Home / Arts and Entertainment / Ballroom Veteran Slams DWTS for Hiring Unqualified Pro Dancer
Ballroom Veteran Slams DWTS for Hiring Unqualified Pro Dancer
27 Oct
Summary
- Maks Chmerkovskiy criticizes DWTS for hiring Jan Ravnik as a pro dancer
- Chmerkovskiy says Ravnik lacks technique and understanding of ballroom dancing
- Peta Murgatroyd agrees Ravnik's casting puts her celebrity partner at a "major disadvantage"
In a recent episode of The Penthouse With Peta podcast, former Dancing With the Stars pro Maks Chmerkovskiy has slammed the show's decision to hire Jan Ravnik, a Taylor Swift backup dancer, as a new pro this season. Chmerkovskiy, who competed on DWTS for 17 seasons, says Ravnik has "absolutely no business being a pro" on the show, citing a lack of fundamental technique, quality, and understanding of ballroom dancing.
Chmerkovskiy's criticism comes after Ravnik's performance with his celebrity partner Jen Affleck during the Wicked-themed episode, which he says "just went off the cliff" and showed Ravnik had "no idea what foxtrot is supposed to look like." Chmerkovskiy's wife, Peta Murgatroyd, also a former DWTS pro, agrees that Affleck is at a "major disadvantage" by having Ravnik as a partner, as she is not being taught the basic foundations of ballroom dancing.
While the couple acknowledges it is not Ravnik's "fault," they argue the show is at fault for hiring a non-ballroom dancer to teach ballroom to celebrities. Murgatroyd suggests Ravnik should have been hired in a smaller capacity, such as part of the show's dance troupe, to learn ballroom first before being promoted to a pro role.
