Jan Ravnik is the Slovenian dancer who went from a decorated competitive career in Europe to performing on the world’s biggest stage as a backup dancer on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, and most recently became a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. This profile traces his verified biography, career milestones, and personal details, drawing on official biographies and major media reports.
Last checked: 2026-07-03
Name: Jan Ravnik · Profession: Professional dancer and choreographer · Known For: Backup dancer for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour · Social Media: TikTok @janravnik (1.2M followers)
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-07-03.
Sources reviewed: Wikipedia, Parade, Today, Glamour, Joffrey Ballet School, Us Weekly, Famous Birthdays, IMDb News.
We did not conduct a personal interview with Jan Ravnik or independently verify every claim beyond the cited sources. Some social‑media statistics are reported by secondary platforms and may fluctuate.
Snapshot: Jan Ravnik
- Born 13 May 1995 in the municipality of Bohinj, Slovenia (Wikipedia)
- Backup dancer on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour from March 2023 through December 2024 (Parade)
- Became a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars Season 34, the first Slovenian to hold that role (Today)
- Has danced for Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Paula Abdul, Bruno Mars, Khalid, Lewis Capaldi, and Luis Fonsi (Joffrey Ballet School)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Jan Ravnik |
| Profession | Professional dancer and choreographer |
| Known For | Backup dancer for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour; pro dancer on Dancing with the Stars |
| Birth Date | 13 May 1995 |
| Nationality | Slovenian |
| Move to United States | 2018 |
| Education | University of Ljubljana (degree) |
| DWTS Season | 34 (2025) |
What is Jan Ravnik’s background?
Jan Ravnik’s path to international fame started in the small municipality of Bohinj, Slovenia. He began dancing at age six and entered formal training around age eight, according to his Wikipedia entry. By his teens he was competing at the highest levels, winning multiple national, European, and world champion titles. The Slovenian Olympic Committee twice named him Best Dancer of Slovenia and also gave him an award for Best Trainer/Choreographer, as reported by Famous Birthdays.
Before relocating, Ravnik appeared on Slovenian television shows such as Slovenia’s Got Talent and The X Factor, gaining early mainstream visibility in his home country. He holds a degree from the University of Ljubljana, balancing academic work with an accelerating dance career.
Why he moved to the United States
In 2018, Ravnik moved to Los Angeles to pursue commercial dance and choreography. The leap paid off quickly. According to his official biography on the Joffrey Ballet School website, he has since performed with Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Paula Abdul, Bruno Mars, Khalid, Lewis Capaldi, and Luis Fonsi, and appeared at the Billboard Music Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
The Eras Tour catapult
Ravnik’s visibility exploded when he was selected as one of 16 backup dancers for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. He performed from the first show in March 2023 through the final show in December 2024, and also appears in the concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, as detailed by Parade. His “Lavender Haze” number in particular went viral among Swift fans, with social media highlighting his strength and choreography, according to Us Weekly.
The bottom line: Ravnik’s early competitive success in Slovenia laid a technical foundation that, combined with a strategic move to the U.S., positioned him for the high‑visibility opportunities that followed.
Is Jan Ravnik married or single?
As of his Dancing with the Stars debut in 2025, Jan Ravnik is not married and has no publicly confirmed children. Multiple media outlets describe him as single, and he has kept his dating life private. Us Weekly notes that no public relationships have been reported. Ravnik himself has not addressed his personal life in interviews.
In a Glamour profile, he emphasized his refusal to discuss behind‑the‑scenes details of his work with Taylor Swift, saying, “People who pay me, people who transformed my life, I won’t discuss them.” That same discretion extends to his romantic life; he has never publicly dated or mentioned a partner.
What this means: Fans looking for relationship news will find none. Ravnik deliberately separates his personal and professional spheres, and his DWTS appearances are the main public window into his life.
What is Jan Ravnik’s age and height?
Jan Ravnik was born on 13 May 1995, making him 30 years old (as of 2025). That date is confirmed by his Wikipedia entry and multiple secondary sources.
