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Vappu Pimi and Mikko Leppilampi will continue to host the program.
Dancing With the Stars illuminates the darkening evenings of autumn again! The magic of dance is promised for the 13th time, when the new star pairs will reveal to the entire Finnish people their ability to throw themselves into dance numbers.
Finland’s largest and most beautiful entertainment program Dancing with the Stars reached one and a half million viewers with each broadcast last season and the super favorite was awarded the Golden Venla. This autumn, more and more people familiar with the public and their dance teachers will be passed on the dance floor. For the first time, there are as many as 12 dance pairs, and each of them has only one goal – to win the hearts of dance judges and spectators.
Jukka Haapalainen, Helena Ahti-Hallberg and Jorma Uotinen are also the program’s top three judges this season. Vappu Pimi and Mikko Leppilampi will continue to host the program. Tuija Pehkonen is on maternity leave, but may return later during the RTD period. Of course, Sami Pitkämö and his orchestras are responsible for the sweet tunes of unforgettable evenings. This season, the orchestra will have a third soloist, Antti Koivula, Sami Pitkämö and Johanna Först.
Successes, disappointments and, above all, great emotions are to be expected as the star pairs cross themselves on the dance floor of the new studio week after week. Even this season, the pack is mixed with unprecedented twists that increase the stakes. The number of live broadcasts of the program will increase further, with 14 episodes this season. For the third time, RTD will join forces with the Pink Ribbon campaign. In honor of it, one special charity broadcast will be enjoyed on Sunday 1.11.
DANCE COUPLES 2020
MAY AALTO & JUTTA HELENIUS
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For the public Association of Pharmacists
for director Touko Aalto, there are fun coincidences in participating in the RTD competition. He acted as a parliamentary assistant to Jani Toivola, who competed in RTD in 2011, and Jani’s teacher was Jutta Helenius. This fall, the former MP will compete with Jutta himself.
– Circle closes! Admittedly, Jani was a dancer with a gorgeous parquet razor, when I guess I’m more of that shy Moomin Troll, May laughs heartily.
He says he came along to face his fears. May wants to transcend itself, learn to dance as well as possible, and also encourage viewers to experience exciting things.
– Dance is in many ways a way to release the feelings you have squeezed inside and the courage to be yourself. The opportunity to learn to dance is a way to open myself boldly. Everything doesn’t have to be so wrinkled and serious. That’s the message I’d like to convey, May smiles.
Jutta Helenius, who won last year with her RTD student Christoffer Strandberg, is annoyed that many Finns have not experienced dance. There is no dancing experience in May either, although dancing has always fascinated her.
– I hope she is surprised at how the dance can be found in her body, Jutta says.
JARE BRAND & SAANA AKIOLA
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Jare Brand, one of Finland’s most popular bands, has a diverse sports background: football, hockey, American football and street dance lessons taken at primary school. However, the biggest reason to join the RTD competition was found years ago, as Jare’s childhood neighbor and playmate is star teacher Saana Akiola, and their mothers are still best friends with each other. Jare and Saana got their first joint dance experiences on Swedish cruises as a child, but now it’s time to jump into the world of competitive dance. The experience of hundreds of live gigs will definitely help the musician on the dance floor.
– The most exciting thing is whether I can bring out the emotions of dancing while focusing on steps and movements – whether I can do everything at the same time, Jare ponders.
Saana doesn’t worry about this, as Jare has a strong sense of rhythm and a dance movement can be found in her.
– I look forward to being able to show him more than just rapper features. I hope viewers can see the full scale of what is found in Jare, Saana ponders.
JANINA FRY & ANSSI HEIKKILÄ
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Creative designer and entrepreneur Janina Fry has had a successful career in many fields: touring with the band, performing as a model and now designing clothing lines as well as media content. As a younger, Janina was wildly excited about criticism, but no longer takes criticism too seriously. He was a teenager on the cheerleading team of the Porchoo Butchers, and he throws himself into a hard workout. As her teacher, Janina gets Anssi Heikkilä, who is competing in RTD for the first time.
– Anssi has a fresh playful and energetic attitude to the competition, Janina Fry glows.
In addition to pair dancing, Anssi reveals that he enjoys adrenaline sports such as downhill cycling and skydiving. Although he sees Janina’s trump card as the joy of versatile exercise, he doesn’t see parachute jumps on the RTD stage. Anssi’s goal is to bring the performance certainty of Janina’s model past to the dance floor.
– I haven’t actually performed in over 10 years, so it’s exciting to see how much it takes to dig up its performer-Janina, Janina laughs.
NIKLAS HAGMAN & KIA LEHMUSKOSKI
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For top hockey player Niklas Hagman, who was successful on the NHL, the reason for joining the RTD competition is obvious. There was no time to do anything during sports, so now he simply wants to learn to dance. Niklas, who works as a home father, says that he often dances alone at home. Now is a great opportunity to get instruction from Finland’s most diamond teachers.
