In the latest season of Dancing With the Stars, professional dancer Jan Ravnik is making headlines, but not for the reasons he might hope. Renowned dancer Maks Chmerkovskiy, during a recent episode of his wife Peta Murgatroyd's podcast, The Penthouse With Peta, expressed his strong disapproval of Ravnik's inclusion as a professional partner for Season 34. Chmerkovskiy described the casting of Ravnik as "absurd," sparking a wave of discussions among fans and critics alike.
Chmerkovskiy, who has an impressive track record as a pro dancer with 17 seasons on the ABC series, didn't hold back his thoughts on Ravnik's abilities. "Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on 'Dancing With the Stars,'" he declared, emphasizing the lack of foundational skills, technique, and understanding of dance partnerships. He expressed his frustrations emotionally, stating, "Bro, I'm getting emotional. It is absurd. And this is unreal how blind we have to be and, God forbid, say what's obviously there." Chmerkovskiy pointed out Ravnik's apparent unfamiliarity with basic ballroom styles, specifically the foxtrot, questioning if anyone had taken the time to explain the dance's requirements to him.
Initially, Murgatroyd encouraged her husband to show some leniency towards Ravnik, highlighting that this was Ravnik's debut season as a pro dancer. Prior to his foray into reality television, Ravnik gained recognition as a backup dancer on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. However, Murgatroyd eventually aligned with Chmerkovskiy’s critique, asserting that Ravnik's ballroom technique was not up to par. "He's a Taylor Swift dancer; it's the obvious reason why he's hired," she stated, adding that despite Ravnik being a great dancer and a "lovely guy," hiring someone without a ballroom background to teach ballroom dancing to celebrities is "outrageous."
Murgatroyd suggested that a more fitting path for Ravnik would have been to join the DWTS troupe first. This would have allowed him to refine his ballroom skills before stepping into the role of a professional partner. Her insights reflect a broader concern about the casting choices made by the producers of Dancing With the Stars, emphasizing the importance of expertise in the art of ballroom dancing.
Meanwhile, Jan Ravnik’s partner, Jen Affleck, who is known for her role in Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, appeared to acknowledge Chmerkovskiy's comments through a TikTok post. In her video, she humorously captioned it, "We don't tolerate Jan slander in this house!!," indicating her support for her partner amidst the ongoing criticism.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Jan Ravnik adapts to the challenges of Dancing With the Stars and whether he can prove his critics wrong. With strong opinions from former professionals like Chmerkovskiy, the spotlight will remain on Ravnik as he navigates this high-stakes competition.
