(Dancing with the Stars) is a Finnish version of the British reality TV competition Strictly Come Dancing and is part of the Dancing with the Stars franchise. The show has run on MTV3 since 3 March 2006, on Sunday evenings. The twelfth season was aired in the autumn 2019.
The show was originally hosted by Marco Bjurström and Ella Kanninen. Ella Kanninen left the show after the second season and was replaced by model and Season 2 contestant Vanessa Kurri. In 2009, Kurri was replaced by Vappu Pimiä after only one season. Marco Bjurstöm left the series after Season 4 and Mikko Leppilampi took over as host. Ella Kanninen returned to host the seventh season due to Pimiä's maternity leave; Pimiä returned to host the eighth season with Leppilampi.
A talk show Vappu tähtien kanssa (Vappu with the Stars) was broadcast during the fifth season of the main show. Based on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, it is a companion show to Tanssii tähtien kanssa. It aired during the run of the main show on MTV3 and was hosted by Vappu Pimiä, who also hosted the main show at the time.
The series' title is a pun on the title of the film Dances with Wolves, Tanssii susien kanssa.
Cast
Presenters PresentersRoleSeasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 14 15 Marco Bjurström Host ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Ella Kanninen Hostess ♦ ♦ ♦ Vanessa Kurri Hostess ♦ ♦ Vappu Pimiä Hostess ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Mikko Leppilampi Host ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Ernest Lawson Host ♦ ♦ Full time presenter Competed as a contestant before being a presenter
Judges JudgesRoleSeasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jukka Haapalainen Judge (seasons 1–2)Head Judge (seasons 3–9) ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Jorma Uotinen Judge ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Mikko Rasila Judge ♦ ♦ Merja Satulehto Head Judge ♦ ♦ Helena Ahti-Hallberg Judge ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Johanna Rusanen Judge ♦ Susanna Rahkamo Judge ♦ Jone Nikula Judge ♦ ♦ Anna Abreu Judge ♦ Riku Nieminen Judge ♦ Jenni Pääskysaari Judge ♦ Krisse Salminen Judge ♦ ♦ Full time judge Competed as a contestant before being a judge
Professional partners Color key:
Winner Runner-up 3rd place Celebrity partner was eliminated first for the season Celebrity partner withdrew from the competition
Professional dancer Season123456789Mikko Ahti Sari Siikander Baba LybeckSari HavasHelena Ahti-HallbergKeith ArmstrongJani Sievinen Saana Akiola Jukka RasilaJukka TammiVesa Anttila Pirkko Arstila Miia NuutilaAnna-Liisa Bergström Antti TuiskuJarppi Leppälä Mert OtsamoSanna HirvaskariTomi MetsäketoSami Sarjula Juha VeijonenSusa Matson Nicke LignellWilson KirwaJethro RostedtVeeti KallioRisto KaskilahtiJuhani TamminenKaj KunnasAnna Sainila Eppu SalminenJimi Pääkallo Sami HedbergWilli Gabalier Brigitte KrenMarjan ShakiVadim Garbuzov Alfons HaiderPetra FreySusanna HirschlerRoxanne RappElke Gehrsitz Hans Georg HeinkeAlice Guschelbauer Michael TschuggnallHans KreuzmayrGerhard ZadrobilekMarkus WolfahrtFlorian Gschaider Alexandra MeissnitzerSueli MenezesMonika SalzerMichaela HeintzingerToni PolsterGregor BloébHarry PrünsterPeter TichatschekRamesh NairAndy KainzMarika LichterGerda RogersStephanie GrafElke WinkensClaudia ReitererBabsi Koitz-Baumann Udo WendersUwe KrögerMarco VentreRudi RoubinekThomas Kraml Eva Maria MaroldAngelika AhrensAndrea BudayAlexander KreisslPatricia KaiserSimone StelzerHera LindClaudia StöcklSandra PiresNicole Kuntner Edi FingerMichael KonselDorian SteidlAndy Lee LangKathrin Menzinger Dieter ChmelarDavid HeissigLukas PermanHubert NeuperLenka Pohoralek Albert FortellGregor GlanzErik SchineggerJulia PolaiPeter RappAndreas GoldbergerPeter L. EppingerOliver StammChristoph FälblMike GaleliChristoph Santner Cathy ZimmermannKaterina JacobKatharina GutensohnAndrea PuschlMaria Santner Michael SchönbornBiko BotowamunguMarco AngeliniManuela Stöckl Rainer SchönfelderRoswitha Wieland James CottriallFrank SchinkelsGerald PichowetzDaniel SerafinAlexander Zaglmaier Barbara KarlichZabine KapfingerElisabeth EngstlerMarie-Christine FriedrichManfred ZehenderBarbara RettUlrike BeimpoldTimna BrauerChristine ReilerTini Kainrath
