Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Controversy: Maks Chmerkovskiy Criticizes New Pro Jan Ravnik's Ballroom Technique
Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars has been filled with exciting theme nights, such as Dedication Night and Wicked Night. Former DWTS pro Maks Chmerkovskiy has expressed concerns about the newest pro, Jan Ravnik, criticizing his lack of proper ballroom technique. Jan was paired with Jen Affleck from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and the judges advised Jan to incorporate more choreography into their routines.
Maks, who returned as a judge after retiring as a pro, voiced his opinion on Jan's ballroom experience during a podcast with his wife, Peta Murgatroyd. He believes that Jan lacks the necessary foundation technique and understanding of partnership required for Dancing with the Stars. Maks specifically pointed out issues with Jan and Jen's foxtrot performance on Wicked Night, stating that Jan failed to deliver the essence of the dance.
Peta also shared her concerns about Jen's progress with Jan as her pro, noting that Jen is not receiving the fundamental training needed for the competition. Peta criticized the decision to hire a non-ballroom dancer like Jan to teach ballroom dancing to a celebrity, suggesting that it was primarily based on his background as a Taylor Swift dancer. Despite their criticisms, Maks acknowledged that other pros with limited ballroom experience have been hired in the past.
Dancing with the Stars Season 34 airs on Tuesdays on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available for streaming on Hulu the following day. The comments made by Peta and Maks regarding Jan's abilities as a pro have sparked discussions among fans of the show. Some may view their criticisms as harsh, while others may agree with their assessment of Jan's performance on the show.