it became clear who became the winners of the “Salsamanai” project

After adding up all the scores of the viewers who voted by phone, it turned out that the winners were Gailė Butvilaitė and Oddebi!

Tadas Gryn and Cher took the second place, Norbertas Liatkovskis and Raquel took the third place, and Jurgita Jurkutė and Adrianas came in fourth.

When earlier in life there was too little of something, something was missing or one wanted more, today, when dancing the last dance, not a single Lithuanian lacked anything. Cuba fundamentally changed their outlook on life. All participants unanimously agreed that they would like to bring the heat of Havana to Lithuania, and leave a part of Lithuania in Cuba. Now, every corner in Havana will forever keep the secrets of Lithuanians, and for Cubans, every detail will remind them how 8 brave people decided on an extraordinary life adventure.

The grand finale took place in a special place in Cuba – where Ernest Hemingway once walked. And this Sunday, the 4 best pairs of “Salsamans” also stepped here for the last time.

Equally special was the evening commission, which spoke for all the dancers for the last time. In the commission it was possible to see salsa world legend Santiago Alfonso, Hollywood Film Academy member Libia Batista, salsa ambassador in Lithuania Sandra Saikauskaitė and manager of famous performers and dancers Victor Ofarrill. In fact, this time the commission was limited to comments only – the final scores were decided by viewers from Lithuania.

Tad and his partner Cher were the first to appear in the final. Even before the performance, Tad said that he came to Cuba not to learn the necessary steps, but to dance for love – all this was reflected in the last performance of the couple. “I’m sick with love for my partner,” Tad said.

The choreographer of the project, S. Saikauskaitė, who sat in the commission, did not hide that Tadas was the participant she was most excited about before coming to Cuba. But the actor managed to outdo himself. Every time she visited the rehearsal hall, Sandra couldn’t help but be surprised that Tad, even when he was wet from head to toe, didn’t give up and made every effort to make them shine with Cher at the decisive moment.

“I really liked it – there’s definitely chemistry between you two. I’m sure you could move here and work as an actor or even a dancer. We are really waiting for you in Cuba – I will provide you with films!” said L. Batista, a member of the Hollywood Film Academy, after the performance of the couple.

Gailė and Oddebi came second. Despite the rollercoaster of emotions that this couple constantly rode, no one doubted their talent. However, they were united not only by their love of dance, but also by a similar temperament – 18-year-old Gail, who grew up in Venezuela, is almost a native speaker of Spanish, she spent more time at the Caribbean Sea than at the Baltic Sea, and the environment and the hot sun warmed her character. That’s exactly what Oddebi is!

The pair’s latest performance also impressed the panel. “We Cubans sometimes forget how beautiful it is to see Lithuanians – people from a completely different part of the world – who dance to our rhythms so gracefully, elegantly and without any vulgarity. Thank you,” S. Alfonso said.

Norbert and Raquel came third. Although this couple could not speak the same language throughout the project, it was dance that brought them together in the end. And Norbert, who experienced many experiences in the project – from a night spent in the hospital to a birthday celebration in distant Cuba – finally discovered something about himself in this country that he did not know yet. The guy said many times that Cuba, the people he met here and this project allowed him to reveal his personality even more.

And that he is insanely talented, he proved once again during the last dance. “This couple is a real atomic bomb, but I was one of those people who saw that this path in Cuba was not very easy for you. There were potholes and the wind was blowing either the wrong way or too hard. But you’re the kind of fighter I haven’t seen in a long time.

You and your partner, even if your relationship has been broken, are really super talented, similar, and in some sense even a mirror of each other. It seems to me that you were very suitable for each other – I congratulate you for bringing so much energy and talent to this court”, said S. Saikauskaitė after the dance.

Jurgita and her partner Adrianas were the last to appear during the final. Salsa has always been dear to Jurgita – many years ago, she met her husband at a salsa club. However, only after arriving in Cuba did she realize that it was this project that revealed her colors, which were sometimes invisible even to herself.

Adriana constantly taught Jurgita the best secrets of salsa, and she shared with her partner the calmness that he needed before every performance. Despite being a professional dancer, he was much more nervous than Jurgita.

The final performance of this couple was just as special. Not only because they danced for the last time, but also because Jurgita dedicated their dance to her daughter Cornelia on the occasion of Mother’s Day.

“I remember our very first meeting in a dance hall in Lithuania. You were one of those who said you didn’t know if you should go to Cuba at all, if you would make it, if you could. Now these questions seem ridiculous, because all the gods of Cuba bow to your charm, talent, hard work and maturity! The beautiful work you and Adrian have brought here is a great joy. It is a great joy to see you here – so wonderful and talented, inspiring and touching. Thank you very much”, said S. Saikauskaitė after the performance.