Janette Manrara Dated Two Strictly Dancers Before Marrying Aljaz

Janette Manrara reportedly had brief relationships with fellow professional dancers Pasha Kovalev and Artem Chigvintsev before building a lasting partnership with Aljaz Skorjanec, her Strictly Come Dancing co-star and husband. The couple became engaged in 2015, married in London in 2017 and welcomed their daughter, Lyra Rose, in July 2023.

A report published by the Sunday People in 2013 described Manrara as comfortable with the professional demands of the BBC dance competition, where Skorjanec partners a different celebrity contestant each season. The report said her earlier relationships with fellow dancers had ended amicably.

According to the newspaper's source, Manrara's past relationships included a brief romance with Kovalev and an alleged relationship with Chigvintsev in 2010. Neither relationship lasted long, and the dancers remained friends and colleagues.

The source described Manrara as understanding that celebrity partnerships were part of the show's format, despite the possibility of jealousy. The account also said she and Skorjanec were already deeply committed to each other by 2013.

"Janette is fairly laid back and knows it's all part of the job. Even if she was a bit jealous she wouldn't show it. She couldn't really complain because she has dated two of the other Strictly dancers.

She enjoyed a brief romance with Pasha. None of the relationships went very far or lasted for a long time. Now they are all good friends and can laugh and joke about it, which is fortunate because they will be working very close together." the source told the Sunday People.

The same source emphasized the strength of Manrara's relationship with Skorjanec, saying the couple had been together for two years and shared much of their lives. Their relationship had developed while both were touring with the dance production Burn the Floor.

Skorjanec later recalled their early connection during an appearance on Lorraine in 2022, describing his feelings as love at first sight. Manrara, however, said their relationship took longer to develop because they began as friends.

"We were friends for a whole year. We were friends for a long time before we actually went on our first date... but I will admit, he definitely tried." Manrara said.

The couple also faced the challenge of maintaining a long-distance relationship before joining Strictly Come Dancing in 2013. At the time, Manrara was living in Los Angeles while Skorjanec was based in Slovenia.

In a 2021 interview, Manrara explained that the uncertainty surrounding their future together made the distance difficult. Their opportunities to work on the same show helped ease those concerns.

"The thought of doing the whole long-distance thing made it hard for us. We were very scared about what was going to happen to our relationship. They called me first and asked me to join the show, I didn't scream but my face said it all.

Within five minutes they called him straight after." Manrara said.

The couple became engaged in 2015 and married two years later at a ceremony in London attended by celebrity guests. Their honeymoon included trips to Florida and Slovenia, allowing them to celebrate with their respective families.

In July 2023, Manrara and Skorjanec welcomed their first child, daughter Lyra Rose, adding a new chapter to a relationship that began during their work on Burn the Floor.