Despite the cold, the sizzling Latin and ballroom dance event "Burn the Floor"a Latin and ballroom dance eventis heating the Bank of America Theatre. Windy City Times spoke via telephone with one of the dancers, Janette Manrara, on Feb. 2 (the second day of Chicago's record-breaking snowstorm) about this show as well as being on the shows Glee and So You Think You Can Dance.
Windy City Times: So ... what do you think of our weather?
Janette Manrara: It's beautiful! It is cold, and I have a sore throat right now. I had to walk back home in the blizzardit was fun. We had to take the Red Line and then walk four or five blocks to the hotel. I had never seen snow before, so I'm definitely getting my snow's worth.
WCT: You all actually performed last night.
Janette Manrara: Yesthe show must go on! [Laughs] There actually weren't that many people here last night but they were awesome. They were screaming and cheering us on. There was one gentleman who got a little wild with [dancer] Ryan [Di Lello], but it was all great.
WCT: What three words would you use to describe "Burn the Floor?"
Janette Manrara: They would definitely be "passion," "intense" and "entertainment." I think it encompasses all three very much. You can see the passion and intensity in everything we do, and you'll definitely be entertained.
WCT: Like that man was last night.
Janette Manrara: Oh, that man was definitely entertained! [Laughs]
WCT: How did you become interested in dance?
Janette Manrara: Well, my journey is a very interesting one. I did musical theater as a kid. It was [mostly] singing and acting; I didn't focus that much on dance. But when I was about 19, the director closed down the studio and the gentleman who used to run the dance classes decided to open his own studio strictly for dancing.
I knew I wanted to continue exploring and wasn't sure where it was going to take me. I had been on television for a while; I was working on Univision, a Spanish TV station down in Miami. I did a lot of skits with the kids and things like that, so I was used to the camera. The [studio owner] said, "I see something in you that tells me that you could be an amazing dancer one day." I said, "All right. I love music, and I've always liked to dance. Why not perfect it?"
I was 19and I had to prepare myself for auditions and things that people had been preparing themselves for since they were 3 so it was a huge battle. I had to work full-time and I was going to school, studying finance. It was tough. I danced in order to catch up for about eight years.
I auditioned for [the reality-competition show] So You Think You Can Dance, and got into the top 30 but I wasn't selected. That only added fuel to the fire; I saw how close I got. I had belief in myself. I went back for season five, and the rest is history.
WCT: I have to say I thought you were going to win that season.
Janette Manrara: Oh, thanks. It was weird because Jason [Glover] and I both got eliminated at the same time. We still have interviews to do afterwards, and people kept telling me, "You [being eliminated] was the shock of the season." It was funny because I felt badly for Jason. I was just taking everything one step at a time.
I had a really long conversation with [judge/executive producer] Nigel [Lythgoe] after the show. He was very frustrated [with the result]. He had very strong theories about what may have happened, but you know what? I am blessed and I am happy with what I did. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat [even though] you're being judged by three people and watched by 14-15 million [others]and I made so many friends. It was hard but it was amazing; it was the best time of my life.
WCT: What's one thing you learned about either yourself or the business from that show?
Janette Manrara: Well, I learned two things. I learned that opportunities come and go so fast. I remember when the tour ended; it flew by and the new season was coming. That moment in the spotlight goes away so quickly. You have to try and leave a mark so that you're not a one-hit wonder and people remember you.
The second thing is that I took [would be] the beautiful memories. I've made so many friends, from my season and from seasons past. I am extremely close with Courtney Galiano, Comfort and Travis Wall; besides them, I developed friendships with Kayla [Radomski] and Jason, who was my boyfriend for a while, Ade [Obayomi] and Brandon [Dumlao]. I think I grew as a person and as a performer.
It was such a crazy roller-coaster ride. One day, we'd be rehearsing our brains out: two duets, a solo and a group number for the day. We'd be exhausted and mentally drained but you'd come back home knowing you had friends who were going through the same thing.
Also, to be honest with you, the best, best, best part of it was the fans. I got so many letters from people who were touched or inspired. I would tear up and would feel so touched and blessed. I think that, as an artist, that's what you want to dotouch someone. And the tour would really show it to you, when you're dancing in front of 10,000 people in an arena, and when we did signingsI'm not kidding you, Andrewthe line would go on forever. [Laughs]
WCT: Often, dancers are the unsung heroes so it has to be nice to be recognized for who you are and what you do.
Janette Manrara: Yes, definitely. Dancers work hardand actors and singers do, too, but in a different way. But, physically, we put our bodies through so much. Having acted, danced and sung, dancing is the most physically demanding. We go through so much pain and sweat and injury and broken toenails and shoulder pain and soreness, and that's why I'm thankful for shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars and, now, Live to Dance. They let America know what we go through.
WCT: What do you think of Live to Dance?
Janette Manrara: It's a new show with a very different format. The other dance shows are all duets. I think Paula Abdul is trying to do something different, and I wish the show the best. I actually have two acts that will be performing in the finals tonight that are from my studio: Dance Town Chaos (and my best friend Richard is the lead dancer in the boys' group) and D'Angelo & Amanda, who dance ballroom and jazz. [Editor's note: The winning act was slated to be announced Feb. 9.] I have my fingers crossed.
WCT: I have to ask you about Glee, where you have danced. What is it like being on the set?
Janette Manrara: Oh, wow. Well, I was on [the competing glee club] Vocal Adrenaline, so most of our performances were in the campus auditorium. We did get to meet all the cast. Glee was so much fun. The choreographer (Zach Woodlee, who is also a producer) and assistant choreographer were amazing. Rehearsal did not feel like work; it feels like eight hours of fun. It was such a good time working on that show.
The best time for me was going on the Glee Live tour; it was awesome traveling with them and hanging with them after the show. I was so frustrated that I couldn't do the second season; they asked me to come back but I had already signed the contract for Burn the Floor. Maybe it'll happen another time.
But Burn the Floor is going great. I love the show, and I love every single person in this cast as well.
WCT: And I thought it was interesting that Heather Morris [who plays Brittany on Glee] once tried out for So You Think You Can Dancebut got cut just before making the top 20.
Janette Manrara: Oh, yeah! She is stepping up for the dancers! [Laughs] A lot of people think that only the top four become successful, but so many doors open for you after being on So You Think You Can Dance. I'm so grateful because they saw something in me and [19] other people, even though 15,000 other people auditioned.
Heather Morris is the perfect example: Just look at her now. I give her a million and one propsand she's amazing to work with: She's fun and very talented. I'm very happy for her.
WCT: I call it "The Jennifer Hudson Effect." She didn't get too far as a finalist on American Idol, but look at her now.
Janette Manrara: Yesshe's another one! You have no idea how many opportunities are presented because of these shows.
"Burn the Floor" is at the Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe, through Sunday, Feb. 13. Tickets are $16-$80, and are available at all Broadway In Chicago box offices, the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Kiosk at Water Tower Place, 845 N. Michigan, the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at 800-775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com .