TTK dancer Saana Akiola opened up with harassment-then women’s messages began

There were hundreds of messages. Dancer and dancing with the stars dance teacher Saana Akiola38, had told a colleague Tiia Elgin With a podcast he started with a harassment in the Dancing With the Stars program. In an instant, Akiola was in the headlines, the general public wondered who the dance couple might be and Akiola flooded hundreds of messages.

There was encouragement, but also a lot of barking, especially for women. Breakthrough and much worse messages and blame for how Akiola has now ruined several celebrity men, his dance couples, and put them all under doubt. It became clear from Akiola that many adults still do not understand what sexual harassment is.

– I immediately started looking for the culprit, even though it was not my point. The audience regretted my mind for my partner. However, I would not have made it publicly if my dance couple had said they wouldn’t want me to talk about it, Akiola says in an interview with Iltalehti.

He told many of his dance couples in advance that he was going to highlight his experience in the podcast.

Tall

Akiola started as a dance teacher in the RTK program at the age of 22 in 2010 and was involved until the fall of 2023.

When starting TTK exercises with the new dance couple, Akiola gave a similar speech for all the star students for years. He said that dancing closely from intimate does not mean that he was in love with his partner. If the couple falls in love with Akiola, he doesn’t want to know about it. Dance involves touch and seductive eyes on the stage, but you have to keep up with the limits all the time. Dance couples assured them to understand it.

Still, one of them began to bomb Akiola with harassment messages and behave in different ways inappropriate. Akiola made it clear that behavior was wrong. The harassment continued.

– Even the man said at home that you stop now, you are so anxious.

However, Akiola continued at TTK for a total of nine seasons and was only off on maternity leave.

Making the program was also a wonderful and most prominent job of a dancer that sparked more work.

– The program was the greatest external appreciation that you can get as a dancer. Probably all my jobs have come somehow with TTK and I have been asked to join many nice things because the role of the TTK teacher is so visible.

Once still

In the fall of 2022 Akiola won the dance competition Benjamin Peltonen with. After that he thought it was time to get out of production, but when Akiola was asked Shawn Huffin Pair, he still joined.

– I knew Shawn before and thought I’d go for another time.

The season went well, but in the fall of 2024 Akiola was no longer seen on TTK parquet.

– I had been involved for a very long time. I was also afraid that if the harassment was repeated, I would not be able to do the situation anymore.

The harassment that began during the program eventually continued for several years.

– It went too far, Akiola says serious.

An apology does not fix

During the podcast episode, Akiola’s distractor apologized for his behavior.

– I appreciated the apology, but at some point the apology no longer helps and corrects things. I have also taught my children that not only can I apologize repeatedly, but that one has to really change their behavior.

Akiola has one big reason to announce harassment in public.

– One has to say things that are bad. There is a lot of harassment, but many do not dare to speak. I don’t regret telling me and I would do the same again.

In addition to TTK production, Akiola had told about harassment and intention to speak publicly to his immediate circle.

– Some said the Lord God, then you wouldn’t get any work anymore.

However, he wants to live in a world where he can tell about his experiences without fear and lynching. For his 10- and 12-year-old children, he wants to teach that he must be kept on his own and others’ boundaries and that bullying and barking is wrong.

– Hate and irritation to celebrities is shocking. A publicity person is just a person who does public work, but for some, it seems that it means that one can bark and criticize.

At its longest 10 years

Akiola has lived most of his life in a dance bubble. He started racing dance at the age of 7 and his teenage years of life was school and dance. Leaving the TTK also meant that more other dancer’s jobs had to be obtained.

At some point, there must be more to the work front.

– I already notice from my body that I can’t dance the same for a long time. Maybe for a maximum of ten years, he ponders.

During the past few weeks, Akiola has had time to reflect on the future as he was injured in training in early February. The left ankle ligaments ripped off and Akiola had to get on sick leave for weeks. At the same time, the spring’s main work, the Dance Stars tour, was also scrapped, where Akiola had to be involved.

– I’m terribly annoyed that I couldn’t get on the tour. It still cries. I can’t get over it. It is so unique to get on the theater stage and really do your own thing and dance as difficult patterns as you can. TTK also always goes on a student’s terms.

According to the doctor’s forecast, Akiola’s ankle is completely healed and fortunately the recovery has progressed well. He can already book a weight on the foot. Still, there is still a way to dance.

– On the other hand, I think this has a purpose too. I have danced and taught for a long time, done a lot of work and thought that there would be more time for children and family. Love and health are the most important things. As long as I and my families are healthy, my mind is not completely collapsed.

Makeup, hair and style: Ilkka Ruotsalainen. Clothes in the cover photo: shirt Uli Schneider/Tuu-Li Design, Jeans Seafarer/My O My, Earrings Peura Collection. Outfit 1: Shirt My Road Studio/Tuu-Li Design, Trousers and Vest Uli Schneider/Tuu-Li Design, Shoes Ganni/My O My, Earrings Fashion. Wonder 2: jacket and top mosh mos/dots, trousers transit/tuu-li design.