TEACHERS
TEIJA AHOLA
Teija is the founder, teacher and choreographer of Åbolly. He started her dance hobby as a child with classical ballet, at a young age it changed to jazz dance and in the early 1990s she began intensively studying oriental dance. Teija taught oriental dance for a few years before she started Flamenco studies in 1997 and Teija actively practiced it for over ten years, also being part of performing dance groups.
Teija has been teaching Bollywood dance since 2009 and since then it has taken her along. Teija is especially fascinated by the versatility of Indian music and different dance genres. They also have many similarities to flamenco and oriental dance, which can be used in Bollywood dance choreographies.
In the Autumn season of 2023, Teija will lead open-level groups and, together with Sanna Soni, an advanced dance group. In addition, she leads Åbolly Dancers dance group. Read more about the dance group on the Åbolly Dancers page.
Also private and group lessons, company lessons and bachelorette lessons. Also ask about short courses or book the Åbolly Dancers dance group for a private or corporate event.
SANNA SONI
Sanna got to know Indian culture and dance while she lived in the state of Rajasthan in 2015-2016. At first she started observing Indian dances through Indian weddings and everyday life functions and she deepened her knowledge of movement and techniques with the Finnish and international teachers. Sanna is especially fascinated with long roots of traditions and lively presence of dance and music as a cultural center in Indian culture.
Sanna is interested in Indian folk dances and how to fusion them in more modern Bollywood. Previous dance and teaching experience she has from flow gymnastics, contemporary dance, and various street dances. She has taught people from babies to elderly people and she has educated herself, especially within the teaching of youth.
As a teacher, Sanna brings her own energy and positivity into the classes. She takes all dancers individually and encourages everyone to find their own way to move. During all Sanna’s classes we are following safe space principals and everyone is welcome to classes as they are. As a teacher it is important to her that everyone will find happiness and joyful movement with some sweat in her classes!
Sanna is teaching advanced level classes. In addition she also teaches private lessons like bachelor and bachelorette parties. At a moment Sanna is on maternity leave.
KÁRMEN KOLLÁR
Meet Kármen, a passionate dancer and instructor, who has been immersed in the world of dance since the tender age of six, exploring various dance styles. In 2017, captivated by Indian culture, she embarked on a transformative journey into the enchanting world of Kathak.
Having honed her skills at the Embassy of India in Budapest, Hungary, Kármen had the privilege of studying under the guidance of two esteemed teachers. For the first two years, she trained with Ms. Saumya Shukla, a disciple of the renowned Alaknanda Institute for Performing Arts. Subsequently, Kármen continued her artistic growth under the tutelage of Ms. Sonali Roy, a disciple of the legendary Kathak maestro, Birju Maharaj.
Kármen currently lives in Turku and starts teaching Kathak dance at the Åbolly dance school. Her classes will start on March 2024,
MARI MOILANEN
Mari Moilanen is one of the founding members of the Turku dance group Nach Baliye Indian ry. The association's activities are focused on Rajasthani dances and is the only group in Finland that dances chari dance and bhava. Mari has a dance background, e.g. of contemporary dance, jazz dance and Bollywood dance. She has been familiar with Rajasthani dances for 4 years now under the guidance of several teachers, e.g. Ilona Kolachana, Hemant Devara, Meena Sapera, Rekha Kalbeliya, Claudia Llanos, Nishtha Agarwal, Sheet Rathore and Ajit Singh Tanwar.
