Who are Sam McWilliams and Jan Ravnik? Fans spot a Taylor Swift connection at Oscars 2025

Hollywood's one of the biggest nights had an arguably unexpected nod to pop music icon Taylor Swift. Swifties watching the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, were quick to spot a connection between Taylor's record-breaking Eras Tour and the Oscars 2025. It left the fans surprised.

Dancers Sam McWilliams and Jan Ravnik gained notable recognition as part of Swift's global tour. They were seen performing at the star-studded event, and fans wasted no time pointing it out.

The duo took center stage during a Wicked medley featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. The dancers were dressed in black tuxedos and gold turbans. Fans took to social media to share this 'connection' between the Oscars and Taylor Swift. One such netizen wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

"Oh my! Just noticed, two of #taylorswift #erastour dancers are working the #oscars"

Other Swifties gathered in the comment section of the X post to share their thoughts. Below are what some of them had to comment:

"Is that Sam and Jan?" noted an X user.

"The two hottest ones yall," expressed another.

"Yessssss and they are doing backstage work as well! All about this!!!" added a third.

"I recognized Jan immediately but didn't realize Sam's there too! Jan is also in the James Bond tribute, it's so cool to see them doing amazing things like this!" chimed in a fourth.

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Who are Jan Ravnik and Sam McWilliams?

For those unfamiliar with the duo, Sam McWilliams and Jan Ravnik are professional dancers who gained notable recognition from fans during Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, which ran from March 2023 to December 2024.

Jan Ravnik is 29 years old. He is from Slovenia. Jan has worked with beloved celebrities like Bruno Mars, Mariah Carey, and Khalid. His stage presence made him a fan favorite during the tour. It includes his performance in songs like Lavender Haze. His popularity soared further when he was prominently featured in the 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour' concert film, which was released in October 2023.

At the Oscars 2025, Jan Ravnik also appeared in a James Bond tribute alongside actress Margaret Qualley.

On the other hand, Sam McWilliams is 21 years old. He has also been making waves. The young dancer started touring with Swift at just 19, US Weekly reports.

He also expressed his gratitude for the experience in a social media post on December 25, 2024, US Weekly reports. He stated in the post:

“If you would’ve told 19 year old me that I was gonna be going on a tour let alone a WORLD tour I would have s--- my pants. It has always been my dream to go on tour and travel the world, but I never thought that it would happen at 19… thank you to everyone that helped guide me through these crazy amazing two years. What a dream it was.”

While Swift’s influence loomed over the event, she and her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, were nowhere to be seen. The couple, who have kept a relatively low profile since Kelce’s Super Bowl loss in February, reportedly spent time on a private getaway before returning to the U.S.

Taylor Swift has never attended the Oscars ceremony. Moreover, with no nominations or performances lined up, she had little reason to break that streak this year.