
Los Angeles, get ready to groove! 'Dancing With the Stars' is bringing some major SoCal summer energy to Season 34 with the addition of Jan Ravnik, one of Taylor Swift's standout backup dancers from her iconic Eras Tour. Known for stealing the show during the 'Fortnight' performance, Ravnik is stepping into the ballroom as a pro dancer, and we’re already hyped to see what moves he’s got up his sleeve.
While there’s no word yet on who’ll be lucky enough to twirl with Ravnik under those Hollywood lights, the anticipation is building faster than traffic on the 405. This news dropped just ahead of the full cast reveal, and trust us, the buzz is louder than a Santa Monica beach party.
Joining Ravnik on this glitzy dance journey are some familiar faces with serious West Coast vibes. Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt, stars of Hulu’s 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' are trading Utah drama for ballroom flair, while social media queen Alix Earle and Aussie wildlife hero Robert Irwin round out the early cast announcements. It’s a mix as diverse as a Venice Beach boardwalk crowd!
Irwin, following in the footsteps of his sister Bindi (who snagged the mirror ball trophy back in 2015), is bringing that Down Under charm all the way to our LA stage. Meanwhile, Earle, with her massive TikTok following, is ready to slay the dance floor like she slays her podcast game. Affleck and Leavitt? They’re already hyping up their 'MomTok' moves for the competition.
Mark your calendars, fam - 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 34 is set to premiere live on ABC and Disney+ on September 16, with next-day streaming on Hulu. Fresh off a killer Season 33 that topped the charts among the 18-49 crowd (per Deadline), this show crowned 'The Bachelor' alum Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson as champs, and broke records left and right.
Returning to host are Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, while the judging panel of Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough will be back to throw shade or praise from their seats. This season’s shaping up to be hotter than a Malibu summer day, and we’re all in for the ride.
Ravnik isn’t just a dancer - he’s a full-on internet phenom thanks to his slick moves alongside Taylor Swift. With over 700K followers on Instagram and nearly 600K on TikTok, this guy’s got the fanbase to match his footwork. He’s ready to trade global tour stages for the DWTS ballroom, and we’re betting he’s got his eye on that shiny mirror ball.
'I’ve danced around the world with the Eras Tour, and now I’m bringing that energy to 'Dancing With the Stars' - let’s win this mirror ball, LA style!'
Jen Affleck, with over a million Insta followers and 2.1 million on TikTok, and Whitney Leavitt, a former 'MomTok' leader, are bringing their influencer game from Utah to the LA spotlight. Both stars of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' on Hulu, they’re documenting every step (literally) of this journey.
The duo dropped a cute vid on Good Morning America, syncing up with a joint 'I’m coming for that mirror ball!' shout-out before showing off some early dance moves. We’re already rooting for these mamas to bring some serious heat.
Alix Earle is basically social media royalty, boasting 7.5 million TikTok followers and 4.3 million on Instagram. Host of the 'Hot Mess' podcast and a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover star, she’s got the charisma to light up any Hollywood red carpet - or dance floor.
Expect her to bring that influencer energy to every routine. We’re curious to see if her online sass translates to ballroom class!
Robert Irwin, the wildlife conservationist carrying on his late father Steve Irwin’s 'Crocodile Hunter' legacy, is jumping from the Australia Zoo to the DWTS stage. With his mom and sister Bindi by his side in the conservation game, Robert’s ready to honor family tradition with a shot at the mirror ball - just like Bindi did in 2015.
His excitement is pure gold, as he exclaimed 'Crikey! Holy moly!' at Hulu’s Get Real event, snake around his neck and all. On Insta, he shared that this has been a childhood dream, and we’re stoked to see this Aussie charm LA with his moves.
With a cast this stacked, 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 34 is shaping up to be a straight-up banger. From Ravnik’s Swift-inspired swagger to Irwin’s outback heart, and the influencer power of Earle, Affleck, and Leavitt, there’s something for everyone tuning in from the West Coast and beyond.
So, grab your popcorn, set a reminder for September 16, and let’s see who’s got the chops to salsa, tango, or cha-cha their way to glory. This is Hollywood, baby - the drama’s just getting started!