Emma Louise Slater (born 25 December 1988) is a British and American professional dancer and choreographer best known for her appearances on the reality competition program Dancing with the Stars.
Early life Emma Louise Slater was born on 25 December 1988 in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. She has a twin sister, Kelly, who is a costume designer and stylist. Slater was raised in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and began taking dance classes at an early age. At age 10, Slater started her training in ballroom and Latin dance. In the early years of competing, she won a number of competitions in England. At 15, she appeared in a George Michael music video "Round Here" produced by Bikini Films on location in London. Later that year, Slater took part in the fitness video "Latinasize" again filmed at the Pinewood Studios in London.
Personal life She dated fellow Dancing with the Stars member Sasha Farber from 2011 to 2014. In December 2015, Farber made a post on his Instagram account confirming that he and Slater were back together. He proposed to Slater during a broadcast of Dancing with the Stars on 4 October 2016. They married on 25 March 2018, with fellow Dancing with the Stars pros Lindsay Arnold, Witney Carson and Jenna Johnson serving as bridesmaids, and Derek Hough serving as one of Farber's groomsmen. Slater became an American citizen in December 2020. The couple separated in April 2022. Slater filed for divorce in February 2023. She is now in a relationship with fellow Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Alan Bersten.
Competitive dancing Slater has numerous titles to her name. In 2005, at the age of 16, she won the British Under 21 Latin American Championships at the Blackpool Closed 2005. She won the 2006 United Kingdom Under 21 Latin American Championships at the Bournemouth Pavilions, England. Ranked in the world's top 10, Slater went on to represent the UK in competitions around the world.
Theatre
At 16, Slater joined the hit theatre show ‘Simply Ballroom’ touring UK, including Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London's West End, United Arab Emirates and South Africa.Hodges, Ben, and Scott Denny. Theatre World, Volume 66: 2009–2010. Vol. 66. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2011 While in South Africa, Slater appeared on Dancing with the South African Stars with her celebrity partner TV Host Dalen Lance. Following Simply Ballroom, Slater had an extended run in London's West End with theatre shows; Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre where she was the Principal Latin Dancer/Ballroom Supervisor, but also understudied and played the principal role of Lisa Houseman, ‘Cheek to Cheek’ at The Coliseum and ‘Latin Fever’ at the Peacock Theatre.
Year Title RoleNotes 2005 Simply Ballroom Principal Dancer UK & World Tour 2005 George Michael Music Video Feature Dancer Round Here 2006 Cuban Groove Dance Captain Europe Tour 2007 Dirty Dancing Principal Dancer Ballroom Supervisor Aldwych Theatre 2008 Cheek to Cheek Lead Latin/Ballroom Dancer DuBeke/Boag Coliseum Theatre 2008 Latin Fever Principal Dancer Bennett/Kopylova Peacock Theatre 2009–2011 Burn the Floor Lead Dancer London's West End, Broadway and World Tour
In 2009, Slater joined the stage show Burn the Floor for the China tour initially, but later joined the cast for an extended run at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway New York City and a world tour covering: Belgium, Holland, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand, West End London, a nine-month USA multi-city tour. She also danced and advised on UK's ITV Popstar to Opera Star on a number of occasions.
Mamma Mia!
In 2008, Slater was featured IMDb Database retrieved December 2017 in the Universal Pictures movie Mamma Mia! starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, directed by Phyllida Lloyd – this included singing on the Grammy nominated soundtrack for the movie with the cast, produced by ABBA. The movie was shot in part on the Greek island of Skopelos but primarily inside Pinewood Studios London.
Dancing with the Stars In March 2012, Slater joined the fourteenth season on the American edition of Dancing with the Stars as a troupe dancer, where she danced and choreographed all of the opening dance numbers including the finale. Later that year, she choreographed Usher at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas including partner work with co-choreographer and also troupe member, Sasha Farber.
After three seasons of being a troupe member, she was announced as one of the new female professional dancers for the seventeenth season of the show in September 2013. Her celebrity partner was award-winning comedian, singer and actor, Bill Engvall. Despite receiving low scores from the judges for most of the season, they were able to reach the finals but were eliminated at the end of the first night, landing them in 4th place. For season 18, she returned as a professional dancer partnered with movie actor Billy Dee Williams. Due to a back injury on Billy Dee, they withdrew from the competition on Week 3. For season 19, she was paired with race-car driver Michael Waltrip and they finished in 7th place. For season 20, she paired with LMFAO singer Redfoo but on week 2, they were the first couple eliminated. For season 21 she paired with Vine star Hayes Grier. They were eliminated on Week 7 and finished in 8th place. Slater did not participate in Season 22 of the reality show.
Slater returned for season 23 and was paired with former Texas governor and two-time presidential candidate Rick Perry. They were eliminated on week 3 of competition and finished in 12th place. She returned for season 24 and was paired with NFL running back Rashad Jennings; Jennings and Slater won the competition on 23 May 2017, marking Slater's first win.
For season 25, Slater was partnered with realtor, and Property Brothers co-host, Drew Scott. They made the finals of the competition but were eliminated on night one, finishing in 4th place.
For season 26, Slater was paired with former MLB outfielder Johnny Damon. They were eliminated on the first week of competition, tying in 9th place with Jamie Anderson and Artem Chigvintsev.
