About us

Our Approach

Dance Up Academy provides an active, healthy and creative hobby that will last a lifetime. We are a community where everyone belongs. We learn from our students to be able to support their needs and growth. Our classes and choreographies help to form friendships, build confidence and explore creativity. We also support families to integrate a dance hobby easily into their daily lives with the After-School Dance Club.

Dance Up Academy’s professional teachers provide Basic Education in the Arts, tied to a national arts curriculum. We offer classes in Ballet, Contemporary, Character dance, Dance Acrobatics, Jazz, and Theater. Dance Up Academy enters every major Finnish competition, receiving awards regularly. We have three competition teams: Dance Up Kids, - Juniors and - Adults.

Feedback

I greatly appreciate the staff's work on the part of students: they are really present. The kids bring learning home about, for example, conditioning and healthy eating, from which the kids will get joy through their lives.- Terhi Penttilä

Quality work for the children's benefit. Lovely professional teachers and staff. Incredibly active daily events from which children get enjoyment and self confidence, while their dance skill grows! A wonderful atmosphere.- Maarit ja Iain Tyson

The joy of dancing is many times more important than the trophies.- Monica (adult dancer)

Feedback

A nice staff, a converging set of educational values, enjoyable physical activity and active communication have been really satisfying. The well-being of children seems to be the most important factor guiding you.- Terhi Kalli

Awesome activity that the kids have been really happy with. And best of all, after all that exercise at home, you are not tired in the evening but an energetic girl! Acrobatics exercises are a really good thing - hannd stands are pop! And, of course, we must not forget the wonderful moments of relaxation at the dance school, which we mothers have also enjoyed.- Anna Koivu

Nina Heino

Nina is a dance teacher and choreographer as well as a co-owner of Dance Up Academy. Nina graduated as a dance teacher from the Turku Dance Academy and added a pedagogical qualification through the Tampere Teacher Education College as well as many dance courses in Finland and England. Nina specializes in jazz dance, contemporary dance and dance acrobatics for kids. She is a registered judge for Finnish Competitions in Performing Arts. Nina’s choreographies have won numerous prizes, stipends and honorable mentions in dance competitions.

My goals as a dance teacher are to inspire and unite students, to share joy and have positive learning experiences.

Julia Van Camp

Julia is a dance teacher, a choreographer, a physiotherapist, as well as a co-owner of Dance Up Academy.

Julia holds degrees from the St. Petersburg College of Culture and Arts in Dance Teaching and Choreography, and the Tampere University of Applied Sciences in Physiotherapy. Julia specializes in classical ballet, character dance and dance acrobatics for kids. She combines her expertise in dance teaching with knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics and kinesiology. Julia’s choreographies have won numerous prizes, stipends and honorable mentions in dance competitions.

My strength as a dance teacher is an inspiring attitude towards teaching and a focus on the health aspects of dancing.

Aino Marjamäki

Aino is a former Dance Up Academy’s student (2014-2019), who has her own long, rich dance background. Her dance history includes contemporary, show, jazz, ballet, and commercial dance. She also has over 10 years experience in dance competitions, taking part in the Performing Arts competition in duos, small groups and larger groups. The highlight of her participation was a third place in the 2023 Performing Arts SM adult small group category.

As a teacher I want to support students to try new things and achieve their own dance goals.

Annika Taulaniemi

Annika is teaching yoga and integrating it with Pilates. Annika has extensive teaching experience and a varied education. Annika had started becoming a yoga teacher in Puna Yoga College in Helsinki and continued in Stockholm at Ylab. Annika's vocation is physical therapy; her doctoral studies address the effects of Pilates exercise on lower back pain. Annika has a been involved in dance since 1960 and learned to love movement, seeing its empowering effects. As a teacher, Annikka is precise and skilful at adopting exercises for students with different needs.