For nearly two years, Slovenian dancer Jan Ravnik traveled the world with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, making fans swoon with his, shall we say, thrusty moves. Now, instead of dancing backup for the “Mirrorball” singer, he’ll be competing for a Mirrorball Trophy on Dancing With the Stars.
“The Mirrorball never goes out of style and we are ready to win it,” he told Good Morning Americaof joining the show as a pro. He’ll take the stage in Season 34 with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck (no relation to Ben).
Keep reading to learn more about Ravnik, including the prop he kept from his time on stage with Swift.
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Who is the new DWTS pro Jan Ravnik and what does he have to do with Taylor Swift?
Ravnik is a professional dancer and choreographer best known for dancing backup on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, from the first show in March 2023 to the last in December 2024. (He also appeared in the concert film, The Eras Tour Movie.)
“I still can’t find the words to fully describe what I’m feeling,” he wrote on Instagram at the end of the record-breaking tour. “It’s like there’s this weight in my chest, a mix of gratitude, love and sadness, because saying ‘thank you’ just doesn’t seem enough.”
He went on to thank his fellow dancers, the band, the crew and, of course, Swift “for setting a bar so high it made every one of us rise to the challenge.”
“We’ve created memories, we’ve shared laughs and tears along the way,” he continued. “I am not [the] same person I was 2 years ago and I can easily say these were the best years of my life.”
Swift isn’t the only pop star Ravnik has performed with over the course of his career: others include Paula Abdul at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards and her Las Vegas residency, Mariah Carey on her Christmas Tour (as well as on her special, Mariah Carey Christmas: The Magic Continues) and Bruno Mars.
What is Jan Ravnik’s background?
There isn’t much information available about Ravnik’s upbringing (perhaps his debut on DWTS will bring more information to light), but he was born in Slovenia and came to the United States around 2015 to pursue a career in dance.
When the European leg of the Eras Tour began, he wrote on Instagram, “I’M HOME 🩶🤍”
“The last few days were a roller coaster of emotions. My family came to see the opening show in Paris and my mom saw me performing live after almost 10 years!”
Related: ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 34 Cast Revealed: Jordan Chiles, Hilaria Baldwin and Corey Feldman to Compete
How old is Jan Ravnik?
Ravnik was born on May 13, 1995, making him 30 years old.
Where is Jan Ravnik from?
After opening night of the Eras Tour, Ravnik referred to himself as a “small town boy from Slovenia,” which is where he’s from.
Is Jan Ravnik in a relationship?
Ravnik has not publicly shared any information about his relationship status.
How long was Jan Ravnik on the Eras Tour for?
Ravnik was on the road with Swift for the full run of her tour, which lasted for nearly two years, from March 2023 until December 2024. Along the way, he made a splash with his provocative moves, including a sensual dance he performed with a ladder during “Lavendar Haze.”
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“I’d like to announce that the ladder and I have mutually decided to part ways professionally,” he joked on Instagram when the tour wrapped. “However, we remain on good terms. It’s currently in a quiet retirement community (a.k.a. my living room), helping me paint walls and hang shelves. We ask for privacy and understanding during this heartfelt transition.”
Related: Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Tour: Everything There Is to Know (So Far)
How much did Jan Ravnik make as Taylor Swift’s backup dancer on the Eras Tour?
Ravnik’s Eras Tour salary isn’t public knowledge, but whatever his payday was, he likely received bonus money on top of that. People reported that by the end of her tour, Swift had given out $197 million in bonuses to everyone working on the production, from the merch team to the dancers. The bonuses weren’t necessarily small, either: In 2023, TMZ revealed that Swift gifted truckers on her tour $100,000 each ahead of a concert stop in Santa Clara.
Is Jan Ravnik friends with Taylor Swift?
Ravnik worked for Swift and speaks glowingly of her, so they presumably had a happy and healthy professional relationship. But whether they consider each other “friends” — whether Swift is sending him loaves of her famous sourdough bread — is unclear.
Regardless, Ravnik and his DWTS dance partner, Jen Affleck, are hoping his proximity to Swift will help them attract Swiftie votes. “Whatever votes we can get, honestly,” Affleck told Extra.
Incidentally, Affleck learned that Ravnik would be her partner on the show on the same day that Swift announced her engagement. “I was like, ‘What is going on right now?’ ” she said. “Like, yeah, it’s a dream come true.”
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Next: Everything You Need To Know About ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 34 (Including the Premiere and Cast)
