Janette Manrara

Early life

Manrara is from Miami, Florida, US. Born to her Cuban parents, Luis and Maritza, Janette is the oldest of three children. Originally a singer, learning from her Cuban family, she formally studied dance from the age of 19. She began performing in musical theatre at age 12, and started her formal dance training at 19, studying ballroom, ballet, pointe, jazz and hip-hop. Manrara studied finance at Florida International University, and worked in a bank for seven years, as a senior loan processor; this was while she was completing her dance training in Ballroom, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Salsa.

''So You Think You Can Dance''

Main article: So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)

Manrara made it through her audition to be selected for season 5, where she was paired with Brandon Bryant. During their time on the show, Janette received much praise from the judges; both Mia Michaels and Nigel Lythgoe said Janette was their favorite female dancer that season and Lythgoe went on to say he hoped she would win the entire competition. However, she was eliminated during week 7 along with contemporary contestant Jason Glover.

During the show's eighth season, Manrara returned as an All Star to perform a Paso Doble with contestant Marko Germar.

''Strictly Come Dancing'' and ''It Takes Two''

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

Melvin Odoom is the only celebrity not to appear on this list.

In 2013 Manrara became a professional dancer on British TV show Strictly Come Dancing. Her first celebrity partner in the 11th series was fashion designer Julien Macdonald; they were the third couple to be eliminated. She returned for the 12th series and partnered actor Jake Wood, with whom she made it to the Semi-Finals and finished in 5th place overall. For the 13th series, she was paired with TV personality Peter Andre; they were the 9th couple to be eliminated.

Manrara has also taken part in one-off specials of the show: In 2013 she performed a Quickstep with actor Ricky Norwood on the Christmas special. In 2014 Manrara scored a maximum of 40 points in 'The People's Strictly for Comic Relief' for an American Smooth with, 'Kidz R us' founder, Phillip Barnett. Manrara took part in the 2016 *'Strictly Come dancing Live tour''' with her series 12 partner Jake Wood. For series 14, she was partnered with radio DJ Melvin Odoom, andwere the first couple to be eliminated after receiving the fewest public votes. Odoom and Manrara reprised their partnership in the 2016 *Christmas special'', she also danced with canoeist Joe Clarke in the 2016 Children in Need special. For series 15, she was partnered with former JLS singer Aston Merrygold. They were the sixth couple eliminated in week 7, losing the dance-off to Mollie King and her partner AJ Pritchard. For series 16, she was partnered with children's television and This Morning doctor Dr. Ranj Singh. They were the sixth couple to be eliminated. During her seventh series on the show, in 2019, she was partnered with paralympian, Will Bayley. They had to withdraw from the competition on week 7, after Will sustained a knee injury in rehearsals the previous week. For her eighth series, she was partnered with pop singer, HRVY, and made the earliest perfect score for their Street/Commercial routine in week 6. They reached the final, her first final, and they were runners-up.

On 10 June 2021, it was announced that Manrara would become the new presenter of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, taking over from Zoe Ball who stepped down from the series earlier in the year. Manrara therefore did not continue as a professional dancer on the show.

''Strictly Come Dancing'' performances

Series 11

For series 11, Manrara was paired with Julien Macdonald.

Series 12

For series 12, Manrara was paired with Jake Wood.

*In week three Guest Judge, Donny Osmond, gave Jake and Janette 8 extra points

Series 13

For series 13, Manrara was paired with Peter Andre.

Series 14

For series 14, Manrara was paired with Melvin Odoom.

Series 15

For series 15, Manrara was paired with Aston Merrygold.

*In week 5, Bruno Tonioli was not present, so scores were out of 30

Series 16

For series 16, Manrara was paired with Dr. Ranj Singh.

Series 17

For series 17, Manrara was paired with Paralympic table tennis player Will Bayley.

The couple's Contemporary dance, to Lukas Graham's song "7 Years", was dedicated to the patients and staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Bayley had been treated for cancer, aged seven. Michael Hogan of The Daily Telegraph said the pair "... didn't leave a dry eye in the house after their beautiful, barefoot contemporary dance."

Due to a knee injury sustained during studio rehearsals, Bayley was unable to perform in week 6 (Halloween Week). On 30 October it was confirmed that he had withdrawn from the competition.

: Alfonso Ribeiro filled in for Tonioli

Series 18

For series 18, Manrara was paired with HRVY. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all scores are out of 30 as Bruno Tonioli could not participate due to travel restrictions. This was the first series that Manrara got her first ever perfect score, also the first perfect score in Week 6. Plus, it was her first ever Final since she first joined the show in 2013.

• During Weeks 4 and 5, Anton Du Beke replaced Mabuse.

Dance tours and other professional engagements

Manrara took part in the national Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour in 2017.

In 2018, Manrara & Aljaž Škorjanec announced dates for their 2019 UK Tour 'Remembering The Movies'.

In 2020 Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec announced dates for their 2021 UK Tour "Remembering The Oscars"

In 2025, Manrara announced she would be teaching & performing with Aljaž Škorjanec at Donahey's Dancing with the Stars weekends in 2026.

Other projects

Following her appearance on So You Think You Can Dance, Manrara joined musical TV series, Glee as a principal dancer. She also made her "Burn the Floor - West End" debut at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London on 21 July 2010. Additionally, she was part of the Burn the Floor US cast, which toured the United States from late 2010 through May 2011. She also appears on the BBC One show Morning Live doing a fitness workout. She has also co presented the show.

On 12 September 2024, Manrara's first book titled Tiny Dancer, Big World was published.

Personal life

In 2015, Manrara became engaged to long-time partner Strictly Come Dancing and Burn the Floor co-star Aljaž Škorjanec. They were married on 15 July 2017.

In February 2023, Janette and Aljaž announced that they were expecting their first child in late summer 2023. Their child, a girl, Lyra Rose was born on 28 July 2023.

References

References

1. "Janette Manrara {{!}} A passionate fire-cracker!". BBC.
2. "Janette Manrara {{!}} Our pocket rocket returns!". BBC.
3. Simmons, Abbey. (24 July 2009). "So You Think You Can Dance: Chatting with Janette Manrara". [[BuddyTV]].
4. (September 30, 2012). "Dancing with the Stars season 8 - Zorongo (Paso Doble) - Marko and Janette (All Star)". YouTube.
5. "Will Bayley MBE {{!}} Swapping his bat for the ballroom". BBC.
6. Hogan, Michael. (21 October 2019). "Strictly Come Dancing 2019, week 5 live: Saffron Barker foxtrots to top of the scoreboard, jiving David James rock bottom". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
7. (30 October 2019). "Strictly Come Dancing: Will Bayley leaves BBC One show after leg injury". [[BBC News]].
8. "Remembering The Movies Tour 2019". [[Ents24]].
9. "Remembering The Oscars Tour 2020". ents24.
10. "4* Break featuring your favourite Strictly Stars". Donaheys.
11. "Tiny Dancer, Big World: How to Find Fulfilment from the Inside Out".
12. (14 August 2015). "Aljaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara announce their engagement". [[Hello! (magazine).
13. Henden, Amalie. (27 October 2018). "Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec: When did Strictly professionals get married?". [[Daily Express#Sunday Express.
14. Schaverien, Tracy. (19 February 2023). "Strictly's Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec announce first baby exclusively with HELLO!". Hello!.
15. Janette Manrara. (28 July 2023). "Lyra Rose Skorjanec".