Marina Saladino

Marina Saladino was raised in Riga, Latvia and now resides in South Florida, USA. From age 6 Marina trained as a Rhythmic Gymnast and competed Nationally for 11 years all over the former USSR and Europe. She became a member of the Latvian National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team, during that time at age 16 she started coaching young gymnasts. This inspired her to earn a Bachelor’s Degree of Pedagogy in Physical Education and Biology, from University of Riga.

Marina obtained her ballet training with the teachers of Latvian National Opera Ballet School in Riga. Her teachers were Ilze Skuinya, Svetlana Anikevich and Honored Artist of Latvian National Opera Ballet Theatre, Ballet Master Aleksander Rumyantsev.

Marina’s carrier as a professional dancer took her all over the world. She performed with Cirque Pacifica and Cirque Nouveau (Jean Ann Ryan’s productions), with internationally known Latvian magicians Gennady and Elena Palchevsky, also at the Andrew Lloyd Weber’s productions Magic of The Night and Song and Dance, and in musicals Kismet, Brigadoon, Milk and Honey at the Wold Performing Arts Center in Boca Raton, FL to name just a few.

For 7 years Marina owned and directed Saladino Dance School where her students got intensive training in ballet, jazz, creative dance, hip hop and contemporary dance. Currently Marina teaches ballet technique, pointe, repertoire, acrobatics at Lents Dance Company in Boca Raton, FL. Her gymnastics background helps her enhance ballet training with intense stretching and strengthening. Marina's motto is “It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.”

In January 2019 Marina’s student, Madison Brown, won a Junior Grand Prix Award at YAGP Tampa, FL and later at YAGP NY finals she received Third Place in Junior Category. Also, Madison won a First Place at the Universal Ballet Competition 2019 in Miramar, FL, and received a Gold medal at the World Ballet Competition 2019 in Orlando, FL. Due to Madison’s performance and quality of her training, Marina's work was recognized, she was named an Outstanding Teacher by the Jury at YAGP Tampa, FL in 2019.