In English below.
Kahden tanssikulttuurin kohtaaminen on alusta lähtien muokannut tyyliämme tanssia ja opettaa. Sovellamme yleistä tanssitekniikkaa sosiaalitanssin vapauteen. Tunneillamme usein keskitymme enemmän tanssin tekniikan kuin kuvioiden opetteluun. Tavoitteenamme on tukea tanssijan omaa kehitystä ja sitä kautta paritanssin sujuvuutta.
Yhteinen tarinamme alkoi tammikuussa 1999, kun löysimme toisemme tanssisalilta – kuinkas muutenkaan. Vuosina 1999-2006 kilpailimme ahkerasti osallistuen lähes kaikkiin kotimaassa järjestettyihin rock´n´swing -kisoihin edustaen Tanssiklubi Kotkan Hyrrät ry:tä. Edustimme Suomea PM-, EM ja MM-tasolla sekä kiersimme neljä vuotta WRRC:n Boogie Woogie World Cup -kisoja. Kisalajeihimme kuuluivat boogie woogie, lindy hop, bugg ja fusku sekä balboa.
Yhteinen tarinamme alkoi tammikuussa 1999, kun löysimme toisemme tanssisalilta – kuinkas muutenkaan. Vuosina 1999-2006 kilpailimme ahkerasti osallistuen lähes kaikkiin kotimaassa järjestettyihin rock´n´swing -kisoihin edustaen Tanssiklubi Kotkan Hyrrät ry:tä. Edustimme Suomea PM-, EM ja MM-tasolla sekä kiersimme neljä vuotta WRRC:n Boogie Woogie World Cup -kisoja. Kisalajeihimme kuuluivat boogie woogie, lindy hop, bugg ja fusku sekä balboa.
Kati Vestman
"Tanssiharrastukseni alkuvaiheessa sain onnekseni mahdollisuuden tutustua boogie woogiin ja musiikki takasi lajivalinnan painottuvan swing-tansseihin. Valinnan ansiosta tanssinilo on säilynyt ja tuonut elämääni samankaltaisia ihmisiä."
Ari Halinen
"Lapsena aloitettu kilpatanssiharrastus kesti toistakymmentävuotta. Muutaman vuoden tauon jälkeen minua pyydettiin kokeilemaan boogie woogiea ja lindy hopia, jotka tarjosivat aivan erilaisen tanssikulttuurin. Tämä sisälsi paritanssia ilman koreografiaa tulkiten musiikkia, josta olin aina digganut. Nämä samat elementit koukuttavat ja tarjoavat haasteita edelleen."
Ari on suorittanut STUL:n vakio ja latinalaistanssien taso 3 -koulutuksen.
"Tanssiharrastukseni alkuvaiheessa sain onnekseni mahdollisuuden tutustua boogie woogiin ja musiikki takasi lajivalinnan painottuvan swing-tansseihin. Valinnan ansiosta tanssinilo on säilynyt ja tuonut elämääni samankaltaisia ihmisiä."
Ari Halinen
"Lapsena aloitettu kilpatanssiharrastus kesti toistakymmentävuotta. Muutaman vuoden tauon jälkeen minua pyydettiin kokeilemaan boogie woogiea ja lindy hopia, jotka tarjosivat aivan erilaisen tanssikulttuurin. Tämä sisälsi paritanssia ilman koreografiaa tulkiten musiikkia, josta olin aina digganut. Nämä samat elementit koukuttavat ja tarjoavat haasteita edelleen."
Ari on suorittanut STUL:n vakio ja latinalaistanssien taso 3 -koulutuksen.
Kati Vestman & Ari Halinen
Kati has been passionate about dancing for many years. "At the beginning of my dance career, I had the opportunity to try Boogie Woogie. I liked the experience and the music so much that it was clear that my dance of choice would be Swing. Due to that choice, my joy in dancing has persevered and brought similar-minded people to my life, both in my home country and abroad”.
Ari has been dancing since the age of 10 when his father brought him to dance practice. After a successful career in ballroom dancing and debating a comeback, he discovered Swing dancing. "I feel that this kind of music is in my soul. The energetic beat of old ragtime, swing and rhythm´n´blues music makes me want to move!"
In the future, we wish to develop and grow as dancers and teachers. Currently, we teach Swing dancing at our local club once a week. We also collaborate with several dance clubs all over Finland. In our teaching, we emphasize technique. Once technique is mastered, we believe dancers will have complete freedom of expression in their dance.
