Maks Chmerkovskiy Critiques DWTS Casting: Jan Ravnik’s ‘Absurd’ Technique Lacks Foundation

In a recent episode of Peta Murgatroyd’s podcast, former Dancing with the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy expressed strong opinions about new pro dancer Jan. Maks and Peta discussed Jan’s performance with celebrity partner Jen Affleck on Wicked night. Maks did not hold back, stating he could “feel the heat” just thinking about their dance.

Maks criticized Jan’s technique and understanding of the dance styles, saying, “I’m sorry, Jan has absolutely no business being a pro on Dancing with the Stars.” He added that Jan lacked the basic foundation needed for ballroom dancing. Maks emphasized the lack of knowledge around partnership dynamics, which is crucial in dance.

Despite the criticism, Jan and Jen received decent scores for their foxtrot, earning straight 8s—their highest scores thus far. However, Maks felt these scores were unwarranted and doubted Jan’s ability to effectively teach the dance. He questioned how anyone could expect good results when the dancer lacked understanding of the very basics of ballroom.

Peta echoed Maks’s thoughts, pointing out that Jen was at a disadvantage because Jan wasn’t teaching her foundational skills. She felt that bringing Jan on board was more about his popularity—stemming from his work as a dancer for Taylor Swift—rather than his qualifications as a dance instructor.

It’s interesting to note that Dancing with the Stars has had dancers from diverse backgrounds. Some started off in different roles before becoming pros. This brings up a question: Can someone without traditional ballroom training still succeed in this setting?

In recent years, social media platforms have buzzed with discussions around dancer qualifications and scoring fairness on the show. Fans have shared mixed reactions, with many supporting Maks’ viewpoints while others defend Jan, hoping he’ll improve as the competition progresses. As the residual excitement from this season’s performances lingers, we’ll have to wait and see how Jan adapts and evolves in this high-pressure environment.

For more on recent trends in dance competitions and insights into judging practices, you can check out this study on competition scoring.

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