‘Strictly Come Dancing’ is perhaps one of the most popular shows on television, attracting millions of viewers each year, and over the years, its group of professional dancers have become just as popular as the celebrity contestants. In normal circumstances, if a global pandemic hadn’t surged and taken over our lives, the Strictly professionals would be spending the time between series taking their own tours up and down the country, but, of course, that can’t happen at the moment. But that hasn’t stopped professional dancing couple Aljaz Škorjanec and Janette Manrara from working on their show ‘Remembering The Oscars’ as they have fully embraced the use of the internet as a new type of stage.
In this special stream, Janette and Aljaz present some highlights from their newest show ‘Remembering The Oscars’, honouring some of the greatest dance and music moments from Hollywood hits from over the years. With lead vocals from Janine Johnson and Giovanni Spanó and an impressive ensemble cast of talented dancers including Scott Coldwell, Ash-Leigh Hunter, Joshua Moore, Natasha Mould, Ediz Ibriham, Stuart Rouse, Grace Walker and Kate Kenrick, Janette and Aljaz take us on a whirlwind tour of ‘Remembering the Oscars’ in an all too short 60 minutes. They honour some incredible award-winning movies with many a stylish and beautifully choreographed routine. From ‘Flashdance’, ‘Dirty Dancing’ and ‘La La Land’ to Disney classics such as ‘The Lion king’, ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Mary Poppins’, this show is Hollywood magic brought to life in a manner that oozes old school theatrical glamour.
If you are missing the thrill of live theatre, this stream will make you ache for it even more. The high-energy dance numbers celebrate the joy of theatre and film combined, and Janine Johnson and Giovanni Spano raise the roof with their powerhouse vocals. Spano particularly impresses in the Disney section of the show where he effortlessly switches from singing the roles of Genie and Aladdin to ‘Mary Poppins’ cheeky chimney sweep Bert whilst showing off his own dance skills.
Highlights of ‘Remembering the Oscars’ include Aljaž’s ‘Singin in the Rain’ inspired performance that harks back the golden age of movie musicals, a stunning Argentine Tango by Aljaž and Janette inspired by ‘Scent of a Women’ and a ‘Chim Chim Cheree’, ‘Trip A Little Light Fantastic’, ‘Step in Time’ medley that made my Mary Poppins loving heart very happy and made me ache to be back on Cherry Tree Lane in the theatre as soon as possible.
Janette is also given the opportunity to show off her own singing talents both as the magical nanny herself and in a performance of ‘All The Jazz’ from ‘Chicago’
Alongside the stream of this ‘Remembering The Oscars’ highlights stream, you can also purchase tickets to an exclusive behind the scenes special which reveals how they managed to create this show against the odds and a special interview with Janette and Aljaž which gives you an insight into how these ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ favourites have coped with the lockdowns and worked to make their next live show, which they hope to tour next year, bigger and better than ever!
‘Remembering The Oscars’ is a thrilling hour of entertainment, filled to the rafters with song and dance and will both make you yearn for a return to live theatre as soon as possible and make you begin to count down the days until the next series of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
Even in a global pandemic, there is always a reason to ‘Keep Dancing’
You can purchase tickets to ‘Remembering The Oscars’ here.
Review: Rebecca Wallis Photo: Ryan X Howard