Our partnership began after meeting each other in a ballroom in 1999. That same year, we participated in our first Boogie Woogie competition! After our surprising success, we were selected to be part of the Finnish Dance Fedaration Boogie Woogie National Team. We belonged to the team from 1999 to 2006. In addition, we compete in Balboa, Lindy Hop, Bugg and Fusku (a Finnish version of the Jitterbug). We represent Kotkan Hyrrät Dance Club, which is the dancesport club in our hometown.
Our motto: The journey is much more interesting than the destination.
Achievements on the competitions
Kati/Ari
Balboa
2011 / Balboa On The Promenade Balboa Amateur Classic 2. / Cannes
2010 / Frenchie Balboa Festival Euro Bal Cup Am 4th / Toulouse
2009 / Balboa On The Promenade Balboa Classic –finalist / Cannes
2008 / Rock That Swing Balboa Cup 3rd
2007 / Rock That Swing Balboa Cup 4th
2006 / Sweden Balboa Weekend Invitational Jack´n´Jill
2006 / Balboa On The Promenade Balboa Classic –finalist / Nice
2005 / American Lindy Hop Championships, Strictly Balboa Division 8th
Boogie woogie
2006 / Finnish Championships 3.
2005 / Finnish Championships 2.
2004 / Finnish Championships 1.
2003 / Finnish Championships 3.
2003 – 2006 Boogie Dancing World Cup
2004 / best ranking postition 13.
2004 / 14. (semifinal) Italia/Foligno
World, European & Scandinavian Championships
EC 2006 / Montpellier, France
WC 2006 / Stuttgart, Germany
WC 2005 / Schaffhausen, Switzerland
EC 2005 / Antibes, France
WC 2004 / Tampere, Finland
WC 2003 / Riesa, Germany
EC 2003 / Karlsruhe, Germany
WC 2002 / Schaffhausen, Switzerland
EC 2002 / Avignon, France
SC 2001 / Espoo, Finland
Bugg
2006 / Finnish Championships 4.
2006 / part of Finnish team v. Sweden in in international match
Lindy hop
2006 / Finnish Championships 3.
2005 / Finnish Championships 3.
2005/ Stamford, USA / WRRC World Championship - 11.
2005/ Stamford, USA / WRRC World Championship - improv 12.
2005/ Stamford, USA / WRRC World Championship - showcase 15.
--------------
Kati / balboa
2012 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Pro Jack'n'Jill 5.-8. w/ Sebastian Colas (knockout)
2011 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Amateur Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Dmitri Mitya Kuznetsov
2009 / Sweden Balboa Weekend, Uppsala, Jack'n'Jill 3. w/ Ari Halinen
2007 / Sweden Balboa Weekend, Stockholm / Jack´n´Jill 2. w/ Pentti Friman
Kati / west coast swing
2011 / Tampere, Finland / WCS Weekend Jack & Jill Open 1. w/ Hannu Ylistalo
Ari / balboa
2014 / Santa Margharita Ligure / Italian Balboa Festival / Jack’n’Jill 1. w/ Valérie Bissig
2012 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Pro Jack'n'Jill 3.-4. w/ Valérie Bissig (knockout)
2011 / Paris, France / WineCheese&Balboa Jack’n’Jill 3. w/ Tiphany Paillard
2010 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Amateur Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Valérie Bissig
2009 / Sweden Balboa Weekend / Uppsala, Jack'n'Jill 3. w/ Kati Vestman
2008 / Sweden Balboa Weekend / Uppsala, Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Jessica Håll
2008 / BalboaDay, Tampere / Invitational Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Alice Mei
2007 / Sweden Balboa Weekend, Stockholm / Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Emelie DecaVita
2005 / Nice, France / Jack'n'Jill -finalist
Ari / west coast swing
2011 / Tampere / WCS Weekend Jack & Jill Open 2. w /Pia Kilpeläinen
Ari / Dance Sport with Anna Belozerskikh
2025 / Finnish Ballroom Championships, senior class 6.
Ari / Dance Sport with Krista Piippo
2023 / Finnish Ballroom Championships, senior class 7.
2022 / STUL Senior Cup 2.
2022 / Finnish Ballroom Championships, senior class 11.
2021 / Finnish Ballroom Championships, senior class 8.
