Before joining the tour Douglass built a career across some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stages. Her work includes appearances in major film and television projects such as La La Land, Glee, and Parks and Recreation, as well as performances on award shows including the Grammy Awards. She has also danced alongside some of the world’s most recognizable artists, with credits that include collaborations with Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, and Gwen Stefani.
One of Douglass’s most notable credentials is her time as a New York City Rockette, a role widely regarded as one of the most competitive and demanding positions in professional dance. Rockettes are known for their precision, musicality, and uniformity, skills that translate directly to large-scale stadium tours like The Eras Tour, where timing and perfection are critical.
In addition to performing, Douglass has experience as a dance educator and choreographer within the industry. That combination of performance and teaching experience allows her to move fluidly within ensemble settings, adapting quickly to complex choreography and evolving production needs.
On The Eras Tour, Douglass contributes to the visual storytelling that defines the show, from tightly synchronized group numbers to character-driven moments that help frame Swift’s music for audiences of tens of thousands each night. While the spotlight often centers on Swift herself, the dancers surrounding her play an essential role in translating each song into a fully realized live experience.
Dancers like Douglass are gaining increased recognition for the expertise and dedication required to sustain one of the most ambitious tours in modern music history. Her career path, marked by elite training, high-profile collaborations, and relentless discipline, reflects the trajectory of talent behind the scenes of Swift’s record-breaking production. She truly is one of the best in the business.
Karen Chuang: The Scholastic Dancer
Born in Santa Clara, California, Chuang grew up immersed in both academic excellence and artistic exploration. Her early training laid the groundwork for a career that would transcend boundaries between commercial performance and artistic innovation.
Chuang attended UCLA, where she studied Business Economics, graduating summa cum laude. While at UCLA, she was deeply involved in the dance community, including serving as executive director of the school’s hip‑hop team, NSU Modern.
Shortly after college, Chuang embarked on a professional journey that would see her dance with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Over the years she has performed with Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, P!NK, and Khalid and more, dancing in everything from arena tours to televised award shows. Chuang’s choreography also extends to television. She has contributed movement direction for mainstream media, including work on CBS’s Come Dance with Me and choreographing segments for high‑profile performers like Julianne Hough and Harry Shum Jr. for network specials As a member of the Los Angeles‑based Entity Contemporary Dance, Chuang has been part of a collective that emphasizes expressive movement and creative collaboration.
What sets Chuang apart in the often fast‑paced world of commercial dance is her dual role as an artist and educator. She blends her extensive performance background with choreography that are backed by major dance experiences.
Her original works have been featured at respected platforms such as TEDxUCSD, the Capezio A.C.E. Awards in New York, and the McCallum Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, California, highlighting her ability to craft artistic narratives that resonate beyond mainstream stages. Internationall, Chuang has taught dance all over the world in Spain, Mexico, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.
She currently serves on the faculty for major conventions such as Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention and is a lead contemporary instructor for STEEZY Studios, one of the world’s largest online dance education platforms
Fans have connected with her presence both onstage and through social media, where her charisma, energy, and joyous approach to performance have made her a favorite among many concertgoers and dance enthusiasts.
I bet many copied her homework throughout this process.
Natalie Peterson: The Latin Extraordinaire
Before joining the Eras Tour ensemble, Peterson built an impressive résumé both onstage and behind the scenes. She worked as the assistant choreographer for Karol G’s Bichota Tour, a major commercial concert tour that demanded high‑energy choreography tailored to Latin and urban pop styles.
Peterson’s career is not limited to live touring. She has been featured in music videos and fashion films, such as Karol G’s Location video and the Moschino fashion film Lightning Strikes, showing her adaptability across different on‑screen formats.
She also teaches dance and conducts master classes, passing her expertise on to the next generation of performers. Whether she’s instructing technique classes or coaching choreography to aspiring dancers, Peterson’s role as an educator complements her performance work and reflects a dedication to community and craft.
