Flama Salsa Festival offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the joy of dance and deepen your skills under the guidance of top instructors. The festival features many well-known and respected professionals in salsa, Cuban dances, and bachata, ready to share their passion and expertise with you.
Get ready for inspiring classes and unforgettable dance experiences!
Alain is originally from Cuba and Katerina from Russia. They have been based in France for over 12 years and are known worldwide for their strong expertise and infectious energy. They have taught and performed extensively across Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
The strength of this outstanding duo lies in teaching how to dance to Cuban music both authentically and in a modern way:
Classes with Alain and Katerina are always warm, energetic, and encouraging.
Yunaisy is one of the most renowned Cuban dancers in the world, a teacher of the UNESCO International Dance Council (CID), and a dancer in the film StreetDance 2.
Born in Havana into a family passionate about dance, Yunaisy began studying ballet at the age of five. She later trained in contemporary dance, musical theatre, and circus at prestigious Cuban institutions (including ENA and ENEM), graduating as a singer, actress, and dancer.
Early in her career, she worked as a performer on cruise ships and for fashion companies before moving to Italy, where she developed into an international artist. She performed alongside well-known Italian artists and rose to become one of the leading figures in the salsa world. The Italian Dance Federation (FIDS) awarded her master and judge titles in recognition of her artistic achievements.
Yunaisy worked with Seo Fernández as part of the Latin Black group, gaining international success and recognition. She later established herself as a solo artist while collaborating with her dance partner Alexander Carbón, creating a unique style that blends contemporary dance, afro, and salsa.
In 2013, Yunaisy moved to Barcelona, where she later founded Farray’s International Dance Center – a multidisciplinary dance school with international acclaim.
Yunaisy is especially known for her dedication to exploring and developing the aesthetics of feminine movement.
Alain graduated as a contemporary dancer in Cuba in 1998 from the Narciso Medina Company. That same year, he won several Grand Prix awards as well as the prestigious Alicia Alonso choreography prize. Early in his career, he deepened his knowledge of Cuban culture and folkloric dance under master Jonnes “JJ” Garzia and performed at the legendary Tropicana cabaret.
In 2000, Alain moved to Italy and joined the Irè Batà dance group, where Maykel Fonts also made his debut. Alain has worked with numerous top international artists. In 2005, he joined the Latin Black group led by Seo Fernández, where he performed alongside artists such as Yunaisy Farray.
Alain appeared in the film StreetDance 2 and has performed extensively at festivals and theatres across Europe. Between 2007 and 2012, he lived in Norway, teaching Cuban culture and contemporary dance to both adults and children.
In 2013, he joined the internationally renowned Clave Negra dance company led by master Alberto Valdés. Today, Alain works as a solo artist and is a regular guest at some of Europe’s most important salsa festivals.
Alain is known for his strong stage presence, technical precision, and deep understanding of Cuban dance traditions.
Marcela teaches Dominican Bachata with a unique focus on technique, musicality, and authentic movement. With over 20 years of teaching experience, this bachata pioneer is known for making even the smallest details fun and accessible — so you will not only learn the steps but truly feel the dance.
Born in Stockholm and rooted in the Dominican Republic, Marcela is a true entrepreneur and creator. Through Los Bonitillos, she has built a brand and teaching style that reflects her passion for innovation and precision. Her expertise ranges from partner work and leading to ladystyling and footwork, breaking down key movements and essential secrets that every aspiring dancer needs in order to evolve.
Dancing since 1998 and teaching Bachata since 2008, Marcela has inspired dancers across the world. Today, she continues to be recognized as one of the pioneers of traditional Bachata, bringing authenticity, depth, and joy to every workshop.
Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1960, Ramón Silverio is a dance teacher, dancer, choreographer, and musician with an exceptionally long professional career in Afro-Cuban folkloric dance and Cuban music traditions. His expertise covers Afro-Cuban traditional dances as well as popular Cuban styles such as rumba, son, timba, salsa, and cha cha cha.
Ramón began his dance and music studies at a very young age in Cuba under the guidance of renowned masters, quickly gaining recognition as a charismatic dancer and skilled percussionist. He possesses deep knowledge of Yoruba religious traditions and is also a babalawo. Bata drums and congas play an essential role in both his artistic expression and his teaching method.
In 1992, Ramón moved to Finland, where he founded the Salsa de Cuba dance school in Helsinki and later in Turku. Through his teaching, thousands of students discovered Cuban dance, and many salsa teachers currently working in Finland have been trained by him.
