
Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen – Dancer, dance teachers, creative director
Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen is a professional dancer specialized in Caribbean dances. She has a long dance education since she was 3 years old, featuring studies in classical ballet, lyrical jazz, contemporary dance and show dance. She came in contact with Latin American dances already in her childhood, when living in Nicaragua where she studied local folkloric dances. During her high school years she travelled to Dominican Republic (1999-2000) to study merengue and bachata. After returning to Finland she studied afrocuban dances with several Cuban professionals such as Ramon Silverio (Conjunto Folklórico Santiago de Cuba) and Chiqui Dixon (Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba) around Europe. During her studies she worked as a teacher trainee in Dance School Salsa de Cuba, where she later on also reached for several years.
Hanna-Maija has worked as a full time dance teacher since 2002. She continues to educate herself, and makes several study trips every year to Latin America and Europe. She is known as an inspiring teacher, whose passion for dance is evident. Many of her former students now work as professionals. Her dance style is a mixture of soft feminine movements, a graceful quality of moves originating in her classical background, and explosive energy. Hanna-Maija specializes especially on Reggaeton, Ladies’ style salsa On1 and On2 and Cuban rumba.
CURRICULUM VITAE
As a dance teacher:
2010 – present Owner & Creative director of Studio Tambor
2002- present UniSport, Helsinki, weekly classes
2002 – 2012 Dance school Salsa de Cuba, Helsinki, weekly classes
2005 Saimaa Bailaa Festival, salsa workshops
2005 Faces-etnofestival, salsa workshops for children
2007 Salsa de Cuba –festival, merengue, bachata, salsa and casino workshops
2008- 2013 Dance.fi, Helsinki, weekly classes
2009- 2013 Taidetehtaantanssikoulu, Porvoo, weekly classes
2010 Fresca 2010, Helsinki Salsa Festival, Casino beginner’s workshop, Rueda de casino beginner’s workshop and Casino Master Class with Matias Löyttyniemi
2012 Salsa Ladies Style Workshops in co-operation with Cultura Salsera, Managua, Nicaragua
2012 Rumba teaching session, TV-programme “Muevelo”, Nicaragua
In addition she has thought private courses and classes, thought at salsa festivals in Finland and held several fully booked workshops. She has also been accepted as a professional member of the Union of Finnish Dance Artists (STTL ry) since 2005.
As a performing artist:
1993-1999 Several show dance performances in different line-ups
2000-2001 Dance group AfroSalsaViva, several performances around Finland
2001 Danza Afrocubana II dance theater performance, Savoy-theater, Helsinki
2002-2007 Dance group Salsa de Cuba, several performances around Finland
2003 Helsinki Bailaa Festival, the opening number
2005 MediCubaFinland- event, Helsinki
2005 Saimaa Bailaa Festival
2005 Faces-etnofestival, with Orquesta Silverio Mi Son
2006 MediCubaFinland- event, Helsinki, soloist
2007 Fantacia Cubana, dance theater performance, Cultural Arena Gloria, Helsinki, soloist
2009 URB-festival, Helsinki Modern Arts Museum, Kiasma-theater, with Dance.fi Rockers
2009 – 2011 Dance group La Nieve Fresca
2010 Ourvision- dance contest, Savoy-theater, finalist with La Nieve Fresca
2010 Show of the Year, Cultural House, Helsinki, duo with Antopio Tateishi
2010 Fresca 2010, Helsinki Salsa Festival, Cuban rumba show with Matias Löyttyniemi
2011 La Fresquita Micro Salsa Festival, Helsinki, Cuban rumba show with Matias Löyttyniemi
2011 Café de la Música- event, Cultural Arena Gloria, Helsinki, Salsa & Hip Hop fusion show with Antopio Tateishi
2011 Fresca 2011, Helsinki Latin Festival, Valkoinen sali, Helsinki, Salsa&Rumba show with Matias Löyttyniemi
2012 TV-performance in Canal 4, Nicaragua
2013-2017 Several solos and event performances
In addition Hanna-Maija has performed in several other events and shows, TV-programms and comercials.
As a choreographer:
2008-2010 Dance group Salsa de Cuba
2009 URB-festival, Helsinki Modern Arts Museum, Kiasma-theater
2011 – 2013 Fresca Showteam
2011- present Grupo Tambor, Reggaeton EK, La Rakata
Academic education:
2009 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), University of Helsinki, Latin American Studies
2011 Master of Arts (M.A.) University of Helsinki, Latin American Studies
Hanna-Maija is currently carrying out specializing studies on dance pedagogy and PhD studies on Latin American Studies.