Strictly pro-dancers: 2013 line-up revealed
Saturday 1 June 2013, 14:24
It only seems like yesterday that we dusted off the glitter of last year's triumphant Grand Final, and now with the a new series in the not too distant future, we have news to announce at Strictly HQ.
This year we'll be waving goodbye to Flavia, Vincent, Erin and Aliona. After many successful series entertaining the nation with their spectacular Ballroom and Latin routines, our much loved pro-dancers will be hanging up their Strictly shoes. It won't be the last that you will see of them though, Flavia and Vincent promise to return to deck the halls with glitterballs, for the Christmas special.
So we are very pleased to reveal four new incredible professional dancers who will take to the floor in the autumn...
Emma Slater
British Born Emma has won was ranked in the top 20 Latin American dancers in the world, in 2006/2007. Later in 2007 Emma featured in the movie Mamma Mia, singing on the Grammy nominated soundtrack. After Mamma Mia she joined the cast of Dirty Dancing in the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End. She went on to star in West End shows Cheek to Cheek and Latin Fever before embarking on a World Tour of Burn the Floor that included Broadway and Australia. Emma has been a professional dancer and instructor on India’s Dancing With The Stars and has just finished choreographing and performing in her third series of Dancing With The Stars in the US.
Aljaž Skorjanec
Our new male pro-dancer Aljaž hails from Slovenia. Stepping into his dancing shoes at aged five, Aljaž is a 19-time Slovenian champion in Ballroom and Latin. Successfully representing his country in worldwide Latin and Ballroom Dance championships for over a decade. For the last three years, Aljaž has been part of the international tour of dance show, Burn the Floor.
Janette Manrara
Also a star of Burn the Floor, Janette is currently performing London’s West End version of the show. A top eight finalist from season five of So You Think You Can Dance in the US, Florida-born Janette began performing in musical theatre at aged 12. At 19 she began her formal dance training, studying Ballroom, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Hip Hop, specializing in Salsa. Janette has worked on the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, danced with Jennifer Lopez on the So You Think You Can Dance season six finale, and is a principal dancer on Fox’s hit series Glee, as well as the Glee Live Tour.
Iveta Lukosiute
Returning to the show for a full series after stepping in to replace an injured Aliona Vilani in 2012, is Iveta Lukosiute. Born in Klaipeda, Lithuania, Iveta has been training in Ballroom dance since the age of six and is the current World Champion in ten styles of Ballroom. As well as being an accomplished Ballroom dancer, she is also trained in Latin, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Hip Hop. She is a two-time World Professional Ten Dance Champion, a five-time US National and North American Professional Ten Dance Champion and she has also appeared on So You Think You Can Dance in the US.
Have you seen our new pro-dancers perform? Let us know and do wish Flavia, Vincent, Erin and Aliona a fond farewell below…