He is known as a demanding yet inspiring teacher whose classes combine authentic Cuban culture, humor, strong energy, and the unique atmosphere created by live percussion.
Now based in Málaga, Spain, Ramón arrives at Flama Salsa Festival to share his knowledge. Expect authentic Cuban rhythms, charisma, and true fiesta energy.
Roynet Perez is originally from Havana, Cuba. His passion for dance began at an early age, and his career as a dancer started in 2003. He quickly became a master of Cuban partner salsa both in Cuba and internationally, and is still known in his home country by the nickname “Monarca del casino.” Roynet won, among other titles, the European Championship in Cuban salsa in 2010.
Satu Annika, a dancer and dance teacher from Tampere, has been dancing since childhood. Her heart beats for salsa, and she continuously develops her skills by training both in Finland and abroad. Satu has studied internationally, including a year in Italy under the globally recognized Cuban dancer Yeni Molinet, and performed in her show group. Over the years, Satu has developed a strong technique combined with an elegant dance style.
Roynet and Satu are passionate about helping students enjoy themselves and have fun while learning. Their classes are filled with energy, charisma, and above all, the joy of dance!
Matias has been traveling across Finland for over ten years, spreading the joy of salsa and rueda from city to city. As a teacher, he is known for his inspiring energy, clear teaching style, and highly developed pedagogy. He teaches across all levels, from beginners to teacher training – there is always something new to learn for everyone.
In Matias’ classes, the focus is especially on connection between partners, musical interpretation, and enjoying the dance. Classes progress naturally from technique into actual dancing, combining his deep understanding of both dance and music, built over more than 20 years as both a dancer and a musician.
Yasser has been dancing since childhood in Cuba and has a strong background in both Cuban popular dances and folkloric dance. He has over 30 years of experience in teaching and performing.
His expertise has also been recognized in international competitions, including 2nd place in the Nordic Salsa Choreography Championship and a Finnish Championship silver medal in Latino Show (small group category).
Yasser is known as a warm, energetic, and humorous teacher – expect rhythm, smiles, and the joy of dance!
Pinja has danced various styles since childhood, but bachata ultimately captured her heart. She has invested heavily in her bachata training, actively traveling abroad to learn from some of the world’s top bachata dancers.
Since 2015, Pinja has worked as a dance and group fitness instructor across Finland and has been invited to teach at numerous events and festivals both in Finland and internationally. She currently teaches regularly in Helsinki, Turku, and Kouvola.
In her teaching, Pinja emphasizes technique and safe movement, while never forgetting a positive vibe and joyful atmosphere. As a trained physiotherapist, she pays special attention to natural, healthy, and sustainable movement.
Her love for bachata and its music has also led her into the role of a bachata DJ in Finland and occasionally abroad. Over the years, Pinja has been involved in organizing several dance events in the Helsinki region, the most well-known being the Helsinki Bachata Blast collaboration event.
Giuseppe started dancing salsa and bachata in 2018 in Italy, about six months before moving to Finland. Since then, dance has become a major part of his life. Over the years, he has focused especially on bachata and has trained with international artists such as Ataca and La Alemana. He has also completed their teacher training program, which dives deep into their signature style, bachata moderna – a smooth, expressive, and dynamic style of bachata.
“My goal is to help you feel comfortable, connect with your partner, and above all enjoy the music and have fun on the dance floor,” Giuseppe says.
Since 2015, Reynier Gómez has led Studio Reynier Gómez in Turku, teaching Cuban and Afro-Caribbean dance, rhythm, and culture. He organizes workshops, international dance trips to Cuba, and performance concepts for cultural events and programs. His classes are known for their joyful atmosphere, positive energy, and authentic connection to Cuban culture.
As a teacher, Reynier is recognized for his attentiveness and clear teaching style. He believes that students should learn strong fundamentals from the very beginning while also understanding the music, the history of rhythms, and the essence of Cuban dance culture. His teaching combines technique with the natural energy and personality of Cuban street dance traditions.
Reynier learned dance primarily in the streets of Havana and also studied Afro-Cuban dances at Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba. He is deeply inspired by the originality and expressive nature of street style, which he combines with technical precision in both his teaching and performances.
