Aljaž Škorjanec

Aljaž Škorjanec is a Slovenian dancer and choreographer, who is known for appearing on the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer from 2013 to 2021, and from 2024 onwards.

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Career

Aljaž Škorjanec was born in Ptuj, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia. He is a 19-time Slovenian champion in ballroom, Latin and Ten dance. Between 2000 and 2008, his professional partner was Valerija Rahle Mbanwi.

''Strictly Come Dancing''

In September 2013 Škorjanec became a professional dancer on the eleventh series of the British television show, Strictly Come Dancing. He was partnered with model Abbey Clancy. On 30 November, they received the series' first perfect 40 for their Saturday Night Fever-themed Salsa. On 21 December, they won the series. He was the fourth professional to win in his first series of the show. The following year, he returned for the show's twelfth series, where he was partnered with This Morning presenter, Alison Hammond. They were the sixth couple to be eliminated from the competition. For the show's thirteenth series, he was partnered with Call the Midwife actress, Helen George. They were eliminated on week 11 of the competition, leaving in sixth place.
For the show's fourteenth series, he was partnered with model Daisy Lowe. They were the seventh couple to be eliminated from the competition, leaving in eighth place. For the show's fifteenth series, he was partnered with actress and former model, Gemma Atkinson. The couple reached the finals, but they finished as joint runners-up, behind winners Joe McFadden and his professional dance partner, Katya Jones. For the show's sixteenth series, he was partnered with BBC newsreader and journalist Kate Silverton. The couple were eliminated on week 9 in Blackpool, leaving in eighth place.
For the seventeenth series, he was partnered with socialite and chef, Emma Weymouth. They were eliminated on week 7, leaving in ninth place. For the eighteenth series, he was partnered with BBC Radio 1 DJ and presenter, Clara Amfo. For the nineteenth series, he was partnered with Dragons' Den entrepreneur and TV personality, Sara Davies. In March 2022, Škorjanec announced he would be leaving the show after nine years.
In July 2024, it was announced that Škorjanec would be returning as a professional for the twenty-second series. On 7 September 2024, amid speculation suggesting Škorjanec left Strictly due to an altercation with a female colleague in 2022, he said he had taken a break from Strictly to become a father. He was partnered with Love Island finalist Tasha Ghouri. She was the 2nd deaf contestant to compete after series 19 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis. The couple reached the final and finished as joint runners-up behind Chris McCausland and his professional dance partner, Dianne Buswell. They broke the record for the highest-ever average in the history of the show and Anton Du Beke described Ghouri as "the best dancer we've ever had on Strictly".

Series	Partner	Place	Average Score
11	Abbey Clancy	1st	35.6
12	Alison Hammond	10th	24.6
13	Helen George	6th	33.0
14	Daisy Lowe	8th	31.8
15	Gemma Atkinson	2nd	31.0
16	Kate Silverton	8th	25.0
17	Emma Weymouth	9th	27.0
18	Clara Amfo	7th	27.0
19	Sara Davies	8th	28.5
22	Tasha Ghouri	2nd	37.3
23	La Voix	7th	26.3

Color key:
Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

Dance	Partner	Highest	Partner	Lowest
American Smooth	Tasha Ghouri		La Voix	24
Argentine Tango	Tasha Ghouri	38	Kate Silverton	23
Cha-Cha-Cha	Abbey Clancy Daisy Lowe Tasha Ghouri	30	La Voix
Charleston	Tasha Ghouri		Alison Hammond	27
Couple's Choice	Tasha Ghouri		Sara Davies
Dance-a-thon	Helen George	7	Abbey Clancy Gemma Atkinson	3
Foxtrot	Abbey Clancy		Alison Hammond	22
Jive	Gemma Atkinson	30	La Voix	19
Paso Doble	Tasha Ghouri		Abbey Clancy	32
Quickstep	Abbey Clancy		Gemma Atkinson
Rumba	Abbey Clancy Tasha Ghouri	34	Kate Silverton
Salsa	Abbey Clancy		Gemma Atkinson	26
Samba	Abbey Clancy	39	Kate Silverton	20
Showdance	Tasha Ghouri		Gemma Atkinson
Tango	Sara Davies		Emma Weymouth	22
Viennese Waltz	Helen George		Clara Amfo
Waltz	Abbey Clancy Tasha Ghouri		Gemma Atkinson	26

numbers indicate Aljaž and his partner were at the top of the leaderboard that week.
numbers indicate Aljaž and his partner were at the bottom of the leaderboard that week.

Series 11

Celebrity partner: Abbey Clancy

Series 12

Celebrity partner: Alison Hammond

Series 13

Celebrity partner: Helen George

Series 14

Celebrity partner: Daisy Lowe

Series 15

Celebrity partner: Gemma Atkinson

Series 16

Celebrity partner: Kate Silverton

Series 17

Celebrity partner: Emma Weymouth

Series 18

Celebrity partner: Clara Amfo

Series 19

Celebrity partner: Sara Davies

Series 22

Celebrity partner: Tasha Ghouri

Series 23

Celebrity partner: La Voix

Dance tours

In 2017, with Manrara, announced dates for their 2018 UK Tour "Remembering Fred".
In 2020, Škorjanec and Manrara announced dates for their 2021 UK Tour "Remembering The Oscars". In October the year, he also announced that he would be dancing in "Here Come The Boys" in the West End.
In 2025, Škorjanec and Janette Manrara announced appearances at the 2026 "Dancing With The Stars Weekends".

Personal life

Škorjanec is a fan of FC Barcelona. Škorjanec is married to fellow dancer Janette Manrara. In February 2023, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child in summer 2023. Their daughter, Lyra, was born in July 2023.
In 2020, Škorjanec explained his developing psoriasis at age 18, saying: "It affects my confidence and self esteem massively" and adding that it makes him self-conscious. Aljaz started to use natural skincare products and document his journey to raise awareness.