2018 / Finnish 10 Dance Championships Team Competition (foxtrot, jive) 2.
Ari / Dance Sport with Sari Paananen (Nurmela)
1984 / Finnish Ballroom Prechampionship -class / Hyvinkää 1.
1984 / Finnish Latin Prechampioship -class / Helsinki 5.
1984 / Finnish Ten dance Champion -class / Kotka 6.
As teachers
2001 - 2007 / Tampere Boogie Night -camps
2001 - 2003 / Svengikingit Swing Weeks
2003 - 2010 / Lavaguru-camps
2003 - 2010 / Seinäjoki Happy Days -camps
2004 - 2009 / Anjalankoski Dance Camps
2004 - 2016 / Tanssikas ry
2004 / Svengikingit Easter Camp
2005 / Pori Dance Camp
2006 - 2008 / Latin dance camp in Hämeenlinna
2006 / Oulu University of Applied Sciences / Dance Teacher Education
2006- 2007 / Joulubuggi Dance Camp
2007 -2010 / TaikaDaigaDuu-camp / Nurmijärvi
2008 - 2009 / BalboaDay
2008 - 2025 / Rock'n'Swing Dance Club Helsinki Comets ry
2008 / Tanssihullut, Mikkeli
2008 / Nastat, Rovaniemi
2009 / Late Night Jump -leiri
2009 / SaiSet, Lappeenranta
2009 / Finnish Association of Teachers of Dancing / Education Day
2010 - 2015 / Jam’n Roll, Lahti
2023 / Rock'n'Swing Dance Club Break ry
2025 / Slow Balboa Workshop, Swing Team, Tampere
Kati /
1997 – present / Kotkan Hyrrät rock'n'swing
Ari /
2000 – present / Kotkan Hyrrät rock'n'swing
2005 / 1. latin dance camp in Hämeenlinna
Kati has been passionate about dancing for many years. "At the beginning of my dance career, I had the opportunity to try Boogie Woogie. I liked the experience and the music so much that it was clear that my dance of choice would be Swing. Due to that choice, my joy in dancing has persevered and brought similar-minded people to my life, both in my home country and abroad”.
Ari has been dancing since the age of 10 when his father brought him to dance practice. After a successful career in ballroom dancing and debating a comeback, he discovered Swing dancing. "I feel that this kind of music is in my soul. The energetic beat of old ragtime, swing and rhythm´n´blues music makes me want to move!"
In the future, we wish to develop and grow as dancers and teachers. Currently, we teach Swing dancing at our local club once a week. We also collaborate with several dance clubs all over Finland. In our teaching, we emphasize technique. Once technique is mastered, we believe dancers will have complete freedom of expression in their dance.
Our partnership began after meeting each other in a ballroom in 1999. That same year, we participated in our first Boogie Woogie competition! After our surprising success, we were selected to be part of the Finnish Dance Fedaration Boogie Woogie National Team. We belonged to the team from 1999 to 2006. In addition, we compete in Balboa, Lindy Hop, Bugg and Fusku (a Finnish version of the Jitterbug). We represent Kotkan Hyrrät Dance Club, which is the dancesport club in our hometown.
Our motto: The journey is much more interesting than the destination.
Achievements on the competitions
Kati/Ari
Balboa
2011 / Balboa On The Promenade Balboa Amateur Classic 2. / Cannes
2010 / Frenchie Balboa Festival Euro Bal Cup Am 4th / Toulouse
2009 / Balboa On The Promenade Balboa Classic –finalist / Cannes
2008 / Rock That Swing Balboa Cup 3rd
2007 / Rock That Swing Balboa Cup 4th
2006 / Sweden Balboa Weekend Invitational Jack´n´Jill
2006 / Balboa On The Promenade Balboa Classic –finalist / Nice
2005 / American Lindy Hop Championships, Strictly Balboa Division 8th
Boogie woogie
2006 / Finnish Championships 3.
2005 / Finnish Championships 2.
2004 / Finnish Championships 1.
2003 / Finnish Championships 3.
2003 – 2006 Boogie Dancing World Cup
2004 / best ranking postition 13.
2004 / 14. (semifinal) Italia/Foligno
World, European & Scandinavian Championships
EC 2006 / Montpellier, France
WC 2006 / Stuttgart, Germany
WC 2005 / Schaffhausen, Switzerland
EC 2005 / Antibes, France
WC 2004 / Tampere, Finland
WC 2003 / Riesa, Germany
EC 2003 / Karlsruhe, Germany
WC 2002 / Schaffhausen, Switzerland
EC 2002 / Avignon, France
SC 2001 / Espoo, Finland
Bugg
2006 / Finnish Championships 4.
