRUCTORS – 2025 LINE UP TBA
Natively from Czech Republic & Reunion Island, Jakub and Em took their first steps into the dance world at the age of 16 and 12, both starting with Ballroom Dancing (Latin, Standard & line-dancing). They were both hooked since they discovered West Coast Swing, and were especially drawn to the creativity, musicality, and freedom within the dance.
Their dance world is shaped around multiple influences such as urban dances, contemporary, modern, zouk or contact improvisation; both being eager to learn and assimilate new tools from other dance forms to expand their library of movement, expression and ways to connect.
J’Em story began in June 2016, as they were hired together by pure chance in a styling workshop run by Adam and Rita in Budapest. They have been traveling the world together ever since, flying from country to country to share their passion for dancing.
After 4 consecutive years being part of the top 10 finalists at the US Open Swing Dance Championships, they just placed 3rd in the Classic Division in November 2022. Winner of US OPEN Classic 2024.
Ben Morris is a renowned Champion Lindy Hopper and West Coast Swing dancer who began his journey at the age of 12. With numerous accolades to his name, he is a two-time World Swing Dance Champion and a three-time U.S. Open Swing Dance Champion. Ben was inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in both the Nova and Rising Star categories. Throughout his career, he has performed alongside notable dancers such as Melina Ramirez, Jennifer DeLuca, and Victoria Henk, and featured in LeAnn Rimes’ music video for “Swingin’.” A UCLA graduate, Ben currently resides in Orange County, California, where he organizes events like Swingin’ the Blues and Jack and Jill O’Rama. Known for his lively dance style, charismatic personality, and international influence, Ben continues to inspire the swing dance community while enjoying life with his wife, Megan.
Aymeline Felmy-Martin –
Aymeline really loves dancing. She discovered West Coast Swing in 2008 when she heard the song “Pump It” by Jordan & Tatiana – it was a big game-changer for her! She took a break from dancing for about 8 years to study osteopathy and physiotherapy. In 2016, she got back into dancing and attended events where she met dancers from different backgrounds. She loved the connection, the feelings, and the creativity that West Coast Swing brought into her life. This inspired her to work hard and improve her dancing skills, so she could connect better with her dance partners.
She’s also really interested in how the body works and how people move, so she started teaching West Coast Swing to others. She learned from experienced teachers like Maxence to become the best teacher she could be for her students.
Chris and Emily are excited to begin their partnership. Individually, they are recognized for their competitiveness in the Classic and US Open divisions, bringing a high level of performance and technical excellence to their dancing. Together, they offer experienced dancers insight into quality movement, musicality, and dynamic connection. Their classes focus on refining technique, elevating partnership, and inspiring dancers to develop their individual style both socially and competitively — all while creating a fun, engaging, and approachable learning environment.
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.
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.
Ben and Cameo (BAMEO) have now traveled all over the United States, and all over the world including countries such as France, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, England, Ireland, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Finland, Scotland, with many more on the horizon. Together, they have made 8 US Open Classic Division finals, placed top 3 in multiple NASDE Classic Divisions including 3rd (x2) and 4th at US Open Swing Dance Championships, 3rd at Seattle Easter Swing, 1st at Swingtime in the Rockies, and 1st at MADJam just to name a few. Separately, they have consistently placed/won in Jack & Jill and Strictly Swing divisions at competitions all over including Swingdiego, US Open Swing Dance Championships, Capital President’s Day Weekend, Boogie by the Bay, and many others. Together, they combine knowledge from many components of dancing in general, movement/body mechanics, and WCS specifically. They are known for focusing on many of the most complicated concepts in WCS, and finding ways to simplify them, making them easier to understand and apply. Whether they are teaching, running events, performing, or just social dancing, their goal is to spread their love and passion for WCS to dancers all over the world, and they look forward to many of years of doing just that.
Maxence Martin: Previously a high-level judoka, Maxence started his dance career in Lindy-Hop in 2005. He quickly fell in love with WCS and trained in the US with the greatest. Today, Maxence is one of the most popular wcs teachers internationally. He draws the strength of his teaching in the knowledge of body and spirit control that he mastered in judo.
Virginie Grondin: Virginie started her dance training when she was only five years old. Beginning with the rock’n’roll and boogie woogie, she moved to individual dances, like modern jazz, classical and contemporary dance. Virginie discovered WCS in 2007 and is now considered as one of the very best WCS followers in Europe.
Maxence and Virginie started a partnership in 2012. Today they travel all over the world together to teach and share their passion for West Coast Swing. Together they are unique in terms of their patterns and styling, with Maxence combining his flair for turn and leverage technique with Virginie’s own brand of subtle body isolation and footwork.
Victoria Henks dance shenanigans began at age 4 with ballet, gymnastics, hip hop and jazz. She was introduced to West Coast Swing when she began training at the Schwimmer’s 5678 Dance Studio at the age of 8, and her love for both solo dancing and West Coast Swing was cultivated through the Juniors Jazz & West Coast Swing teams. When Victoria began competing she quickly met with success, winning the 2014 NASDE All Star tour, then moving into the Champions division where she soon began to final and place.
Ben Morris waited until the ripe old age of 12 to begin his dance career and kicked things off with the Lindy Hop before adding West Coast Swing to the mix. He became a Champion dancer in both, and is now a 3 time U.S. Open Swing Dance Champion, NASDE Routines Tour Winner, Spirit of Lindy Hop award winner, and California Swing Dance Hall of Fame award winner.
Ben and Victoria began partnering together in 2015, getting 2nd in the Classic division their first time competing together, and winning the 2016 US Open Classic Division. Together they travel around the world teaching, performing, and spreading their love for West Coast Swing.
Maxime started dancing at the age of 5 in Lyon, France. He studied contemporary at the Conservatory for 6 years before starting his career in the West Coast Swing community. He is now one of the top male professionals, and was the first European to place in the top 5 of the Classic division at the US Open 2012. Torri began dancing when she was 3 years old in California, USA. She has studied other dances, but has always been a part of the West Coast Swing community; she has won the Young America/Young Adult divisions a total of 6 times at the US Open. Torri was the first and only person to win both the Classic and Showcase division in the same year at the 2010 US Open, and continued to win the Showcase division for the next 4 years. Maxime and Torri decided to build a partnership and travel the world teaching together. They love the fun and social atmosphere of West Coast Swing, and always want to make their classes informative yet enjoyable for everyone.
A third generation swing dancer, Benji Schwimmer holds records in nearly every category of West Coast Swing and has been swing dancing for over 30 years! Having an extensive background in most dance styles, Benji’s training, coaching, lecturing and choreography is a sought-after tool to both the recreational dancer to the most elite of competitors. Outside of swing, “America’s Favorite Dancer” is the artistic director for various live tv shows. Benji is the Creative Director for the Us Open Congress since inception 3 years ago. When not dancing, he coaches and choreographs for some of the highest Olympic-level figure skaters in the world and is a recognized Olympic figure skating coach.
