At a vocational school in Tampere, Finland, a significant change was proposed for the traditional 'old dances' event, wherein students would no longer have the freedom to choose their own dance partners. Instead, the plan suggested that most dances would be partner-swapping dances in an effort to reduce the number of students who opted out of participating. This change was announced to double-degree students at TredU, the vocational institution, and sparked immediate concern among the students.

The proposed alteration was aimed at enhancing participation among students, but it quickly became a source of discontent and frustration. Students expressed their dissatisfaction, leading the school administration to reconsider the changes. Following the backlash, the institution decided to allow students to once again freely select their partners, but only from among their classmates who are also in the double-degree program.

The 'old dances' are a long-standing tradition in Finnish schools, typically celebrated by second-year high school students after their senior classmates have participated in a different celebration known as 'penkkarit.' The event, usually held in February, is a significant cultural highlight for the students and is aimed at honoring their journey and accomplishments in their educational paths.