Winners of the 2009 Southeastern Michigan Amateur Salsa Contest

Surprise and fun abounded in the final round of this year’s Southeastern Michigan Amateur Salsa Contest.

At 10 p.m., spectators and participants were warming up the dance floor.

By 11 p.m., unforeseen circumstances forced one of the final couples (Marc Brewer and Emily Kolon) to pull out from the contest – leaving just two contenders for the grand prize.

Anna Majek and Aaron Hillyer started the competition off – twice. A CD and minor wardrobe malfunction set everyone on edge, but the couple came back after a brief break and set the dance floor aflame with a passionate performance.

Olga Malykh and Bilal Amhaz kept the heat on their competition with a very sultry performance.

Just after midnight, Marc Brewer helped grab the audience’s attention for the grand prize announcement by dancing an impromptu, freestyle performance with the lovely Laura Geldys.

Whoopin’ and hollerin’ ensued as Anna Majek and Aaron Hillyer claimed the grand prize: Full passes to the 2009 Chicago Salsa Festival.

Watch the winning performance:

But we couldn’t let our other finalists go home empty handed after all their hard work. Olga and Bilal took home gift certificates to Ann Arbor’s Cafe Habana, while Marc and Emily received gift certificates for Salon Xtreme in Detroit.

Jessica, Lesly, Carlos and DJ Sabor thank all who attended for their support, the contestants for their courage and hard work choreographing such beautiful routines, and to this year's judges: Laura Geldys, Bobby Green and Andamo Goins for their fair and balanced scoring.

Until next year!

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