Sami Yli-Piipari
Sami Yli-Piipari is a former Professional Ballroom dancer specializing in 10 Dance. He is a former World & European Professional 10 Dance Grand Finalist, a UK Open Professional Rising Star Finalist, and a Blackpool Professional Rising Star Semi-Finalist. Sami is a professor at the University of Georgia and is a licensed WDSF and USA Dance Adjudicator and Chairman.
- Born:
January 20, 1970
- Hometown:
Jyväskylä, Finland
- Current location:
Athens, Georgia
- Current status:
WDSF Licensed Adjudicator (A, PD)
USA Dance Certified Adjudicator (A+ B+ C- D-)
WDSF and USA Dance Chairman
Professor at the University of Georgia
Overview#
Sami Yli-Piipari started ballroom dancing at the age of 10 in his native country of Finland.
During his career with his wife, Karita Yli-Piipari, he achieved numerous International and National titles, including fifteen Finnish National Championship titles.
Sami is a former World & European Professional 10 Dance Grand Finalist, a UK Open & International Professional Rising Star Finalist, and a Blackpool Professional Rising Star Semi-Finalist.
Representing Finland, Sami serves as a WDSF chairman and adjudicator who has judged several World and Continental Championships.
Off of the Dance Floor#
Off of the dance floor, Dr. Sami Yli-Piipari is an assistant professor in Children’s Physical Activity, Fitness, and School Health Promotion at the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Georgia. He directs the Children’s Physical Activity and Fitness Laboratory specializing on children’s physical activity and motivation issues.
Dr. Yli-Piipari earned his PhD in 2011 from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland in Sport Pedagogy with concentration on exercise psychology. After working in a junior faculty position at the University of Jyvaskyla, Dr. Yli-Piipari spent two postdoc years at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, and three years as an assistant professor at the University of Memphis.
Dr. Yli-Piipari has published over 30 book chapters and research articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is a research fellow of the Society for Health and Physical Educators and an editorial board member of the Journal of Teaching, Research, and Media in Kinesiology.
Accomplishments#
- Holds fifteen Finnish National Championship titles
- World Professional 10 Dance Grand Finalist
- European Professional 10 Dance Grand Finalist
- UK Open Professional Rising Star Finalist
- International Professional Rising Star Finalist
- Blackpool Professional Rising Star Semi-Finalist
- Slovenian Open Professional Standard Champion (2002)
- University of Jyväskylä, Finland, PhD (Sport Pedagogy) – 2011
- Has published 30+ book chapters and research articles in peer-reviewed journals
- Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Teaching, Research, and Media in Kinesiology
- Society for Health and Physical Educators, Research Fellow
- Former Assistant Professor – University of Memphis
- Former Project Manager, Post Doctoral Scholar – University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Former Research Assistant – University of Jyväskylä
Dance Partners#
- Karita Yli-Piipari (? – 2003)
Entrepreneurship#
- WDSF Licensed A Adjudicator
- WDSF Licensed PD Adjudicator
- USA Dance Certified Adjudicator (A+ B+ C- D-)
- WDSF and USA Dance Chairman
- Children’s Physical Activity, Fitness, and School Health Promotion, Assistant Professor (University of Georgia)
- Children’s Physical Activity and Fitness Laboratory, Director (University of Georgia)
- Journal of Teaching, Research, and Media in Kinesiology, Editorial Board Member
Photo Gallery#