Peterson’s dance background is notable for its focus on diversity. In addition to traditional commercial dance training, she has specialized in Latin Ballroom, a discipline that marries rhythm, precision, and expressive movement. Latin styles, such as rumba, cha‑cha, and samba emphasize musicality and connection between dancers. Many of her peers and fans have noted that this training adds a unique flavor to her presence onstage.
Peterson has also been recognized in competitive dance circles and holds credentials as a certified fitness instructor, further highlighting her commitment to both performance experience and physical education.
Tamiya Lewis: The Rising Dance Star
Lewis started her dance training at AM Dance in Moreno Valley, California, indicating her early roots and development in the California dance scene. Lewis gained broader attention through her work with the Velocity Dance Convention, a nationwide dance competition and educational tour where she both competed and taught before joining The Eras Tour.
Velocity Dance Convention is known for drawing some of the most dedicated young dancers in the U.S., and Lewis’s success there indicated early on that she possessed both professional potential and a strong work ethic. Her experience teaching classes within the convention system also suggests an early distinction not just as a performer but as a mentor and leader among aspiring dancers.
Lewis’s big break came when she joined Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour as a backup dancer, one of the most high‑profile gigs available for performers in the dance world. Onstage, Lewis stood out not only for her dance work but for her showmanship. One of her most memorable moments was wheeling a red road case onto the stage and opening it to release red balloons, (talk about a solo) a symbolic piece tied to the Red era of Swift’s show.
She was also featured in Taylor Swift’s music video for “Karma” (featuring Ice Spice), which broadened her exposure outside of the tour and highlighted her crossover reach in modern pop culture.
Lewis is signed with the Clear Talent Group, a respected agency that represents performers across dance, voice, and acting disciplines.
Her association with Velocity Dance Convention also positions her as both a performer and educator within that network, offering workshops and instruction that build community and influence up‑and‑coming dancers.
Lewis was one of the youngest dancers on the Eras Tour stage starting at just 21 years old… and she is only just getting started.
Taylor Banks: The Versatile Dancer
Taylor Banks was born in New Orleans, grew up in Pennsylvania, and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career in dance and performance. From a very young age, she was immersed in movement and rhythm, training in dance styles that would later set the stage for her professional versatility on stage. Early relocation to Los Angeles, a hub for entertainment and performance arts, positioned her to grow her talents among some of the country’s leading choreographers and artistic communities. In Los Angeles, Banks honed her craft among elite peers and mentors, embedding herself in a culture where dance professionals regularly cross between concert touring, commercial performance, and television appearances.
Banks studied at the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program after transitioning from cheerleading with Dance Dimension Academy and Northern Illinois University. She was able to leverage gymntaicts alongside high‑pressure, competitive artistic environments.
Before joining Taylor Swift’s touring ensemble, Banks built an extensive professional résumé performing with some of pop music’s biggest names, including Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, Ciara, Cher, Dua Lipa, Muse, Carrie Underwood and more.
In addition to her dance career, Banks has worked as a fitness model, representing major brands like Nike, Reebok, Skechers, and Under Armour.
She also brought her dance skills to television, working as a professional dancer on Univision’s Mira Quién Baila (the Spanish‑language version of Dancing With The Stars), where she partnered with celebrities and competed in choreographed routines.
Unlike many dancers whose experience might be limited to a specific genre, Banks’s résumé spans mainstream pop, R&B, rock, and country crossover performances, demonstrating her technical adaptability across multiple performance contexts.
Sydney Moss: The Southern Charm
Moss was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where her love for movement began at a young age. She trained at Studio 413, immersing herself in a wide range of dance disciplines including ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and hip‑hop. In addition to traditional dance training, Moss also pursued gymnastics and weightlifting as cross‑training, experiences that helped build her athletic strength and dynamic stage presence (much-needed for The Eras Tour).
By age 14, Moss had already committed deeply to her craft, signing with a dance agency and setting the stage for a professional career. After high school, she made a pivotal move to Los Angeles in 2016 to pursue dance at the highest level.
