Winter Coast Swing
Staff
Our pros
Semion Ovsiannikov &
Maria Elizarova
* They love Finland already *
Semion has been dancing ever since he was eight. He started with ballroom dancing first, then got into social dancing, and finally into West Coast Swing. He is known for his musicality and great connection with his partners. Maria has been dancing since 2007. In 2008 she fell in love with social partner dances. She started learning hustle/discofox and salsa. She had been dancing hustle and discofox for 4 years, working on her solo choreography as well when West Coast Swing came in to her dancing life. After that she couldn’t stop dancing WCS. She enjoys the versatility of the dance, bringing new emotions, options for musicality and styling to every dance. Semion and Maria were the first Russians to ever get to US Open Classic finals in 2016, 2017, 2019. They also got the second place at The Open Classic finals in 2018. Their partnership emphasizes technique, musicality and connection. They love the possibilities for communication and dialogue between partners during every dance, and seek to help their students discover this incredibly fun aspect of WCS. They share a philosophy that care and attention are the best things partners can give to each other during any dance.
Karin Kakun
* Second time in Finland *
Karin Kakun has been dancing all her life. She holds a university dance degree and has now taught dance for more than 14 years. She teaches WCS, Hip-Hop, stretching. She also choreograph and performs. Before starting dancing WCS, she was the Israeli salsa champion.
Karin started her WCS career in 2014 and from the first moment she fell in love. She is now competing both in All Star and Champion divisions and teaching in Israel, where she directs a West Coast Swing school. She actively travels and teaches all around Europe
Tze Yi & Dalena
* First time in Finland *
Tze Yi and Dalena began their WCS journey 10 years ago, coming from the Street Latin world of Salsa and Bachata. They were inspired by Jordan & Tatiana, and took on the daunting task of starting WCS scene in Singapore from scratch. Over the past 10 years, they have built a small but
closely-knit scene of Westies, and also organize the Asia WCS Open, the very first WSDC event in Asia. They are also the first dancers from Asia to
compete at the Champions division.
With a combined 30 years of teachingexperience, Tze Yi & Dalena bring a unique, fun and approachable perspective to WCS, and their classes are perfectfor social dancers whowant to master their craft, with lots of laughter along the way.
Chuck Brown
* Almost a Finn *
Chuck Brown is a current Champion level dance competitor with over 22 years of experience. He is recognized as a top international dance instructor/coach, head judge, NASDE Circuit and US Open Certified Primary Judge, DJ, event promoter, community builder and business consultant. Chuck has been the head judge at over 200 events worldwide and has helped train hundreds of judges and competitors.
As a dancer artist, Chuck is known for his musicality, creativity, versatility, and especially, his amazing lead. He is incredibly passionate, emotional and tough technical teacher who cares deeply about his student’s dance and life goals as well as their friendship; it’s evident in his workshops and private lessons; He pours his heart into his job and many people around the world say that his passion, knowledge, spirit, and love for helping people is one of a kind.
Ludovic Pelegrin
* First time in Finland *
Ludovic has taken its first dancing steps at 10 years old, when he first learned rock’n’roll. His dancing background is as much innovative as diversified, as he had taken a quick interest into Lindy-Hop, Balboa, Charleston, Acrobatic rock’n’roll, Salsa, Boogie Woogie and Tap dancing. He has been a Rock and Roll, Lindy Hop and Charleston instructor since 2009.
His attraction into Swing dancing enabled him to discover West Coast Swing in 2010.
Quickly becoming very passionate, he goes from workshops to workshops overseas, where he learned from the best instructors. He also competes to many competitions where he regularly places into the Top 3.
Driven by the desire to share its passion and helping others to discover and learn it, He started to teach WCS since 2011. After contributing to spread West Coast Swing within its area (in France), he is now giving few workshops across France and Europe. Thanks to its knowledge & skills in a variety of dances, he is known for his amazing musical knowledge, his structured and concise teaching and his great generosity.
Lauren Jones
* First time in Finland *
Lauren got into West Coast Swing back in 2011 aged 19 thanks to her wonderful mum but moved to Vietnam shortly after. 5 years later, she scooted over to Singapore, fell in love with WCS again as well as the community there and social danced her heart out before making her way through Europe in 2019.
Although she has dabbled in salsa and bachata on a social level, it is WCS that has her hooked. She loves the balance between connecting with a partner on the floor and the freedom of self-expression, all to a wide range of music genres. She is over the moon to be working with the inspiring dancers of the community and her aim is to leave each person she dances with smiling, be it at her or with her!
