Jan Ravnik learned that a diamond’s got to shine right from the source: Taylor Swift.
After supporting “The Life of a Showgirl” singer on her record-breaking Eras Tour, the professional dancer is trading stadium stages for the ballroom floor—and shared what he picked up from the ultimate performer for his upcoming stint on Dancing With the Stars.
“Just to be an icon and be true to yourself,” Jan told E! News in an exclusive interview, shortly after the Dancing With the Stars season 34 cast was revealed Sept. 3. “She’s amazing.”
As the 30-year-old gears up for his new gig, Taylor is taking some well-deserved time off filled with baking sourdough and lots of time with her new fiancé Travis Kelce.
Naturally, Jan—who danced beside Travis on the Eras Tour during his London appearance last June—was happy like “the rest of the world,” to hear the news of the couple’s engagement, he told E! News, adding of Taylor, “She deserves the best.” (For more from Jan and his fellow Dancing With the Stars castmates, tune into E! News tonight, Sept. 3, at 11 p.m.)
Although Jan will dance alongside The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jennifer Affleck for his next endeavor on the ABC reality competition series, he previously said he “never imagined” getting an opportunity as rare as the Eras Tour.
“Night after night, I got to share the stage with the most dedicated, creative, and passionate people,” Jan wrote in an Instagram post after the tour ended in December. “Thank you to Taylor for setting a bar so high it made every one of us rise to the challenge.”
He emphasized that Taylor changed his life by giving him a spot on her stage, adding, “I am not same person I was 2 years ago and I can easily say these were the best years of my life.”
Similarly, the “Karma” singer continues to be in awe of what she accomplished during her latest string of performances.
“I never really let myself be like, ‘I’ve made it,’” Taylor admitted during her Aug. 13 appearance on New Heights alongside Travis and Jason Kelce. “But the Eras Tour I was like, ‘Oh, this is different.’”
She emphasized, “It was so much better than anything I’d ever experienced.”
For a deeper look into Taylor’s glittering prime, keep reading…
—Reporting by Emily Curl
“Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince”
The singer opens her first show of her The Eras tour in Glendale, Arizona on March 17, 2023.
“Marjorie”
The singer performs songs from her “evermore” era.
“Tim McGraw”
The star performs the song at the piano.
“Cruel Summer”
The singer performs her song from her “Lover” era.
“Fearless”
The singer performs songs from her “Fearless” era.
“Blank Space”
The singer performs her 2014 hit single.
“Look What You Made Me Do”
Ssssssspectacular.
“All Too Well”
Swift performs her 10-minute hit ballad from her “Red” era.
“You Need to Calm Down”
It’s snazzy business-casual for Swift when it comes to her “Lover” era.
“Shake It Off”
Swift performs her 2014 hit single.
“Enchanted”
Swift performs one song from her “Speak Now” era.
“Midnight Rain”
Swift performs a track from her “Midnights” era.
“22”
Swift performs songs from her “Red” era.
“August”
The singer shows cases a romantic, dusty rose style.
“Karma”
The singer closes the show in a fringed outfit.