Once in Los Angeles, Moss expanded her experience by working with a roster of respected choreographers and entertainers. Over the years, she has danced for renowned pop stars and chart‑topping artists, including Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Doja Cat, and Taylor Swift herself, among others.
She has performed at major industry showcases such as The Billboard Music Awards and contributed dance work to projects like the series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty and sticking to her southern roots, Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.
Moss’s enthusiasm for the work was evident in her own reflections on The Eras Tour. She spoke warmly about the emotional depth of certain choreographic pieces, especially pieces like the “Enchanted” interlude, which she said “sets my soul on fire every night” and helped her grow as an artist throughout the tour’s final U.S. leg.
In addition to her performance work, Moss has built a strong reputation as a teacher and mentor. She regularly shares her expertise at conventions such as Radix Dance Convention and Jump Dance Convention, guiding young dancers and helping them develop both technical skill and expressive artistry.
Natalie Lecznar Reid: Not Tree Paine
Reid, a seasoned dancer, former Radio City Rockette, choreographer, and educator whose journey from classic stage technique to global pop‑tour prominence demonstrates both breadth and depth in performance artistry.
Reid grew up in Seattle, Washington, where her journey in dance began early. She started tap dancing at age 4 and eventually expanded her training to include ballet, jazz, modern, and hip‑hop, competing locally and regionally throughout her youth. Reid’s early immersion in multiple styles allowed her to develop strong performance instincts across both theatrical and commercial disciplines, a key asset for dancers who bridge the worlds of stage and screen.
After completing her early training, Natalie moved to Southern California to pursue formal training and a performing career. She attended Chapman University, where she studied and continued to refine her dance skills while positioning herself within the competitive Los Angeles dance scene. During this time she commuted into L.A. to train with top commercial instructors and to start building professional experience in film, television, and concert work.
Reid also enhanced her training under the guidance of noted choreographers, including studying with Eras Tour lead choreographer Mandy Moore at the Edge Performing Arts Center, one of the country’s premier commercial dance training institutions.
For eleven seasons, Reid was a member of the world‑famous Radio City Rockettes, performing in the legendary precision dance company known for holiday spectaculars and Broadway‑style shows. She also served as assistant dance captain on The New York Spectacular, a Radio City Music Hall production. Beyond stage musicals, Natalie has worked extensively in commercial dance, performing with some of the world’s top recording artists, including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Adele, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Kacey Musgraves, Pitbull, and Flo Rida. Her choreographic and on‑camera résumé spans television and film, with credits including The Eras Tour Movie, Saturday Night Live, The Tony Awards, The MTV Video Music Awards, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and more.
On Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, Reid became a fan-favorite noted by her recognizable fire‑red hair and memorable presence. Reid portrayed characters in narrative sections of The Eras Tour such as the Folklore era’s “The Last Great American Dynasty,” where she performs as Rebekah Harkness during the live staging of that sequence.
Her distinctive red hair made fans do a double take, as Swift’s manager Tree Paine resembles the dynamic dancer.
After the conclusion of The Eras Tour, Reid returned to New York City and joined the faculty at Steps on Broadway, one of the country’s most respected dance studios, where she teaches master classes in jazz and commercial styles. Her work as an educator reflects her commitment to nurturing the next generation of professional dancers.
Kevin Scheitzbach: The Jazz Kid(XS)
Scheitzbach, also known by his stage name KidXS grew up in Toronto, Canada, where his passion for movement took root at a young age. From early on, Scheitzbach trained across multiple styles of dance, immersing himself in both jazz funk and street dance disciplines while also gaining experience in foundational techniques that would strengthen his performance range.
His formal dance education included graduating with high honors from the St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Arts Program in 2019, where he majored in dance.
Kevin’s creative journey has been closely intertwined with that of his older brother, Michael Scheitzbach. Together, they form the duo FlowXS, known for blending styles, performance energy, and choreography that reflect both technical skill and street‑inspired flair. The synergy between the two brothers has become a defining feature of Kevin’s artistic identity, with the duo working together on competitive circuits, local showcases, and dance workshops. In 2021, the brothers moved to Los Angeles to pursue higher‑level opportunities and grow their careers. This relocation marked a pivotal step, transitioning him from the Canadian dance scene into the professional world of touring and commercial performance.
