Season 4 Ep:11 In this episode of The Dance Real Podcast, Kate Histon sits down with Finnish dance leader, educator, and international adjudicator Marco Bjurström to explore what it means to lead, teach, and judge with integrity in the global dance landscape. Marco reflects on his early beginnings in Finland, from discovering dance through popular culture to building Step Up Company and Step Up School into one of the country’s most influential training environments. He shares how teaching beginners across rural Finland shaped his belief that dance is fundamentally about atmosphere, emotional safety, and the responsibility that comes with holding authority in a learning space. The conversation moves into the ethics of judging, where Marco outlines the difference between analysis and approval, and why honest, structured evaluation serves dancers more than pleasing feedback. Together, Kate and Marco explore cultural responsibility in choreography, including the importance of understanding the historical and social context of music and movement, and how competitions can become spaces for both artistic growth and ethical awareness. They also discuss originality in dance creation, the risks of trend-driven choreography, and why artistry emerges when a piece is shaped around the dancer rather than the formula. The episode closes with reflections on studio leadership, parent boundaries, and the role of communication in creating training environments that are both high-performing and psychologically safe. This is a thoughtful dialogue for dancers, educators, adjudicators, and studio leaders who care about excellence that is grounded in respect, responsibility, and human development. Marco’s Career Credits • Co-founder of the Finnish Dance Organization (1989). • President of the Finnish Dance Organization (served three separate terms). • Member of the IDO Presidium (International Dance Organization). • Presidium member of the Finnish Dance Sport Federation. • International dance adjudicator, judging IDO competitions since 1988. • Supervisor for IDO Championships. Performance and Creative Work • Dancer in Cats at Helsinki City Theatre. • Founder of StepUp Company. • Founder of StepUp School (1997), which has grown from one studio into a major dance institution. • Choreographer of the musical HYPE at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki (1994), a major commercial success. Stage Director and Choreographer Directed major theatre productions including: • Grease, Hair, Saturday Night Fever, Avenue Q , High School Musical (1 & 2), Rent, A Chorus Line, Chicago, The Prom, From Berlin to Broadway, Hype Opera directing credits: • Carmen, Sillanpää Television, Creator of the StepUp Show (television series featuring dancers and celebrities)., Host of the hit Finnish television game show “BumtsiBum!” (approx. 230 episodes), Host of Dancing With the Stars Finland (2006–2009), Head Judge on So You Think You Can Dance Finland (2010). Choreographic and Creative Output • Creator of 18 large-scale adult dance productions. • Choreographer of 30+ dance formations, plus numerous small group and duet works. 🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world: 🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com 📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.
