EVEN after 10 years on Strictly – first as a professional dancer, then as co-host of sister show It Takes Two – Janette Manrara says she still feels “like the newbie.”
“It’s true, I do – and 10 years? I can hardly believe it, it’s gone so fast,” she says, laughing. “I was such a fan of Strictly before I went on the show, I feel very blessed to be part of it.
“There’s a Walt Disney quote, ‘all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them’, and I think that’s exactly right. Work hard to achieve your dreams, or all they will ever be, are dreams…”
Janette, who hosts Disney 100: The Concert, which kicks off its UK tour in Glasgow on May 31, is living proof dreams can come true.
Born in Miami to Cuban parents Luis and Maritza, she studied finance at university and worked in a bank for seven years while keeping her hopes of being a dancer alive by training in her spare time.
She failed her first audition for US reality show So You Think You Can Dance? but made it on to the series the following year, where she was a hit with judges and viewers.
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She joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, and her celebrity partners over the years have included fashion designer Julien Macdonald; EastEnders actor Jake Wood; singer Peter Andre; and This Morning star Dr Ranj Singh. She took over from Zoe Ball as co-host of It Takes Two in 2021.
Janette is married to fellow Strictly pro Aljaž Škorjanec and their first baby is due in the summer.
“I’m feeling good, trying to stay cool, calm and collected,” she says, with a laugh. “Aljaž and I are just so thrilled, because it took us a while to get here.”
The couple had been trying for a baby for “a couple of years” and had arranged to start IVF treatment when they were overjoyed to discover Janette was pregnant. With not long to go now before the baby is born, Janette is “excited and nervous at the same time”, she says.
“I’m trying not to read too much – there’s such a lot of information out there, it can be quite scary,” she adds. “So, I’m just listening to my amazing doctor, Nikki Lack, and no-one else at this point…”
Freshly returned from a “babymoon” with Aljaž’s family in Slovenia, Janette is now preparing for Disney 100, her “dream-come-true” job.
“It’s a celebration of 100 years of Disney music, with something for everyone, grown-ups and kids, and it’s going to be magical,” she says. “Anyone who knows me knows I am a Disney super-fan, so I cannot wait for the tour to start in Glasgow.”
She adds, with a grin: “And I know from the Strictly tour how loud Glasgow audiences are, so it’s the perfect place to start....”
Disney 100 is a multimedia experience, featuring famous film scenes on a huge screen as the Hollywood Sound Orchestra and a starry cast of West End and Broadway singers bring the timeless songs and music to life.
Bessy Ewa, Charlie Burn, Cleve September, Anton Zetterholm and Roberta Valentini are just some of the big names appearing, and the songs featured include hits from The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins and Encanto, as well as highlights from the worlds of Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel.
“And I’m your guide, your Jiminy Cricket,” laughs Janette. “I’ve loved Disney since I was a child. My dad loves music, he is a beautiful singer in fact, and we grew up listening to all the old Disney songs, from Cinderella, Snow White, Pinocchio….
“My favourite film is The Little Mermaid – I remember vividly when I was about six years old, I used to make my mum put it on as soon as I came home from school every single day.”
Disney even featured in her wedding vows, she laughs.
“In our vows Aljaž promised to take me to Disney once a year, every year for the rest of our lives,” she admits. “We’re just back from our 15th trip to Disney World in Florida….this baby is going to have to love Disney too, he or she has no choice….”
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As a dancer, says Janette, the power and skill of Disney songs “really resonates”.
“Composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, who are responsible for many Disney songs, are true artists, and lots of these songs have been Oscar-winners, so it’s great to be able to celebrate that,” she explains.
“Every generation will get something out of this show. Grandparents will love being reminded of the old classics, kids will love the new hits…
“I’ve recently completed a wellbeing qualification and one of the things we covered is the power of nostalgia to invoke good feelings. I’m glad so much work is now being done around music and dementia patients too.
“A song can immediately transport you to a moment in your life. As a dancer, music is the rhythm of life, so that’s incredible.”
Disney 100: The Concert is at the OVO Hydro on May 31.
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