Niklas says that he is still in good physical condition after the puck. One thing, however, still requires oiling – namely the mobility of the hips – especially with regard to flat dances. Faster of the upcoming dances will feel fun for the former striker, while the delicate and slow dances will be exciting in their boldness and elegance.
Niklas’ dance couple is Kia Lehmuskoski, who has noticed that even though we are considered a lousy people, Finns would really like to dance more. Kia praises the attitude of its star student to get fully involved: to do without fear and to sue.
– As a former top athlete, Niklas can withstand the toughness of this race. My own goal is to help her put her emotions and sensitivity into the game, Kia says.
Niklas is ready for the challenge, and sets a goal for himself as well.
– There is easily such a clichéd machoist image of hockey players, but modern hockey players know how to be more courageous, which is great. I’m going to be myself in RTD – no cover-ups!
KRISTIINA HALTTU & ALEKSI SEPPÄNEN
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Kristiina Halttu, one of the brightest stars in the Finnish theater world, is a well-known actress both on television and on the stage of the National Theater. Kristiina considers the live broadcasts of the RTD competition from two angles.
– Acting is a daily crossing of the threshold of shame, so I would think that throwing oneself into emotions and that side of performance is an easier part of this race, he thinks.
Dancing, on the other hand, is very exciting. Having kept dancing throughout her career, Kristiina has always been the last to learn choreographies – and the first to forget them.
– My only physical education has been tarpon in cow dung as a young girl in northern Finland, she laughs.
Northern Finnishness unites Kristiina and her RTD dance couple from Aleksi Seppä. A common wavelength and sense of humor was immediately found at the first meeting, and to the delight of Kristiina, Aleksi was immediately a person who felt like his own tribe. Aleksi compresses Kristiina, and says that the process is made easier when there is a common language to communicate from the very beginning.
– We both have a long background in theater work and I have experience especially in musicals. Theater employees often have a similar style of work and morale, Aleksi, who is already starting his sixth RTD period, describes.
He praises the pair as a charismatic and magnificent revelation who is also a down-to-earth and strong performer.
– It may be that we build a strong presence and spiritual contact between the dances, Aleksi ponders.
JUKKA HILDÉN & KATRI MÄKINEN
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Jukka Hilden
Jukka Hildén has conquered the hearts of Finns many times: the great mountains in the Top Gangs, with the Duudsons of the American continent, and lastly with fun in the Grand Master. RTD is a new opportunity for Jukka to go into an area of discomfort.
– I want to show that it is worth challenging oneself, even if it is scary. I want to encourage people to personal hero stories. I would like to be the kind of modern Indiana Jones type, Jukka reflects.
Jukka has no dancing experience, and she doesn’t even know if she has a sense of rhythm, but she believes she learns movement series easily because she has done a variety of physical challenges in her life. Dance has recently come to Jukka’s life more through his wife as well – Chachi Hildén is a top American dancer and a social media star.
Jukka describes his dance couple Katri Mäkki as a top-class professional who does everything on an extremely hard level. He hopes that Katri will also demand a diamond performance from him.
– Jukka is an energetic, innovative man full of innovative ideas, who brings momentum and inspiration, Katri describes her student, and sets a hat-trick as her RTD goal.
– I have to catch up with my teacher colleague Matti Puro with three wins. Jukka hold on to the hat, now let’s go! he laughs.
SHIRLY KARVINEN & JANI RASIMUS
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The past spring mixed with many of the pack completely. So it was with Shirly Karvinen, a presenter familiar with radio frequencies, who decided to take advantage of the situation and look for new skills on her own. Shirly sees the RTD competition as an opportunity to challenge herself.
The radiant performer has no dancing experience, but very competitive he is going to give his all in the race. Former Miss Finland’s strengths are her ability to throw herself fearlessly and laugh at herself. The first live show is exciting – of course in a good way.
– It’s a great feeling when you first have a little panic: you vomit, your hands sweat and you go through all the bad scenarios in your mind – then all of a sudden you just go into performance mode and forget everything around you. The feeling of liberation after the performance is absolutely the best! Shirly feels.
Shirly and long-time RTD star teacher Jani Rasimusta are combined with a hurt sense of humor and a strong will to do diamond dancing.
– When it comes to Shirly, many are sure to think of a wonderful mission first. I think it would be great to be able to show the different aspects of Shirly in future dances: ronks, funny, powerful – all this. The great side of this program is that for many competitors, a trajectory of development is built and some new, surprising side of yourself is found. This change may carry a positive impact throughout life, Jani says.
JESSE MARKIN & CLAUDIA KETONEN
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Musician Jesse Markin’s solo career kicked off with great success last year. The debut album won two Emma awards and Mark, together with producer Totte Rautiainen, was also awarded the Teosto Award. Jesse goes to the RTD competition to have fun.