Seasons
Series overview Season # ofStars # ofEpisodesSeason Premiere DateSeason Finale DateCelebrity Honor Places 1 – Spring 2006 8 8 5 March 2006 23 April 2006 Tomi Metsäketo Kristiina Elstelä Jone Nikula 2 – Spring 2007 8 9 25 February 2007 22 April 2007 Mariko Pajalahti Sari Siikander Sami Sarjula 3 – Spring 2008 10 12 2 March 2008 18 May 2008 Nicke Lignell Tuuli Matinsalo 4 – Spring 2009 10 12 1 March 2009 17 May 2009 Satu Tuomisto Pirkko Mannola Rosa Meriläinen 5 – Autumn 2010 10 12 19 September 2010 5 December 2010 Antti Tuisku Laura Voutilainen Jukka Rasila 6 – Autumn 2011 10 12 25 September 2011 11 December 2011 Viivi Pumpanen Jarppi Leppälä Jani Toivola 7 – Autumn 2012 10 12 16 September 2012 2 December 2012 Krisse Salminen Antonio Flores Baba Lybeck 8 – Autumn 2013 10 12 8 September 2013 24 November 2013 Raakel Lignell Manuela Bosco Harri Syrjänen 9 – Autumn 2014 10 12 14 September 2014 30 November 2014 Pete Parkkonen Anu Sinisalo Janna Hurmerinta
Season 1 (2006) Contestants: Tomi Metsäketo (tenor) partnered by Sanna Hirvaskari, eventual winners Kristiina Elstelä (actress) partnered by Marko Keränen, runners-up Jone Nikula (music executive, Idols judge) partnered by Katja Koukkula, sixth eliminated Keith "Keke" Armstrong (soccer coach) partnered by Helena Ahti-Hallberg, fifth eliminated Markus Pöyhönen (track athlete) partnered by Sanna Hento, fourth eliminated Katja Kannonlahti (news anchor) partnered by Jussi Väänänen, third eliminated Suvi Miinala (model, Miss Finland 2000) partnered by Juha Pykäläinen, second eliminated Leena Harkimo (member of Parliament) partnered by Erik Hento, first eliminated
Season 2 (2007) Contestants: Mariko Pajalahti (musician) partnered by Aleksi Seppänen, eventual winners Sari Siikander (actress) partnered by Mikko Ahti, runners-up Sami Sarjula (actor) partnered by Sanna Hirvaskari, sixth eliminated Eppu Salminen (actor) partnered by Anna Sainila, fifth eliminated Jani Sievinen (swimmer) partnered by Helena Ahti-Hallberg, fourth eliminated Vanessa Kurri (model, Miss Finland 1999) partnered by Marko Keränen, third eliminated Roman Schatz (TV personality, writer) partnered by Saara Huovinen, second eliminated Pirkko Arstila (journalist, writer) partnered by Vesa Anttila, first eliminated Singer Kirill Babitzin was to take part in the competition, but he suddenly died on 31 January. His place was taken by Schatz.
Season 3 (2008) Contestants: (singer, actress) partnered by Mikko Ahti, eventual winners Nicke Lignell (actor) partnered by Susa Matson, runners-up Tuuli Matinsalo (athlete) partnered by Aleksi Seppänen, eighth eliminated Antti Kaikkonen (member of Parliament) partnered by Satu Markkanen, seventh eliminated Joonas Hytönen (TV personality) partnered by Kati Koivisto, sixth eliminated Vappu Pimiä (TV and radio personality) partnered by Jani Rasimus, fifth eliminated Merja Larivaara (actress) partnered by Janne Talasma, fourth eliminated Jimi Pääkallo (singer, actor) partnered by Anna Sainila, third eliminated Jyrki Anttila (tenor) partnered by Satu Suomi, second eliminated Sikke Sumari (TV personality, restaurateur) partnered by Daniel Ylimäki, first eliminated
Season 4 (2009) Contestants: Satu Tuomisto (Miss Finland 2008, model) partnered by Janne Talasma eventual winners Pirkko Mannola (Miss Finland 1958, actress, singer) partnered by Mika Jauhiainen, runners-up Rosa Meriläinen (writer, ex-politician) partnered by Sami Helenius, eighth eliminated Wilson Kirwa (long-distance runner) partnered by Susa Matson, seventh eliminated Kim Herold (musician, ex-model) partnered by Sanni Siurua, sixth eliminated Miia Nuutila (actress) partnered by Vesa Anttila, fifth eliminated Bettina Sågbom (TV reporter) partnered by Jani Rasimus, fourth eliminated Mato Valtonen (musician, actor) partnered by Janica Mattsson, third eliminated Rolf Nordström (plastic surgeon) partnered by Nitta Kortelainen, second eliminated Simo Frangén (comedian) partnered by Satu Markkanen, first eliminated