His exact height is not listed in any official biography. From photographs and video alongside other dancers in the Eras Tour and on DWTS, most independent outlets estimate him at around 5 ft 10 in (178 cm). There is no publicly recorded measurement from a verified source.
The pattern: While his age is solidly documented, his height—like many dancers who are not athletes with official physicals—remains unconfirmed. Any figure beyond “approximately 5′10″” would be speculation.
Jan Ravnik’s Eras Tour and Dancing with the Stars appearances
Role on the Eras Tour
Ravnik was one of 16 backup dancers for the entire global run of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, participating in 146 shows. His strongest viral moment came from the “Lavender Haze” number, where his athletic lifts and precise choreography drew widespread praise on TikTok and X. Today notes that his visibility on the tour led directly to his casting on Dancing with the Stars.
Joining Dancing with the Stars
On 27 August 2025, ABC confirmed that Ravnik would join Season 34 as a professional dancer, as reported by IMDb News (citing The Hollywood Reporter). The next day, he announced the role himself on Good Morning America, making him the first Slovenian professional partner in the show’s history (Wikipedia). He was paired with Jen Affleck, a star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. In a statement to Parade, Ravnik said, “The Mirrorball never goes out of style and we are ready to win it.”
“People who pay me, people who transformed my life, I won’t discuss them. I understand that everyone is eager for details, but they’ve approached the wrong individual because I genuinely don’t care, and I’ll make it uncomfortable.”
— Jan Ravnik, speaking to Glamour about his professional confidentiality
Music video and other appearances
Beyond the tour, Ravnik appears in the music video for “Fate of Ophelia” and has been a guest choreographer at the 5 Dance World Cup in Burgos, Spain. His official Joffrey Ballet School biography also lists a McDonald’s commercial featuring Mariah Carey as part of his portfolio.
How Jan Ravnik compares to other notable Eras Tour dancers
Jan Ravnik is one of several backup dancers from the Eras Tour who have built substantial personal followings. Kameron Saunders, for instance, is known for his energetic performances and large TikTok audience, while Jake Kodish has parlayed his tour experience into modeling and dance jobs. Brittany Cherry, also an Eras Tour dancer, has a strong Instagram presence and choreography credits.
What sets Ravnik apart is his transition to a primetime television lead—becoming a professional partner on Dancing with the Stars—and his status as the first Slovenian dancer to hold that role. None of the other dancers from the tour have yet made a similar jump to network TV pro status, making his 2025 casting a distinctive achievement.
Our pick: Why Jan Ravnik is one to watch
Our recommendation: For fans of Taylor Swift, dance enthusiasts, DWTS viewers, and pop culture followers, Jan Ravnik offers a compelling combination of technical skill, viral stage presence, and professional integrity. His verified background—top titles in Slovenia, a full Eras Tour run, and a historic DWTS pro role—makes him a standout figure in the current dance entertainment landscape.
Watch his “Lavender Haze” clips on TikTok for a sense of his athleticism, then follow his DWTS journey to see how he adapts his choreography to a duo format.
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Frequently asked questions about Jan Ravnik
What is Jan Ravnik’s nationality?
He is Slovenian. He was born in the municipality of Bohinj, Slovenia, on 13 May 1995 (Wikipedia).
What is Jan Ravnik’s profession?
He is a professional dancer and choreographer. He also works as a dance educator, having taught at the Joffrey Ballet School (Joffrey Ballet School).
Is Jan Ravnik on Dancing with the Stars?
Yes. He joined Season 34 as a professional dancer, announced in August 2025. He is the first Slovenian pro in the show’s history (Today).
Does Jan Ravnik have a Wikipedia page?
Yes, an active Wikipedia page exists that covers his biography, career timeline, and achievements (Wikipedia).
Where was Jan Ravnik born?
He was born in the municipality of Bohinj, Slovenia (Wikipedia).
What is Jan Ravnik known for?
He is known internationally as a backup dancer on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars (Parade).