Hanna Karttunen
Encyclopedia
Hanna Karttunen is a professional Latin American
and Exhibition
dancer. She also trained in Ballet
as a child, having a love of dance
from a very early age.
Specialising in Latin American and representing England
with Paul Killick
, she won the prestigious titles of United Kingdom
Open Champion, International Champion, World Series Champion, World Masters Champion, Dutch
Open Champion, United States
Open Champion, Asia
n Open Champion, Kremlin
Cup Champion and also became the British
National Champion four times.
Together they were also runner up in every major professional championship, such as the World
Championship, Europe
an Championship and also the British
Open Championship, where in 2002 they came close to taking the title, after being placed first in two out of five dances: Rumba
and Paso Doble.
Before partnering Paul Killick, she also danced professionally with Sandro Cavallini for Italy
, Geir Bakke for Norway
and Rick Valenzuela for the United States. As an amateur competitor, she danced for her home country, Finland, becoming a national champion and international finalist with Jaakko Toivonen.
Hanna has credited Markku Siltala and former world professional Latin American champion Espen Salberg as two of her main coaches throughout her career.
In 2004, Hanna took part in the first series of the BBC television
show Strictly Come Dancing
, where she danced with East Enders actor Christopher Parker
. Although they were regularly placed last by the judges, Christopher's enormous fan base was enough to keep them in the competition right up to the final, where they ended the series in second place.
Since then, Hanna has appeared as a guest performer on the show in Russia
, South Africa
, Italy
, UK and the United States
.
When Paul Killick
announced his retirement from competition in May 2004, Hanna went on to partner Victor Da Silva in the style of Exhibition. Representing South Africa
, together they won the World Championships and the British Open Championships three times each. They were also invited to lecture and perform at some of the biggest and most prestigious dance events in the world.
Early on in 2008, Hanna returned to the style of Latin American, partnering fellow champion Slavik Kryklyvyy
. They represented Finland
and danced only one competition together, the United Kingdom
Open Championship in January 2009 where they placed 6th, before announcing the termination of their partnership just one year after it had begun.
Following this, Hanna returned to Exhibition
and resumed her former partnership with Victor Da Silva.
Hanna has been sponsored by Chrisanne for her dance costumes and International Dance Shoes for her dance shoes for most of her competitive career.
Latin dances
Latin dance is a general label that refers to various forms of ballroom dance and folk dance, and can include a wide range of dances originating in Latin America ....
and Exhibition
Exhibition
An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within museums, galleries and exhibition halls, and World's Fairs...
dancer. She also trained in Ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
as a child, having a love of dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
from a very early age.
Specialising in Latin American and representing England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with Paul Killick
Paul Killick
Paul Killick is a British former professional ballroom dancer, specializing in Latin dance. He appeared in the first two series of the television show Strictly Come Dancing.-Career:...
, she won the prestigious titles of United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Open Champion, International Champion, World Series Champion, World Masters Champion, Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Open Champion, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Open Champion, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n Open Champion, Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
Cup Champion and also became the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
National Champion four times.
Together they were also runner up in every major professional championship, such as the World
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
Championship, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Championship and also the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Open Championship, where in 2002 they came close to taking the title, after being placed first in two out of five dances: Rumba
Rumba (dance)
Rumba is a dance term with two quite different meanings.In some contexts, "rumba" is used as shorthand for Afro-Cuban rumba, a group of dances related to the rumba genre of Afro-Cuban music. The most common Afro-Cuban rumba is the guaguancó...
and Paso Doble.
Before partnering Paul Killick, she also danced professionally with Sandro Cavallini for Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Geir Bakke for Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Rick Valenzuela for the United States. As an amateur competitor, she danced for her home country, Finland, becoming a national champion and international finalist with Jaakko Toivonen.
Hanna has credited Markku Siltala and former world professional Latin American champion Espen Salberg as two of her main coaches throughout her career.
In 2004, Hanna took part in the first series of the BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
show Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
, where she danced with East Enders actor Christopher Parker
Christopher Parker
Christopher Parker is an English actor and television presenter.- Early career :Christopher Parker’s career began at an early age as a model appearing in print campaigns and TV commercials. . He progressed onto small roles in TV dramas such as The Bill, London's Burning and Judge John Deed...
. Although they were regularly placed last by the judges, Christopher's enormous fan base was enough to keep them in the competition right up to the final, where they ended the series in second place.
Since then, Hanna has appeared as a guest performer on the show in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, UK and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
When Paul Killick
Paul Killick
Paul Killick is a British former professional ballroom dancer, specializing in Latin dance. He appeared in the first two series of the television show Strictly Come Dancing.-Career:...
announced his retirement from competition in May 2004, Hanna went on to partner Victor Da Silva in the style of Exhibition. Representing South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, together they won the World Championships and the British Open Championships three times each. They were also invited to lecture and perform at some of the biggest and most prestigious dance events in the world.
Early on in 2008, Hanna returned to the style of Latin American, partnering fellow champion Slavik Kryklyvyy
Slavik Kryklyvyy
Slavik Kryklyvyy is a professional ballroom dancer specializing in International Latin. Born and raised in Ukraine, he is currently residing in New York, USA....
. They represented Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and danced only one competition together, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Open Championship in January 2009 where they placed 6th, before announcing the termination of their partnership just one year after it had begun.
Following this, Hanna returned to Exhibition
Exhibition
An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within museums, galleries and exhibition halls, and World's Fairs...
and resumed her former partnership with Victor Da Silva.
Hanna has been sponsored by Chrisanne for her dance costumes and International Dance Shoes for her dance shoes for most of her competitive career.