Taina Kortelainen is the driving force behind Would You Dance.
She has been teaching, competing, performing and judging various forms of partnered dancing all over Europe for many years.
Taina runs dance workshops from total beginners to advanced + coaches performers and competitors.
To top it all she is UK, USA and Finnish Champion!
Below you’ll find some of the events Taina has been part of – by clicking “More” in each section you can see a detailed list.
Corporate Events
Hospital Doctor Awards, Park Lane Hilton, London
Swinton Corporate Team Building Day, Manchester
Starlit Ball, Roayl Hall Fundraising, Harrogate International Centre
Arsenal Football Club, Diamond Club event, London
Macmillan Cancer Support, fund raising event, Edinburgh
City of London Police Dinner Dance and Awards Night
Lawrence Dallaglio Benefit Ball, Grosvenor House, Park Lane
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Media Appearances
Featured dancer in The Mint, ITV
Featured dancer in Foyles War, BBC
Jive expert & featured dancer in BBC 1, Strictly Come Dancing
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Theatre Shows
Let’s Make a Song & Dance, Becks Theatre
Cabarets Pigalle Club, Piccadilly London
Featured dancer in the Glenn Miller Concert, Princes Theatre, Torquay
Featured dancer in the show In the Mood for Valentine’s, Royal Centre Nottingham
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Competitions – Titles
Boogie-Woogie: -Two times Finnish Champion (1998 & 1999)
10th in European Championships(1996)
7th in World Championships (1999)
8th In Boogie Dancing World Cup (1999)
Lindy Hop: 7th in World Championships (1998)
UK Open Jive Championships 2001 – Lindy Hop division winner
UK Open Lindy Hop Champion (2000)
Rock’n’Roll: 3rd in D-class in Finland (1998)
Jive: Jive Masters 2nd place, London (2004)
Blues: American Champion (1999)
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Competitions – Judging
Judge: Swing competition, Long Tall Ernie
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Festivals
Thames Festival, London
Innocent Fruits Fete, Regents Park, London
International Piano Boogie Festival, Fontmell Magna
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Teaching at Schools
Mellow Lane School, swingdance workshop for Year 6
Junior King’s School, Canterbury, swingdance workshop for Year 6
Canonbury Primary School, swingdance workshop for Year 6
St John’s Walham Green CE Primary School, swingdance workshop for Years 3 and 4
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Teaching in international events
Teacher in Herrang Dance Camp, Sweden July 2003-2007
Boogie Baerens, Germany, May 2007
Dance Holidays Torrox, Spain, September 2005
Swing Spring, Finland, May 2005
London Balboa Festival, 2003-2005
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Choreography & Consultation
Co-Writer of Teacher’s Material for French Dance Teacher’s Association
Jive Co-ordinator and dancer in George Michael’s ‘Round Here’ -music video
50’s-dance specialist in the musical Grease in Finland
Choreographer for the show “Ignite”
Lecture for Internation Dance Teachers’ Association
Teacher and writer of the material for the “new teachers course” in Boogie-Woogie on four separate occasions in 1998 and 1999 in Finland.
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Organiser
Co-organiser: Zurich West Coast Swing Dance Camp
Co-organiser: Zurich Balboa & WCS Dance Camp
Organiser, adjudicator, music selection: Stompin’s Swing for the Crown
Organiser, adjudicator, music selection: United Kingdom Open Lindy Hop Championships.
President of a non-profit dance organization Rock’n’Roll Dance Club Comets in 1999 in Finland. Member of the board of directors in Rock’n’Roll Dance Club Comets 1996-1999. Editor of the Comets magazine in 1996.