She shoulda been a contender

September 22, 2009 12:00 am • Last Updated: September 22, 2009 2:52 pm

By By ELISSA BASS Day Staff Writer

She was the one who was gone too soon.

Janette Manrara, the 25-year-old salsa dancer from Miami, was the contestant on season five of "So You Think You Can Dance" who caught your eye during her amazing audition (remember that vertical split up her partner?), won your heart during Las Vegas week, and then broke your heart when she was eliminated only seven weeks into the Top 20.But, whatever. In the world of reality television Janette's ouster on July 23 was AGES go. Heck, SYTYCD has already launched season 6, and Janette is already up to her eyeballs rehearsing for the SYTYCD live tour, which began Sunday and arrives at MGM Grand at Foxwoods on Friday.

But, whatever. In the world of reality television Janette's ouster on July 23 was AGES go. Heck, SYTYCD has already launched season 6, and Janette is already up to her eyeballs rehearsing for the SYTYCD live tour, which began Sunday and arrives at MGM Grand at Foxwoods on Friday.Plus, she said in a 20-minute phone interview earlier this month, it's all good. Really, really good.

Plus, she said in a 20-minute phone interview earlier this month, it's all good. Really, really good.

Q: Your schedule sounds crazy these days. Which is more grueling, the tour or the show?

A: Oh, yeah, the schedule is crazy. But you know, it's still the show (that is more grueling). Your nerves are completely different when you are on the show. The tour is tiring, but you don't have the nervousness. It is really fun, tiring but really fun. We are having a really good time, we get the work done, and it's a completely different atmosphere.

Q: What numbers are you doing on the tour?

A: Oh, I can't really say. I am doing a lot of America's favorites of mine. (Q: Please say you are doing the disco number. A:) Maybe. That was a top one, that's all I can say.

Q: You actually have 12 dancers (instead of the usual 10) on the tour roster.

A: Yes, Phillip (Chbeeb) and Caitlyn (Kinney). We don't like to call them alternates because they are just as good as the rest of us. They are special guests and just as much part of the family.

Q: Do you still work with the choreographers?

A: We don't get to work with them every day. Some come in and work on the number with us. Mia came in, Sonya came in, just to look over the numbers and rehearse. Whenever they have a chance and can help, they come in.

Q: Is Mia Michaels as scary in real life as she is on TV?

A: Oh yeah, maybe worse. She is really scary. But it's not a bad scary. It's the type of scary, you know you have to work really, really hard. You want to keep her happy because she pushes you to get the best out of you. It's a good nervous to have, she makes you dance that much better.

Q: Did you have a favorite choreographer?

A: Whenever we get asked that question, I give a different answer every time. They are all so different, their styles, their choreography, their personalities, to pick one as a favorite would be very, very, very difficult.Sonya Tayeh is so, so amazing, she has such positive energy and works you hard. Jean-Marc Généreux and France, they are so funny and lighthearted. Mia Michaels is scary but makes you dance better than anyone. Wade Robson is amazing how organized he is.

Sonya Tayeh is so, so amazing, she has such positive energy and works you hard. Jean-Marc Généreux and France, they are so funny and lighthearted. Mia Michaels is scary but makes you dance better than anyone. Wade Robson is amazing how organized he is.

Q: I was devastated by your ouster.

A: I was devastated. I think more than devastated I was shocked. I couldn't believe it was happening because things had gone so well for me, Brandon and I did so well as partners. That might have hurt me as soon as we got separated, maybe it wasn't the same. Or America got too comfortable.I know that night when I got cut and Nigel said that he wanted me to be the winner, I was cut from the competition but it was such a nice comment and such a good way to go home that I could not have asked for a better goodbye. It was the 100th episode, all the choreographers were there, the other dancers from the other seasons, and then for Nigel to say he wanted me to be the winner. It would've been nice to win but I was happy with the way I went out.

I know that night when I got cut and Nigel said that he wanted me to be the winner, I was cut from the competition but it was such a nice comment and such a good way to go home that I could not have asked for a better goodbye. It was the 100th episode, all the choreographers were there, the other dancers from the other seasons, and then for Nigel to say he wanted me to be the winner. It would've been nice to win but I was happy with the way I went out.

Q: Please tell me you've abandoned your dreams of a career in finance.

A: I promised myself that I would fight the bank to the death. It's funny, I was speaking to my dance teacher a couple nights ago and he was saying how do you feel, and I'm just, like, I have absolutely no complaints. I'm doing what I love to do every single day. I'm not getting up, putting on a suit and heels and sitting at a desk. I'm putting on sweats, a sports bra and a T-shirt and dancing the whole day.I love my friends at my old job but my heart is here. I love what I do and it makes me so happy to be able to do it. I will do it after the tour.

I love my friends at my old job but my heart is here. I love what I do and it makes me so happy to be able to do it. I will do it after the tour.

Q: Your Miami audition blew me away, I was instantly a fan. But that was your second audition.

A: I auditioned for season 4 and made it all the way to the Green Mile, which is the top 30 dancers. They make you walk this looooong hallway. It was funny to watch season 4 because they were my friends. And when I made the top 10, Katee, Comfort, Twitch, they all gave me advice.

Q: You call yourself a salsa dancer, but the way you handled everything else, how do you think of yourself now?

A: When I was going to audition for the show, I did not know what to classify myself. I've taken classes in different styles, salsa and ballroom more than anything. But I did contemporary, hip hop, lyrical, I even have pointe shoes. I didn't know what was best for me and I decided to go with salsa/ballroom because it comes most natural to me. That was the genre that most connects to me as a person. I'm Cuban, I'm from Miami, I've been dancing salsa since I was a little kid. That's me.

I didn't know what was best for me and I decided to go with salsa/ballroom because it comes most natural to me. That was the genre that most connects to me as a person. I'm Cuban, I'm from Miami, I've been dancing salsa since I was a little kid. That's me. And then I obviously haven't had the extensive training that the others have had. I started dancing at 19. But better late than never.

And then I obviously haven't had the extensive training that the others have had. I started dancing at 19. But better late than never.So I would attack every routine every week, set goals, OK, I've got foxtrot, OK, what does it look like, what do I need to do? I annoyed the choreographers with questions all the time. I just took it one week at a time, one number at a time, and focused on it. Not to mention I had Brandon, who was absolutely astonishing.

So I would attack every routine every week, set goals, OK, I've got foxtrot, OK, what does it look like, what do I need to do? I annoyed the choreographers with questions all the time. I just took it one week at a time, one number at a time, and focused on it. Not to mention I had Brandon, who was absolutely astonishing.

Q: It looked sometimes like you got pretty beaten up in rehearsals.

A: You really do. The expectation is so high, they kept saying we were the most talented group ever, so there was a lot of pressure on us, on our dancing and our bodies. We wanted to keep it to that level. They kept saying, "best, best, best," and you are hoping to keep that high expectation the whole time so you push yourself.

Q: Talk to me about Cat Deeley.

A: Oh my God. We miss her. We miss her so much. She was so much fun to work with and such a genuine and kind person. Very sincere. I love her, when I got cut she got teared up, I don't how many hugs I gave.She's the mother, the sister, the best friend, the aunt, the cousin. She's always there, always cheering us on, such a sweet, sweet person. (In tour rehearsals), we hear her voice.

She's the mother, the sister, the best friend, the aunt, the cousin. She's always there, always cheering us on, such a sweet, sweet person. (In tour rehearsals), we hear her voice.