Controversy on the Dance Floor: Taylor Swift's Former Backup Dancer Shakes Up DWTS with Celebrity Partner Jen Affleck
The ballroom of Dancing With the Stars is abuzz with controversy surrounding the pairing of Taylor Swift's former backup dancer, Jan Ravnik, with celebrity partner Jen Affleck. Former DWTS pros Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy have differing opinions on Jan's lack of ballroom experience and its impact on Jen's performance. Murgatroyd believes that Jan's background as a non-ballroom dancer is hindering Jen's progress, while Chmerkovskiy is more critical, stating that Jan has no business being a pro on the show.
Jan, who previously danced for Taylor Swift, is a first-time pro on DWTS this season. Despite his stage presence and charisma, traditional ballroom pros like Murgatroyd argue that he lacks the necessary foundation and technique for the competition. While Murgatroyd acknowledges Jan's learning curve, Chmerkovskiy is less forgiving, emphasizing the importance of proper training and partnership understanding in ballroom dancing.
Despite the criticism, both Murgatroyd and Chmerkovskiy acknowledge that Jan is simply doing his job as a pro dancer on the show. The focus remains on Jen Affleck and her journey in the competition, with SLOMW fans rallying behind her each week. The outcome of their partnership on the show is uncertain, but fan support has proven to be a driving force in previous seasons.
As the competition unfolds, viewers can tune in to Dancing With the Stars on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes are available for streaming the next day on Hulu.