Before founding his own studio, Reynier worked as a dance teacher for example at La Reina Dance School in Turku between 2008 and 2015, teaching salsa, rumba, reggaetón, and Afro-Cuban movement while helping introduce Cuban culture to Finnish audiences. In 2005, he also appeared as a featured partner dancer in the national Cuban TV dance competition Para Bailar Casino.
Alongside his work as a dance educator, Reynier has built a long artistic career as a musician, vocalist, and performer. He has performed across Finland at festivals, clubs, and private events, creating powerful and energetic musical experiences that blend Latin fusion, Afro-house, and soulful dance music with emotional and spiritual depth. As a vocalist, percussionist, and live performer, Reynier brings more than 30 years of experience to the stage. He has performed with several bands in Cuba and Finland, including Grupo Kaney, collaborating with musicians from different cultures and musical backgrounds. His strengths include improvisation, harmonies, live arrangements, and strong stage presence.
Come and experience Reynier’s unique energy at Flama Salsa Festival 2026. After Reynier’s classes, you will feel as if you’ve taken a small holiday trip to Cuba — and you just might get hooked on dancing for good!
Cuban-born José Mesa is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher who aims to share with his students the same joy of dance that he experiences himself. José teaches a wide range of styles, including salsa, Afro, rumba, salsa con rumba, reggaetón, and reparto.
José studied folkloric and popular dance at Escuela Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba and contemporary dance at Escuela Narciso Medina. He has performed with Conjunto Folklórico Universitario de Cuba and appeared in numerous events in Cuba. He has also worked as a professional dancer with Compañía de Danzas Tradicionales de Cuba JJ, performing for example at the Festival Cultural de Danza Folklórica in Algeria.
Over the years, José’s dance career has taken him to teach and perform at festivals in Spain, Italy, France, Tunisia, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine, Latvia, and Estonia.
Tuomas began dancing salsa and bachata while living in Paris. He returned to Finland in 2015, where he discovered kizomba, semba, and urban kiz, the latter of which captivated him. Having attended several international dance festivals and studied under top instructors, Tuomas decided in 2018 to complete the first part of the urban kiz teacher training with Curtis Seldon and Carola Tauler. Since then, he has been sharing what he has learned and developing his teaching methods, mainly in Turku.
“I hope my classes leave a positive vibe, provide good basics for urban kiz, encourage to interpret music and realize oneself on the dance floor without boundaries. See you in the dance classes and on the dance floor!”
Tuomas will introduce Flama Salsa Festival participants to the world of urban kiz in Friday’s pre-party workshop.
Anna Ketopaikka is the founder and dance teacher of Tanssistudio Flama, a dance studio based in Turku, Finland, specializing in Caribbean dances, particularly Cuban dance styles. She has been teaching salsa and other Caribbean dances since 2014.
Anna is passionate about inspiring people to discover the joy and energy of dance. In her classes, she also aims to highlight the cultural context and background of the dance styles she teaches, while being mindful of her own position as a white European dancer. Anna has long dreamed of bringing a salsa festival to the Turku region and is excited to be building a new and inspiring event for the dance community.
At Flama Salsa Festival, Anna will teach a beginner-friendly introductory class where participants can experience the joy of dance and get inspired by sunny Latin rhythms. The festival offers classes for dancers of all levels, from complete beginners to advanced dancers.
Roberto on kuubalainen tanssija ja tanssinopettaja, jonka tunneilla paistaa aurinko – ilolta ja positiiviselta energialta ei voi välttyä!
Roberto on syntynyt Havannassa ja aloitti esiintymisen jo lapsena tunnetun Tony Menéndezin johdolla eri seurueissa. Tämän jälkeen hän opiskeli Escuela Nacional de Artessa (ENA), Kuuban arvostetussa kansallisessa taidekoulussa, josta hän valmistui ammattitanssijaksi.
Robe yhdistää tinkimättömän ammattitaitonsa aitoon rakkauteen tanssia ja opettamista kohtaan. Hänen kuubalaisten tanssien tunneiltaan jokainen saa mukaansa uusia taitoja, vahvaa luottamusta omaan tanssityyliin – ja ennen kaikkea tanssin iloa.
Three days of dance, good vibes, and shared moments!
Dance, learn, and connect in beautiful seaside Naantali, Finland. With 58 workshops, world-class instructors, live music, spectacular shows, and two nights of parties on three dance floors, Flama Salsa Festival offers an unforgettable dance weekend – all under one roof.
