Janette Manrara

And I remember thinking, no way at 18 years old can I begin a dance career.

Ali Ash, for example, he's been dancing since he was three.

And I was a smart bunny.

I have a degree in finance.

I studied at university.

And so I was working in a bank.

I remember I started going to university and I started dancing as much as I possibly could.

So I had zero social life.

Yeah, just learning to dance.

But dance was my escapism from 18 to 23.

I just danced, danced, danced, danced every hour of the day that I possibly could.

If I wasn't at work or at uni, I was dancing.

And then when I turned 23, So You Think You Can Dance is a famous, they had it here in the UK.

Yeah.

came to Miami and I auditioned for it.

And the first year I got all the way to the final round and then didn't get on the show.

But then the second year they came back and I was so sad that it got so close the first time.

I almost didn't go that second year to the audition because I was like, I don't know if I can cope with another no, but I need to try because they're here.

And then I did it and I got on the show and it just kind of, that was like that kind of sliding doors moment in my life where.

If it hadn't happened, I don't know if I'd be sat here with you having this conversation today.