Scheitzbach built an impressive list of performance credits that highlights his range and adaptability. He has appeared in: Disney’s Zombies 2, The Next Step Rookie Blue, Backstage, and more. He has also appeared in music videos and cultural events including appearances tied to artists and festivals like Coachella with 88Rising and Paula Abdul’s White Party.
As a backup dancer in The Eras Tour accomplished ensemble, he brought his jazz funk and street dance expertise to a concert experience that spans genres and eras of Swift’s career. Fans watching the Eras Tour concert film have noted Scheitzbach’s memorable presence, including a notable moment during the performance of “Bejeweled” where he shines with confident movement and stage charisma.
Sam McWilliams: The SYTYCD Contestant
McWilliams is from Oregon and started dancing at a young age. His roots provided a foundation in community and regional competitive dance environments before his talents propelled him onto national and international stages.
From his first steps in local studios to gaining broader recognition as a young performer, McWilliams learned early that dance was not just an art, it was a way to communicate, connect, and captivate audiences.
Before joining The Eras Tour, McWilliams built his experience through a mix of competitive dance and television exposure. In 2021, he was recognized as a Radix Dance senior male core performer, a distinction within one of the country’s most respected dance conventions, where high‑level dancers from across the U.S. showcase their technical and artistic skills.
McWilliams developed strength in contemporary, lyrical, and jazz styles that would later allow him to adapt across Swift’s varied musical eras.
In 2022, he earned national exposure as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, reaching the Top 24 in Season 17 of the popular choreography competition show, a milestone that showcased his expressive movement and stage presence on television.
Even before stepping onto the massive stages of The Eras Tour, McWilliams had already performed with established artists and on notable platforms. His résumé includes touring and performance work with pop stars such as Bebe Rexha and Meghan Trainor. McWilliams also appeared on television and awards shows, including the American Music Awards.
Swifties quickly noticed McWilliams for his outgoing stage personality and memorable moments, such as his interaction with the crowd during the “Lover” performance and a distinctive flip during “Style.” At 21 years old, while on tour, McWilliams stood out as one of the youngest performers in a group of seasoned dancers.
The true mission for him: Connecting with Swifties. McWilliams gave back both onstage and through a growing social media presence, where fans have followed his journey from rehearsal rooms to stadium stages across the globe.
Raphael Thomas: The Artist Dancer
Thomas was born in St. Andrews, Jamaica, where he says dance is woven into the cultural fabric. A place he has described as “the land of drums, movement, and reggae rhythm.”
Thomas’s family moved to the United States when he was four years old, where his early exposure to different cultures and artistic influences helped shape his creative path. Dancing, for him, was more than an activity, it was a way of life, rooted both in Jamaica’s rhythmic heart and the vibrant performance culture of his new home.
He initially trained in jazz dance, later expanding into tap, ballet, and modern techniques. He studied for more than a decade at The Asbury Park Technical Academy of Dance and pursued additional training at institutions including The Rock School for Dance Education, The Kirov Academy, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Before joining The Eras Tour, Thomas knows what it is like to strut next to some big names including Beyoncé, John Legend, Mary J. Blige and more.
Thomas first collaborated with Taylor Swift in 2015, performing with her during a high‑profile duet at the MTV Video Music Awards alongside Nicki Minaj.
Nearly a decade later, he returned to work with Swift in a major role on The Eras Tour. On the tour, Thomas became especially known for his featured role during the performance of “Tolerate It,” in which he and Swift portray a failing relationship at a dinner table, a scene that combines dramatic theatricality with emotionally charged movement.
While the stage is where audiences often see him, Thomas is also a gifted painter, blending his love of visual art with his performance career. Whether sketching in a studio or interpreting emotion through movement, Thomas’s creative practice reflects a multidimensional artist who draws inspiration from life, culture, and connection.
