Maks Chmerkovskiy Slams Casting of Taylor Swift Dancer Jan Ravnik
Former “Dancing with the Stars” pro Maks Chmerkovskiy recently expressed his disapproval of the show’s decision to recruit Taylor Swift’s dancer Jan Ravnik as a professional dancer on the popular competition series. Chmerkovskiy voiced his concerns during a recent episode of “The Penthouse with Peta” podcast, where he criticized Ravnik’s lack of foundation, technique, and understanding of partnership in ballroom dancing.
Chmerkovskiy, who was a pro dancer on “Dancing with the Stars” for 17 non-consecutive seasons, highlighted Ravnik’s performance on “Wicked” night, where he felt that Ravnik failed to grasp the essence of the foxtrot dance. According to Chmerkovskiy, Ravnik’s unfamiliarity with ballroom dancing poses a significant challenge in effectively teaching and conveying the nuances of different dance styles to his celebrity partners.
While Chmerkovskiy clarified that he has nothing personal against Ravnik, he believes that hiring him as a professional dancer on the show was a missed opportunity. Podcast host and former “Dancing with the Stars” pro Peta Murgatroyd echoed Chmerkovskiy’s sentiments, labeling Ravnik’s hiring as “outrageous” due to his lack of experience in ballroom dancing.
Murgatroyd pointed out that Ravnik’s background as a dancer for Taylor Swift may have influenced the show’s decision to hire him, despite his limited expertise in ballroom dancing. She emphasized the importance of having professional dancers with a strong foundation in ballroom dance to effectively teach and guide celebrity partners through their routines.
In conclusion, Chmerkovskiy and Murgatroyd’s criticism of Jan Ravnik’s hiring as a professional dancer on “Dancing with the Stars” raises important questions about the qualifications and expertise required for such a role. As the competition continues, it remains to be seen how Ravnik will navigate the challenges of teaching ballroom dancing to celebrity contestants without prior experience in the genre.