– I didn’t think for a moment, I said yes right away! I like to go on adventurous things, Jesse rejoices.
As a child, Jesse loved to dance, but the enthusiasm waned when dancing at youth discos was considered embarrassing and he was bullied for it. Dancing changed to military wrestling and other sports during the military, but now Jesse is ready to give the reins to Claudia Ketonen, who works as an RTD teacher for the first time. Claudia was delighted to hear that she was competing with Jesse.
– I guess I’ll win the lottery, because I believe that Jesse’s musical background helps with learning and competition. He is a sympathetic guy with his feet firmly on the ground. It’s nice to have another artist, Claudia glow, become the dance couple.
MINNA PARIKKA & MATTI PURO
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Speed and throwing, successes and great designs – this is how you can describe both the RTD program and designer Minna Parikka. Minna has now created an international success for her 15th anniversary shoe brand. Minna, one of the brightest stars of Finnish design, is excited about her RTD style.
– You finally get permission to be great! This is a really great opportunity to dress gorgeously, she glows.
Minna is not afraid to take on challenges. She describes herself as a serial enthusiast who likes to try everything, and that’s why it’s fun to get immersed in dance very thoroughly as well. Minna’s dance couple, Matti Puro, who is involved in RTD for the eighth time, even considers this a strength.
– Of course, the more a star student has done things and tried different sports, the more useful it is in dancing, says Matti, who has already won RTD with his partner three times.
The star teacher sets himself the goal of coming up with something completely new in the coming RTD season – something he has not seen before.
– And of course the goal is also the fourth victory! he laughs.
MMIISAS & MARKO KERÄNEN
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For Miisa Rotola-Pukkila, a Finnish influencer known as Mmiisas, entering the RTD competition was a dream come true.
– I loved the program all my life! on top of 20-year-old Miisa exudes excitement.
Miisa, one of Finland’s best-known Youtube stars, has more than 380,000 subscribers on Youtube and more than 400,000 followers on Instagram. Already in 2016, Kauppalehti selected him among the ten most influential Finns in the media industry. Upcoming live broadcasts are a lot of excitement: you can always shoot your own Youtube videos as new, but you have to succeed in dancing at once. Miisa was taken when she heard that she could compete with Marko Keränen, a RTD veteran who is already competing for the 9th time.
– Marko is my all-time favorite teacher, Miisa, who names her strengths as sensitivity and emotion, glows, and says that she was gloomy with her future teacher right from the first meeting.
Marko describes Miisa as an eternal poetic soul who boldly gives of herself to the world. Both think sensitivity is a real strength, and they will use it as a resource in the race.
– Miisalle informed that I got into this race all others, except for the last and the first position, so we know what we aim at, Marko says with a laugh.
VIRPI SARASVUO & SAMI HELENIUS
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Competing for Virpi Sarasvuo, a multiple world champion and Olympic medalist known throughout Finland, is familiar. Virpi enters the RTD program with anticipation.
– Last season was so insanely wonderful! There is such a happy mess in my head that help with what I went to do and at the same time – let our dances start already! My personal goal is to learn as many dances as possible. I kind of wannabe dancer “, Virpi laugh.
Virpi talks about the versatile toolbox accumulated from her active career, the lessons of which she believes will be helpful in riding a fierce competition, even though she does not have an actual dance background.
– I try to think that it is where we start. I view the race as a passionate learning process that I embark on boldly and fully, he ponders.
Virpi’s dance couple Sami Helenius has already competed eight times on the RTD stage. There is no victory yet, so he dreams that now the world champion will go to the brightest medal.
– Of course, Virpi’s top sports background is helpful here. He knows who he is: he knows his body and its resources. Then all this still has to be harnessed to dance – make it a show and most of all have fun.
SAMI SYKKÖ & ANSKU BERGSTRÖM
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Sami Sykkö, editor-in-chief known as the style guru, laughs when asked about his favorite dance genre.
– Oh my God! The only kind I remember is a waltz I remembered from old dances 30 years ago! he laughs.
Sami considers himself a writer above all a storyteller. In the coming season, she hopes to be able to convey emotions and touch the viewer through dance as well. The master of fashion also appreciates the visuals and style of the program.
– Outfits are important in this race. I have a lot of ideas !, he laughs, and still doesn’t reveal anything about his outfit other than that something historical may be seen on the RTD stage.
Sam also has a strong competitive sports background in the past. He is the Finnish Junior Figure Skating Champion since 1984.
– In addition to the skating background, Sam has a wonderful gentlemanly nature. I could imagine that standard dances are Sam’s kind of bread, but on the other hand, Sami may surprise you as an experienced performer and also find herself a hot floor dancer on the dance floors, says Ansku Bergström, seen as her teacher.
Sami feels that he is in good hands as a pair of Ansku, who is competing for the seventh time.
– Ansku is a top professional who is also physically a perfect match for me.