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Meet Taylor Swift's Eras Tour backup crew
If you've gotten the chance to see T-Swift live on the Eras Tour (or, like me, just watched the Eras Tour movie from the comfort of your couch more times than you can count), chances are you've noticed Taylor's fab backup dancers waltzing to "Lover" or spinning around to "willow."
Somewhere around the reputation era, I started recognizing their individual faces as they came out onstage. And by the end of the three-and-a-half-hour show, they kinda felt like my old friends (at least, old friends whose names I didn't know!).
So I did what every self-respecting Swiftie would and learned everything I could about Taylor's ah-mazing crew! As we get ready for the kick-off of the tour's European leg, here's what you should know about Blondie's Eras Tour dancers:
Kameron Saunders
Backup dancer Kameron Saunders went viral for his solo in "Bejewled." What's more, Kameron's brother Khalen Saunders used to play for the Kansas City Chiefs with Taylor's BF Travis Kelce! Talk about an invisible string...
Taylor Banks
Besides sharing a first name with Taylor Swift, Taylor Banks has an *insanely* impressive resume. She's danced with artists like Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa, Justin Timberlake, Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, Cher and more—and modeled for brands including Nike and Reebok.
Natalie Reid
@laurrrrr9 The Eras Tour dancers really stole the show all night 🤩🫶 #detroittstheerastour #taylorswift #taylor #eras #fyp #swifties #swifttok #detroit #theerastour #erastour #natalie #nataliereid @Taylor Nation @Taylor Swift ♬ original sound - Laura
Natalie Reid has performed with artists including Billie Eilish, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull and was a Radio City Rockette for 11 seasons!
Audrey Douglass
Another Radio City Rockette, Audrey Douglass has danced with Dua Lipa, Beyoncé and Gwen Stefani—plus performed in La La Land, Glee and Parks and Recreation.
Sam Mcwilliams
You may have noticed him slow-dancing around the stage during "Lover." Besides the Eras Tour, Sam McWwlliams has danced with Meghan Trainor and performed on So You Think You Can Dance.
Kevin Scheitzbach
@markppg Some of you noticed that the Arlington shows were slightly different than all the others so far. 2 dancers were missing, so people got shuffled around a bit. It meant @Samobam0 and @Kevin XS didn't dance together in Lover, BUT Kevin got to not only dance in Vigilante shit, but he was also the fella over there with the hella good hair! Who else is excited for tonight? 🙋♂️ #swifties #swiftie #taylornation #swiftnation #swifttok #tserastour #tserastour2023 #taylor #taylorswift #erastour #therastour #erastourhouston #TeamUnstoppable #shakeitoff #shakeitofftaylorswift #TheEmpireScheitzbach #PapaFlowXS ♬ original sound - PapaFlowXS
Kevin Scheitzbach, Sam Mcwilliams' "Lover" dance partner, has danced at Coachella and in several music videos—and has appeared in Disney's Zombies 2. Remember the "fella over there with the hella good hair" (for some of the performances, at least)? That was him!
Kamilah Marshall
Kamilah Marshall has been a backup singer for Taylor since the Red tour! This T-Swift touring veteran also made an appearance as a party guest in All Too Well: The Short Film.
Melanie Nyema
Melanie Nyema is another long-time T-Swift backup singer and dancer. She appeared with Taylor way back at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards!
Natalie Peterson
Before she joined the Eras Tour, Natalie Peterson was the assistant choreographer for Karol G's Bichota Tour. Here she is glowing during "Lavender Haze."
Eliotte Nicole
Eliotte Nicole, another Red tour veteran, is both a backup dancer and vocalist! Remember her cameo here in "Look What You Made Me Do"?
Jan Ravnik
OK, our official TikTok heartthrob: You may have seen Jan Ravnik on X Factor or America's Got Talent. He's also danced on tours with Mariah Carey and Bruno Mars.
Tori Evans
@erastourdancers Tori Evans x Blank Space @ Sydney Night 1 dancer: @Tori Evans choreo: Mandy Moore #choreography #dancetok #dancefyp #dancin #dancersoftiktok #erastourtaylorswift #taylorswift #choreo #dancerlife #performer #dancing #erastour #taylorswifterastour #dancemoves #dancetiktok #dancerslife ♬ original sound - Eras Tour Dancers
Tori Evans is also no stranger to TV. She's been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Masked Singer and The Price Is Right and has performed with singers including Cardi B!
Amanda Balen
Before she joined the Eras Tour, Amanda Balen acted in La La Land, A Star is Born, Hamilton and more and performed with Lady Gaga and Celine Dion.
Karen Chuang
Besides dancing with Taylor, Karen Chuang is a choreographer and dance teacher. She's also performed with Lady Gaga, Pink and more. (And she's the one who lip-syncs, "Who's Taylor Swift, anyway? Ew!" during "22"!)
Tamiya Lewis
When she isn't traveling with the Eras Tour, Tamiya Lewis is a pro dancer with the national touring competition Velocity Dance Convention.
Raphael Thomas
@groovyjaylin Had to record some parts of Tolerate It. He is so HANDSOME. 😩 His name is Raphael Thomas. He also worked with Mary J Blige, Usher and Janet Jackson before. #raphaelthomas #taylorswift #theerastour #tolerateit #evermore #handsome #veryhandsome #handsomeeee #fine #fione #sofine #ahhahhahaha ♬ original sound - Dora Car
You'll probably recognize Raphael Thomas from his starring cameos as Taylor's boyfriend in both "tolerate it" and "Style." Before he started dancing on the Eras Tour, he performed with artists including Janet Jackson and John Legend.
Sydney Moss
Sydney Moss is a dancer and choreographer. Here she is (in Sydney, Australia!) next to Taylor in "The Man."
Whyley Yoshimura
Whyley Yoshimura's hella good hair is spotlighted during "Shake It Off" at some of the performances! Besides dancing with Taylor, Whyley Yoshimura has performed with singers like Rihanna and Christina Aguilera.
Jeslyn Gorman
Like Kamilah Marshall, Jeslyn Gorman has been working with Taylor since the Red tour. She's also a singer who has performed with Nick Jonas and Rita Ora.
What's your favorite Eras Tour moment? Let us know on IG @girlslifemag!
Keep reading for more Taylor content:
🎤 Everything we know about The Tortured Poets Department bonus tracks
🎤 13 times Taylor Swift showed us that she was The Man
🎤 34 Taylor Swift lyrics to live by
Slider: @janravnik
Top image: @kamnsaunders
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