Season 5 (2010) Contestants: Antti Tuisku (singer) partnered by Anna-Liisa Bergström, eventual winners Laura Voutilainen (singer) partnered by Marko Keränen, runners-up Jukka Rasila (actor) partnered by Saana Akiola, eighth eliminated Joona Puhakka (diver) partnered by Sanni Siurua, seventh eliminated Nasima Razmyar (the refugee woman of 2010) partnered by Jani Rasimus, sixth eliminated Jethro Rostedt (CEO, took part in the second season of a Finnish version of the reality show The Apprentice) partnered by Susa Matson, fifth eliminated Satu Silvo (actress) partnered by Sami Helenius, fourth eliminated Maria Jungner (TV host) partnered by Aleksi Seppänen, third eliminated Juha Veijonen (actor) partnered by Sanna Hirvaskari, second eliminated Anna Perho (reporter) partnered by Janne Talasma, eliminated first
Season 6 (2011) Contestants: Viivi Pumpanen (Miss Finland 2010, model) partnered by Matti Puro, eventual winners Jarppi Leppälä (Dudesons-star) partnered by Anna-Liisa Bergstrom, runners-up Jani Toivola (Member of Parliament, actor) partnered by Jutta Helenius, eight eliminated Mikko Parikka (actor) partnered by Katri Mäkinen, seventh eliminated Satu Ruotsalainen (former athlete, astrologist) partnered by Sami Helenius, sixth eliminated Jukka Tammi (former ice hockey player) partnered by Saana Akiola, fifth eliminated Siiri Nordin (singer) partnered by Jani Rasimus, fourth eliminated Anneli Sari (singer) partnered by Marko Keränen, third eliminated Veeti Kallio (actor, singer) partnered by Susa Matson, second eliminated Mari Perankoski (actress, screenwriter) partnered by Toni Rasimus, first eliminated
Season 7 (2012) The seventh season aired in autumn 2012. Comedian Krisse Salminen won the season with Matti Puro, who also won the previous season.
Krisse Salminen (comedian) partnered by Matti Puro (Winner) Nexar Antonio Flores (registered partnership of Pekka Haavisto) partnered by Disa Kortelainen (2. place) Baba Lybeck (journalist) partnered by Mikko Ahti (3. place) Sari Multala (competitive sailor) partnered by Sami Helenius (4. place) Risto Kaskilahti (actor) partnered by Susa Matson (5. place) Ristomatti Ratia (designer) partnered by Sanna-Maria Heikkilä (6. place) Erja Lyytinen (musician) partnered by Markku Hyvärinen (7. place) Amin Asikainen (boxer) partnered by Jutta Helenius (8. place) VilleGalle (rapper) partnered by Kia Lehmuskoski (9. place) Jippu (singer) partnered by Juri Trosenko (Last place)
Season 8 (2013) The eighth season began on 15 September 2013. In this season, first time in the show's history, a competitor withdrew from the competition. Chef Harri Syrjänen injured his foot while practicing the dance and had to withdraw. Raakel Lignell (musician) partnered by Jani Rasimus, eight eliminated but returned to competition; eventual winners Manuela Bosco (actress and former sprinter) partnered by Matti Puro, runners-up Harri Syrjänen (chef) partnered by Jutta Helenius, withdrew on 11 November 2013 Sari Havas (actress) partnered by Mikko Ahti, seventh eliminated Juhani Tamminen (ice hockey coach) partnered by Susa Matson, sixth eliminated Sami Hedberg (stand-up comedian) partnered by Anna Sainila, fifth eliminated Mert Otsamo (fashion designer) partnered by Ansku Bergström, fourth eliminated Mariska (singer) partnered by Aleksi Seppänen, third eliminated Juno (rapper) partnered by Kia Lehmuskoski, second eliminated Noora Karma (magician and mentalist) partnered by Janne Talasma, first eliminated
Season 9 (2014) The ninth season began in October 2014 and ended in November 2014. Pete Parkkonen (singer) partnered by Katri Mäkinen, winners Anu Sinisalo (actress) partnered by Jani Rasimus, runners-up Janna Hurmerinta (singer) partnered by Matti Puro, eighth eliminated Cristal Snow (presenter and actor) partnered by Kia Lehmuskoski, seventh eliminated Kaj Kunnas (sports commentator) partnered by Susa Matson, sixth eliminated