Kats-Lazareva Lidia Petrovna and Dance Formation “Mara”

Surely and without exaggeration we can say that abroad they first learned about the Belarusian ballroom dancing was through our “Formation” (Ensemble).

Global popularization of the Belarusian ballroom dancing since the times of Max Katz was built through the performances of the ensembles.

Naturally, Lidia Petrovna Katz-Lazareva, putting all her heart, energy and professionalism continued to develop this form of ballroom dancing, and in the early 80-ies appeared our Belarusian “Formation”, which more than 20 years has been successfully developing and worthily represented our country on the international scene.

Holding in 1999 the European Championship in Gomel, and in 2004 the World Championship in Minsk in Latin Formation under the auspices of the World DanceSport Federation – was a testimony and world recognition of the high development of this direction of ballroom dancing in the Republic of Belarus.

The best 20 teams from 15 countries of the world participated in the World Championship 2004 in the Formation (Latin) category which took place in the Minsk Palace of Sports.

The ideological inspirer and organizer of this unforgettable event was the dance club “Mara” and personally Lidia Petrovna Kats-Lazareva.

The performance of “Mara” in the finals of the world’s largest dance forum was a historic and triumphant moment. It undoubtedly determined the path of further development of dance sport in the Republic of Belarus.

The demonstrative performance of the new youth team “Mary” with the European program at the World Championship in 2004 was a historic presentation and became the beginning of its participation in the World and European championships.

In international competitions for many years Formation “Mara” team successfully participated in World and European Championships:

  • European Championships La 1999 (Gomel, Belarus) – 5 place
  • World Championships St 2001 (Berlin, Germany) – 7th place
  • World Championship St 2005 (Braunschweig, Germany) – 7th place
  • European Championships La 2001 (Bekeszcaba, Hungary) – 6 place
  • The European Championship St 2006 (Kishenev, Moldova) – 6 place
  • The European Championship La 2007 (Dusseldorf, Germany) – 6 place
  • The European Championship La 2008 (Essen, Germany) – 7-th place.
  • St 2008 World Championship (Kishenev, Moldova) – 6th place

Deserved result of the creative sports work – 2nd place at the Open Championship of Austria (2008).

It was “Mara”, under the leadership of Lidia Petrovna Kats-Lazareva, as a representative of the Belarusian sports dance, firmly entrenched in the finals of the world and European championships in ballroom dancing and dance sport, loudly voicing the name of our country on them.

Several hundred masters of sports of the Republic of Belarus were awarded to the dancers of the “Mara team”. Dozens of famous coaches and judges of our country from both federations are natives of Formation “Mara team” – Tsyrkun L.N., Belyavsky D.N., Yuspa A.M., Shats V.Ya., Petrov V.A., Alexandrova E.S., Maltsev E., Zadkov A.A., Shkilevich J.P., Antipova T.V., Shareiko A., Tolstik A, Zlobin I., Popov A., Kharitonchik S., Naranovich D., Kudrevich K., Dolbik Z., Feoktistova N., Kondratieva L. and others, as well as dozens of successful dancers. It was “Mara” and personally Katz-Lazareva L.P. who gave them a start in life and profession.

Conducting a great organizational and methodological work of dance club “Mara” and Lidia Petrovna Kats-Lazareva personally, radically contributed to the opening of specializations of coach/choreographer at the Belarusian State Institute of Culture and Arts and the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture, which gives up to this day the opportunity to young certified specialists – professional teachers and coaches to continue and improve the beloved profession in many parts of our country and abroad.