Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro Swifties Will Care About

ABC is expanding the Dancing With the Stars franchise with a new summer spinoff, Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, which will premiere on July 13 on ABC and stream with a Disney+ subscription. The series will feature familiar names from the ballroom world, including Robert Irwin and Mark Ballas, as it crowns a new professional dancer who will earn a guaranteed spot on Season 35 of the flagship competition.

That prize has raised questions about the future of Jan Ravnik, who joined Dancing With the Stars as a pro just one season ago after serving as an Eras Tour dancer. Ravnik and partner Jen Affleck lasted until Week 7 before being eliminated, making them the sixth couple sent home that season. While his run was respectable for a rookie, it was not considered especially strong, and his place in the lineup now appears uncertain.

Ravnik’s time on the show also drew attention because of criticism from former pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who questioned Ravnik’s lack of formal ballroom training. The comments sparked online debate about whether Ravnik was ready for the role of pro dancer on the series. Affleck defended him on social media, and Ravnik stayed involved after elimination by helping host TikTok livestreams for the show. The official Dancing With the Stars account later referred to him as the “TikTok Live King,” suggesting he remained a visible part of the franchise even after leaving the competition floor.

Because the new spinoff guarantees one additional pro spot, at least one dancer from the previous season may be left out when Season 35 is assembled. Ravnik is one possible candidate, especially if the show keeps the number of pro dancers limited. However, the outcome is not certain. The series could choose to bring Ravnik back and leave another pro without a place, depending on casting decisions, scheduling conflicts, or personal circumstances affecting returning dancers.

Mark Ballas is another variable in the equation, since he does not compete every season. Other professionals may also step aside before the final roster is announced. For now, Ravnik’s future on Dancing With the Stars remains unclear, but the launch of The Next Pro ensures that the competition for pro spots will be more intense than usual heading into Season 35.