Jaak and Taina - meeting at the halfway

How Estonian Jaak Vainomaa and a Finn Taina Savikurki, originally from Tampere, would make their dance partnership work?

The answer is Balanssi Studios in Helsinki. As Jaak and Taina got together in 2007 they agreed to meet at the halfway, in other words Helsinki. Jaak packed his bags and travelled across the Gulf of Finland, Taina moved two hundred kilometres to the south and switched to Mäkelänrinne sports school to continue her high school studies. 

Now this international dance couple trains mainly at Balanssi. Their closest trainers teach here which makes it practical. Sometimes couple visits Tallinn, Estonia, to train at Jaak’s home club.

It was the trainers that got Taina and her former dance partner and brother Tapani to start taking lessons at Balanssi. Today she can’t remember her first times at Balanssi anymore as she was so small, dancing in juvenile classes. Of course Taina remembers the excitement: Balanssi was big and something different to normal.

Jaak has his first experience on the place in fresher memory as he came to Balanssi the first time in February 2007. Initially, the huge Kaapelitehdas, a former fabric of telephone and electricity cables, made an impression on Jaak.  

- Although this building is huge, Balanssi itself is cosy and safe. Usually in new places you might be a bit reserved in the beginning. But here at Balanssi you could just be yourself.

Jaak and Taina love the variety that Balanssi offers. There are three halls for training and possibility to practice other forms of dance along ballroom, for example ballet. 

- Balanssi is practical. You can find basically everything here, Jaak says.

- Yeah, it’s like home. I can do my homework here before practicing, continues Taina.

The couple also likes the lightness of the halls that makes the place feel bigger. As Jaak says, it keeps your mind open and helps practicing.

Although Jaak and Taina’s career together in dance has not been long yet, there are already moments at Balanssi that they cherish together. One of them is the Balanssi Awards 2008 when they had the honour to be the Rising star couple of the year.

- We got to dance rumba and jive for the others after our nomination. It was so nice, Taina says.

- Balanssi Awards is an evening when most of the couples that train at Balanssi come together and the owners choose the best couples of the year in different categories. It’s the day when there are the most dancers at Balanssi the whole year, Jaak says. 

A joyful get-together of a big family, so to say.

Three best things about Balanssi?

1. Trainers

2. People

3. Practicality of the place

Text: Aino Salo