2006 / part of Finnish team v. Sweden in in international match
Lindy hop
2006 / Finnish Championships 3.
2005 / Finnish Championships 3.
2005/ Stamford, USA / WRRC World Championship - 11.
2005/ Stamford, USA / WRRC World Championship - improv 12.
2005/ Stamford, USA / WRRC World Championship - showcase 15.
--------------
Kati / balboa
2012 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Pro Jack'n'Jill 5.-8. w/ Sebastian Colas (knockout)
2011 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Amateur Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Dmitri Mitya Kuznetsov
2009 / Sweden Balboa Weekend, Uppsala, Jack'n'Jill 3. w/ Ari Halinen
2007 / Sweden Balboa Weekend, Stockholm / Jack´n´Jill 2. w/ Pentti Friman
Kati / west coast swing
2011 / Tampere, Finland / WCS Weekend Jack & Jill Open 1. w/ Hannu Ylistalo
Ari / balboa
2014 / Santa Margharita Ligure / Italian Balboa Festival / Jack’n’Jill 1. w/ Valérie Bissig
2012 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Pro Jack'n'Jill 3.-4. w/ Valérie Bissig (knockout)
2011 / Paris, France / WineCheese&Balboa Jack’n’Jill 3. w/ Tiphany Paillard
2010 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Amateur Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Valérie Bissig
2009 / Sweden Balboa Weekend / Uppsala, Jack'n'Jill 3. w/ Kati Vestman
2008 / Sweden Balboa Weekend / Uppsala, Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Jessica Håll
2008 / BalboaDay, Tampere / Invitational Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Alice Mei
2007 / Sweden Balboa Weekend, Stockholm / Jack'n'Jill 1. w/ Emelie DecaVita
2005 / Nice, France / Jack'n'Jill -finalist
Ari / west coast swing
2011 / Tampere / WCS Weekend Jack & Jill Open 2. w /Pia Kilpeläinen
Ari / Dance Sport with Anna Belozerskikh
2025 / Finnish Ballroom Championships, senior class 6.
Ari / Dance Sport with Krista Piippo
2023 / Finnish Ballroom Championships, senior class 7.
2022 / STUL Senior Cup 2.
2022 / Finnish Ballroom Championships, senior class 11.
2021 / Finnish Ballroom Championships, senior class 8.
2018 / Finnish 10 Dance Championships Team Competition (foxtrot, jive) 2.
Ari / Dance Sport with Sari Paananen (Nurmela)
1984 / Finnish Ballroom Prechampionship -class / Hyvinkää 1.
1984 / Finnish Latin Prechampioship -class / Helsinki 5.
1984 / Finnish Ten dance Champion -class / Kotka 6.
As teachers
2001 - 2007 / Tampere Boogie Night -camps
2001 - 2003 / Svengikingit Swing Weeks
2003 - 2010 / Lavaguru-camps
2003 - 2010 / Seinäjoki Happy Days -camps
2004 - 2009 / Anjalankoski Dance Camps
2004 - 2016 / Tanssikas ry
2004 / Svengikingit Easter Camp
2005 / Pori Dance Camp
2006 - 2008 / Latin dance camp in Hämeenlinna
2006 / Oulu University of Applied Sciences / Dance Teacher Education
2006- 2007 / Joulubuggi Dance Camp
2007 -2010 / TaikaDaigaDuu-camp / Nurmijärvi
2008 - 2009 / BalboaDay
2008 - 2025 / Rock'n'Swing Dance Club Helsinki Comets ry
2008 / Tanssihullut, Mikkeli
2008 / Nastat, Rovaniemi
2009 / Late Night Jump -leiri
2009 / SaiSet, Lappeenranta
2009 / Finnish Association of Teachers of Dancing / Education Day
2010 - 2015 / Jam’n Roll, Lahti
2023 / Rock'n'Swing Dance Club Break ry
2025 / Slow Balboa Workshop, Swing Team, Tampere
Kati /
1997 – present / Kotkan Hyrrät rock'n'swing
Ari /
2000 – present / Kotkan Hyrrät rock'n'swing
2005 / 1. latin dance camp in Hämeenlinna