Exclusive Interview
‘DWTS’ Couple Alan Bersten & Emma Slater Share New Details About Their Romance Ahead of Season 34
Emma Slater and Alan Bersten shared a hard launch kiss that Dancing With the Stars won’t soon forget.
During their run on the Season 33 DWTS Live Tour, Dancing With the Stars pros Slater and Bersten went viral for pulling a mid-dance kiss at the final show after months of speculation about their relationship. While everyone who’s seen Glee knows that a mid-performance smooch, a la Finn and Rachel at New York Nationals, is often seen as a faux pas, fans were thrilled to see confirmation that two of their favorite long-time pros had gotten together.
Leading up to Season 34, Swooon caught up with Slater, Bersten, and the rest of the Dancing With the Stars celeb and pro pairings at their post-GMA reveal red carpet. Of course, we had to ask the newly coupled pros about their off-screen relationship.
“We just decided to live our lives,” Bersten told Swooon alongside his Season 23 partner, Elaine Hendrix, who played The Parent Trap legend, Meredith Blake. “I think you only get one life and live it.”
Slater, who is paired with Andy Richter, a comedian who also portrayed an iconic character, the voice of Mort in Madagascar, recalled the story a little differently. “Actually, he’s the one that did it, and I kind of just was there and went along with it.” She added, “Afterwards, a lot of people made noise in the audience, and I was like ‘Well, that just happened.'”
“They actually weren’t dating,” Richter joked, “He said it and she had to go along with it.” Playing along, Slater asked, “Can you believe that? It was pure shock.”
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Of course, Slater is no stranger to competing against a romantic partner. The DWTS pro got engaged to her costar, Sasha Farber, on the show back in 2016. While their relationship only lasted until 2o22, the couple faced off for multiple seasons. She shared about competing against Bersten, “Oh! It’s gonna be great. We’re going to be super supportive of each other, and I can’t wait to see him do his thing with Elaine. I also love her! I’m so excited that Meredith Blake is on the show and to see her talent because she’s gonna be amazing!”
Similarly, Bersten told Swooon, “I don’t think it’s really a competition. Everyone is so supportive, especially Emma. Now it’s like Elaine and I have Emma, and Andy has me. So, we’re just going to have fun with it!”
Are you excited to see these Dancing With the Stars pros compete for the first time as a couple? Comment below!
Dancing With the Stars Season 34, Live, Tuesday, September 16, 8/7c, ABC, Disney+ (next day on Hulu)
For more Dancing With the Stars, pick up a copy of TV Guide Magazine’s Dancing With the Stars: 20th Anniversary Special Collectors Issue, on stands now or available at DWTS.TVGM2025.com.
