Hey,
Sam Vaherlehto is a multi-award-winning dancer, choreographer, and dance educator whose career bridges classical ballet, contemporary dance, and street styles. With a deep commitment to artistic exploration and education, Sam has built an international career that reflects versatility, curiosity, and an unwavering passion for movement.
Born in Thailand but raised in Finland, Sam graduated from the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera in 2007. He began his professional career with the Finnish National Ballet, performing in a wide range of productions from classical ballets to works by leading contemporary choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Kenneth Kvarnström, Christian Spuck, William Forsythe, Johan Inger, Jorma Uotinen, and Jarkko Mandelin. His diverse skill set and stage presence were quickly recognised through a number of accolades: three Finnish street dance championship titles, second place at the Nordic Ballet Contest in Sweden (2007), and first prize in the men’s performing arts solo series in show dance (2010). That same year, Sam rose to national prominence by winning Finland’s first season of So You Think You Can Dance, earning the title of “Finland’s Most Popular Dancer.”
After leaving the Finnish National Ballet, Sam continued to push the boundaries of his artistry. He joined the Susanna Leinonen Company, touring extensively across Europe and Asia with performances in China, Spain, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sweden, and Finland. He later collaborated with Danish choreographer Lotte Sigh on Transparency, a politically charged work featured in the festival Kick Backs – a festival about corruption. Sam also traveled to Israel to study Gaga, the movement language developed by Ohad Naharin, deepening his understanding of contemporary improvisational and somatic techniques.
In 2013, Sam joined Phoenix Dance Theatre in Leeds, UK, where he danced until 2018. His time with the company saw him perform works by an impressive roster of international choreographers, including Richard Alston, Caroline Finn, Itzik Galili, Didy Veldman, Christopher Bruce CBE, Darshan Singh Bhuller, and Sharon Watson. He was also entrusted with the role of rehearsal director towards the end of his tenure, refining his leadership and coaching skills.
Sam’s next chapter took him to Shanghai, China, where he worked with SLATE Contemporary Dance Company as both a dancer and rehearsal director. Touring nationally and in Italy, he was instrumental in shaping the company’s artistic direction, bringing his experience and perspective to a new cultural context.
Driven by a desire to evolve, Sam returned to the UK to further his academic and creative development, graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. During his time in Glasgow, he also became a trustee for The Work Room in 2021, an artist-led organisation supporting independent dance artists across Scotland. This role gave him a deeper understanding of governance, budgeting, and policy-making, as well as the structural challenges and opportunities within the dance sector. He contributed to shaping strategies that support artist development and sustainable funding models—insight that continues to inform his work as an educator and advocate for the arts.
During his studies, Sam created the solo work Being. Decoupled, which was performed at the Into the New Festival at Tramway in Glasgow—marking a shift toward deeper personal exploration and choreographic authorship.
Now based in London, Sam is focused on teaching and mentoring, sharing his extensive experience with the next generation of dancers. He is a regular teacher at prestigious institutions including The Place and Danceworks, and teaches company class for renowned companies such as Wayne McGregor and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. His teaching draws from his wide-ranging background: classical ballet, contemporary techniques, street styles, and somatic practices, all shaped by his yoga practice and academic study.
Sam’s approach is grounded in a belief that dance is a tool for self-expression, connection, and present-moment awareness. He encourages dancers to move freely and intelligently, cultivating both technical rigour and creative agency. His classes are known for being physically demanding yet open and explorative, welcoming dancers into a space where they can be both challenged and supported.
Most recently, Sam returned briefly to the stage with Company Wayne McGregor, but his primary focus is now on teaching and education. He is currently pursuing the ISTD Level 6 Diploma in Dance Pedagogy and is an Affiliate Member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). His long-term goal is to teach in higher education and to contribute to the training and mentoring of the next generation of dance artists and educators.
With his unique blend of performance excellence, creative insight, and educational vision, Sam continues to be a dynamic force in the international dance community—bridging tradition and innovation, discipline and freedom, body and mind.
