Kati Vestman & Ari Halinen
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. Since November 2006 we have also been a part of Finnish Bugg National Team.
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 motto: The journey is much more interesting than the destination.
If you wish to contact us, feel free to drop us a line at: bonbon (at) bonbon.cn
Contact info:
Kati Vestman
phone: +358 400 914020
bank account: 106935-188107
Enterprise identity code: 1849662-2
kati.vestman [at] bonbon.cn
Ari Halinen
phone: +358 400 592217
bank account: 106935-188586
Enterprise identity code: 1849661-4
ari.halinen [at] bonbon.cn
We specialize in rock´n´swing-dances. We also teach Finnish ballroom dances.
Check out our calendar when we available. Don´t hesitate to contact us!
We offer teaching with following prices:
(Notice the possible extra charges such as ballroom rent and travel expenses.)
Prices:
per lesson
one to two persons / one teacher
35 euros
one or two persons / two teachers
60 euros
three persons or more, camps
Ask price
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.
Boogie Night Svengikingi –dance contest
BN 2007 / 2.
BN 2006 / 3.
BN 2005 / 1.
BN 2004 / 3.
BN 2003 / 5.
BN 2002 / 4.
BN 2001 / 4.
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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
2012 / Cannes, France / Balboa On The Promenade Pro Jack'n'Jill 1. 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 divided 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 Sari Paananen (Nurmela)
1984 / Ballroom Prechampionship -class / Hyvinkää 1.
1984 / Latin Prechampioship -class / Helsinki 5.
1984 / Ten dance Champion -class / Kotka 6.
As teachers
2001 - 2007 / Tampere Boogie Night -camps
2001 - 2003 / Svengikingit Swing Weeks
2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 / Lavaguru-camps
2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 / Seinäjoki Happy Days -camps
2004, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 / Anjalankoski Dance Camps
2004, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 / collaboration with Tanssikas ry
2004 / Svengikingit Easter Camp
2005 / Pori Dance Camp
2006, 07, 08 Latin dance camp in Hämeenlinna
2006 / Oulu University of Applied Sciences / Dance Teacher Education
2006, 07 / Joulubuggi Dance Camp
2007, 08, 09, 10 / TaikaDaigaDuu-camp / Nurmijärvi
2008, 09 / BalboaDay
2008, 09, 10, 11, 12 / collaboration with Helsinki Comets ry
2008 / Mikkeli, Tanssihullut
2008 / Rovaniemi, Nastat
2009 / Late Night Jump -leiri
2009 / Lappeenranta, SaiSet
2009 / Finnish Association of Teachers of Dancing / Education Day
2010, 11, 12 / collaboration with Jam’n Roll, Lahti
Kati /
1997 – present / Kotkan Hyrrät bw + rock´n´swing
Ari /
2000 – present / Kotkan Hyrrät bw + rock´n´swing
2005 / 1. latin dance camp in Hämeenlinna
