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United
Dance studios
Welcome to us
The vision for United Dance Studio is a dance studio where everyone has a place.
The studio is run by a dedicated team with Maria Alkyona and Jonas Örknér at the helm.
Maria Alkyona
Born and raised in Crete, Greece, Maria has had a lifelong passion for dance, starting with Greek folk dance at a young age. Since 2017, she has expanded her repertoire to include teaching and performing salsa and belly dance throughout Greece. Her commitment to dance has also taken her on trips around Europe, where she has participated in various international festivals. In 2019, Maria distinguished herself as the Balkan Salsa Champion in the professional solo category. She continued her success, taking first place in the professional salsa solo category at the Greek Open Salsa Championship during the Salsa Spring Festival in both 2023 and 2024. In 2020, Maria moved to Denmark to further her education and received a diploma from the International Dance Academy of Copenhagen. At the end of 2021, she founded the team Alkyonides Ladystyling, showcasing her commitment to fostering a community of dancers and furthering her artistic vision.
Jonas Örknér
Jonas is a professional contemporary dancer who has established a significant career as both a dancer and choreographer since graduating from the Stockholm Ballet Academy in 2004. His early focus on music, particularly the saxophone and drums, laid the foundation for his artistic journey. Initially drawn to Latin American music, he performed in Latin American jazz bands and samba orchestras, which sparked his passion for salsa.
His connection to Puerto Rico deepened with several visits where he works, teaches and trains. He has had the honor of choreographing for Andanza, the largest contemporary dance company in Puerto Rico, three times, with his most recent collaboration in 2023. During his time in Puerto Rico, Jonas has trained under various prominent salsa and bomba teachers, including the famous duo Tito and Tamara.
As a contemporary dancer, Jonas has toured and performed on nearly every continent, sharing his skills and knowledge through teaching. His extensive teaching experience spans both professional companies and aspiring dancers, reaching locations from Puerto Rico to South Africa and Iraq. Since 2007, he has actively choreographed for both professional and semi-professional companies, cementing his reputation in the dance world.