Whyley Yoshimura: The Hawaiian Dancer
Whyley Yoshimura was born and raised on the island of O‘ahu, Hawaii, where his early life was steeped in the rich cultural fabric of the islands. This upbringing helped shape not only his identity but his approach to movement, blending natural rhythm, freedom of expression, and the lively spirit often associated with Hawaiian culture.
After graduating from the Kamehameha Schools on O‘ahu, Yoshimura made a pivotal move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in dance and modeling.
Yoshimura’s professional dance journey began at just 18 years old when he landed a role working with Janet Jackson, a major early break in the industry. Not only did he perform with Jackson, but he also served as her assistant choreographer for her “Unbreakable Tour.” That catapulted him in front of other big names to come.
He has worked with A‑list artists including Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, and Christina Aguilera.
The Eras Tour become yet another milestone that allowed him to be recognizable on-stage for the first time.
Fans quickly spotted Yoshimura for his distinctive look and energy, particularly during the exuberant performance of “Shake It Off,” where his long hair becomes a memorable visual moment in the concert film and live shows alike.
Beyond his stage performances, he is an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility. He has supported organizations like the Rainbow Railroad, reflecting his commitment to broader social causes and community empowerment.
Tori Evans: The Blank Space Star
Tori Evans grew up in San Jose, California, where she began dance training at a young age. For 15 years, she studied tap, jazz, and ballet at Lana’s Dance Studio in Morgan Hill.
Evans’s talent earned her a scholarship to the University of Arizona, Tucson, one of the top dance programs in the country. There, she graduated with honors, completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance along with a minor in Economics. While at Arizona, she expanded her training through elite programs like LA Dance Magic, where she studied alongside and assisted top choreographers in the industry.
After graduating, Evans hit the ground running in Los Angeles, quickly building a professional résumé that spans touring, television, award shows, and commercial performances.
Her credits include touring globally with major musical acts such as Empire of the Sun and Ricky Martin, gigs that showcased her ability to blend artistic precision with high‑energy stage work.
She has also danced with some of the biggest names in music, including Beyoncé, Cardi B, Jason Derulo, Maroon 5, Tyga, and Pitbull.
In addition, Evans has appeared on a variety of national television shows, including The Masked Singer, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Price Is Right, The Voice, and multiple award show telecasts.
Evans joined Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour as a backup dancer, helping bring the tour’s choreography to life across stadiums worldwide. Her steady presence and expressive performance were highlighted throughout the show, including during the “Blank Space” segment, where she interacted directly onstage with Swift in a memorable visual moment seen by thousands of fans.
In a heartfelt online reflection after the final Eras Tour performance, Evans described the experience as life‑changing and compared the emotional culmination of the tour to “winning the Olympics” and celebrating the familial bonds formed with the cast. As The Eras Tour continues to be celebrated through its concert films and Disney+ docuseries, performers like Tori Evans are gaining renewed recognition for their contributions to one of the most ambitious tour productions in modern music history.
Athleticism and Endurance:
If you watched the Eras Tour concert film, one thing is obvious: this is not “dancing” in the casual sense. It’s athletic theater. The show ran roughly three hours per night; dancers performed repetitive high-impact movement, quick costume and prop-assisted transitions, lifts and partner work, and had to sell emotional beats in small character vignettes between pop choreography. Experts and dance professionals say Taylor’s dancers needed elite conditioning: Pilates and core work for stability, weight and strength training for lifts and holds, and cardio programming (intervals, treadmill, running) to build the respiratory resilience for long sets. This type of conditioning is integral when dancers are executing high-force moves night after night.
The physical demands are multilayered: stamina to sustain high heart rates for extended numbers, quick muscular recovery between songs, joint integrity to absorb repeated landings, and the acting-through-movement. Add late shows, travel, different stage surfaces and climate changes across cities, and the role becomes a test of athletic ability.
We bow to you!
