Not even the cheerful waves on the river Sava could follow the agility and passion that filled the pier during the 3rd Belgrade Latino Marathon.
Even though Belgrade’s chilly nights already started announcing the arrival of the autumn, energetic latin dancers of the Belgrade Latino Marathon made sure to keep summer in Belgrade at least for a while longer. With the first beats Zumba instructors stepped onto the stage inviting the still shy audience to join them. And it didn’t take them much. The rhythms of cheerful music made even the shyest visitors of the Belgrade Latino Marathon, among which was the Serbia.com team, dance and move their hips, not knowing that all their excuses to keep aside would be washed away by the Sava river as soon as the top dancers came to stage and started dancing Salsa, the queen dance of the night. The irresistible dance couple Irena Maksimović (15) and Lav Crnčević (16) attracted most attention. These youngsters were state champions 14 times, and they have dedicated almost their whole lives to dancing. “Dance is a unique fusion of art and sport and to us it stands for a lifestyle, and therefore it’s no difficulty for us to practice five hours a day. We both go to a ballet school and we started dancing together long time ago, and beside 14 state championships we won first places at several international competitions around the world. It’s a pleasure to be participating at such manifestation in our town as well,” commented Irena and Lav for Serbia.com. And while we were talking to this young dance couple, the audience of the Belgrade Latino Marathon was already dancing following the moves of the Salsa instructors on the stage. Both young and old, and even the cyclists who happened to be there at the moment, let themselves go to this passionate dance. At first with baby steps but with smile on their faces, and soon after they all danced carried by the rhythm of Salsa. “Salsa is joyful, it fills people’s lives with happiness and good mood and that is the reason why it is our favorite among dances. Our goal is to introduce these Latin dances to people who are not dancers, to show them basic moves, to lure them to spice up their lives with Latin dances,” said smiling Jelena Lazarević, dance instructor at the “Salsa Primera” dance school. The atmosphere of the Belgrade Latino Marathon was particularly stirred up by the performance of the “Cheerleaders team” from the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education. Energetic and attractive girls responded to the ovations of the crowd with great dance moves. And then came the moment for all performers of the Belgrade Latino Marathon to join their forces with the audience and continue dancing with the sounds of music performed by Jovan Maljoković and “Balkan salsa band”. Short and swift dance moves filled the Sava pier. We also learned a few moves and promised ourselves and the dancers that we will take a salsa lesson or two. Great latino party continued till late at night, and once again Belgrade has shown why it has no competition in the neighborhood, at least when it comes to Latin dances. 