For season 27, she was partnered with actor & country music singer John Schneider. The couple was eliminated on week 7 of competition and finished in joint 7th place with DeMarcus Ware and Lindsay Arnold.
For season 28, Slater was paired with actor James Van Der Beek. Despite earning high scores from the judges throughout the season and being considered frontrunners to win, the couple was eliminated during the semi-finals of the competition where they finished in 5th place.
For season 29, Slater was paired with former NBA player Charles Oakley. They were the first couple to be eliminated and finished in 15th place.
For season 30, Slater was paired with country singer Jimmie Allen. They finished in 7th place.
For season 31, Slater was paired with actor & model Trevor Donovan. They reached the semi-finals and finished in 6th place.
For season 33, Slater was partnered with actor Reginald VelJohnson. They reached the third week of competition and finished in 10th place in a double elimination.
For season 34, Slater was paired with actor & comedian Andy Richter. The pair finished in 7th place.https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1424816/dancing-with-the-stars-eliminates-andy-richter-on-20th-anniversary
Season Partner Place Average 17 Bill Engvall 4th 22.5 18 Billy Dee Williams 10th 15 19 Michael Waltrip 7th 18.4 20 Redfoo 12th 20 21 Hayes Grier 8th 24.2 23 Rick Perry 12th 16 24 Rashad Jennings 1st 27 25 Drew Scott 4th 23.8 26 Johnny Damon 9th 18 27 John Schneider 7th 22.2 28 James Van Der Beek 5th 25.1 29 Charles Oakley 15th 13.5 30 Jimmie Allen 7th 23.2 31 Trevor Donovan 6th 23.8 32 Mauricio Umansky 9th 18.5 33 Reginald VelJohnson 10th 15.8 34 Andy Richter 7th 19.6 35 Jackson Olson TBD TBD *Scores out of 40 are adjusted to be out of 30.
Season 17: with celebrity partner: Bill Engvall Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultInabaGoodmanTonioli 1 Foxtrot / "Hot Stuff" 6 6 6 No Elimination 2 Jive / "Crocodile Rock" 7 7 7 Last to be called safe 3 Paso Doble / "William Tell Overture" 8 8 8 Safe 4 Samba / "Cuban Pete" 7 7* 7 Safe 5 Viennese Waltz / "She's Always a Woman" 8 8 8 Safe 6 Tango / "Cheeseburger in Paradise"Switch-Up Challenge 8Awarded 81 7Point No Elimination 7 Quickstep / "Viva Las Vegas"Team Freestyle / "Bom Bom" 89 79 89 Last To Be Called Safe 8 Disco / "Strong Enough"Dance Off / "Song for the Lonely" 8Lost 8*The 8Event Safe 9Quarter-Finals Charleston / "Yakety Yak"Trio Salsa / "Candy" 77 77 77 Last to be called Safe 10 Semi-Finals Cha-cha-cha & Argentine Tango / "Sexy and I Know It" 78 78 7*/78*/8 Last to be called Safe 11 Finals Viennese Waltz / "She's Always a Woman"Samba Relay / "No Scrubs"Freestyle / "The Raiders March" 8Awarded8 829 8Points8 Eliminated
Former professional dancer and two-time champion, Julianne Hough became Goodman's replacement as judge for that week, due to his commitments with the British version of the show, Strictly Come Dancing. For week 8 singer Cher was the guest judge for Len. For week 10 former pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy was a guest judge.
Season 18: with celebrity partner: Billy Dee Williams Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultInabaGoodmanTonioli 1 Cha-cha-cha / "Star Wars Theme" 5 5 5 No Elimination 2 Tango / "Peter Gunn Theme" 5 5 5 Safe 3 Waltz N/A N/A N/A Withdrew
Season 19: with celebrity partner: Michael Waltrip Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultInabaGoodmanJ. HoughTonioli 1 Cha-cha-cha / "Born to Be Wild" 7 6 6 6 Safe 2 Samba / "Girls in Bikinis" 6 6 6 6 Last to be called safe 3 Waltz / "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" 7 71 7 7 Safe 4 Quickstep / "Givin' It Up for Your Love" 6 72 6 6 Last to be called safe 53 Disco / "Car Wash" 5 54 5 5 No Elimination 6 Argentine Tango / "Give Me Everything" 8 75 8 7 Safe 7 Jive / "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"Team Freestyle / "Black Widow" 59 59 59 59 Safe 8 Foxtrot / "You'll Be in My Heart"Rumba Dance-Off / "I'm Not the Only One" 6No 7Extra 6Points 6Awarded Eliminated
1Score given by guest judge Kevin Hart in place of Goodman.
2The American public scored the dance in place of Goodman with the averaged score being counted alongside the three other judges.
3This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Waltrip performed with Witney Carson instead of Slater. Slater performed with Tommy Chong.
4Score given by guest judge Jessie J in place of Goodman.
5Score given by guest judge Pitbull in place of Goodman.
Season 20: with celebrity partner: Redfoo Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultInabaGoodmanJ. HoughTonioli 1 Cha-cha-cha / "Juicy Wiggle"6556No Elimination 2 Jive / "My Sharona" 8 7 8 8 Eliminated
Season 21: with celebrity partner: Hayes Grier Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultInabaHoughTonioli 1Cha-cha-cha / "Cheerleader"777No Elimination 2 Foxtrot / "This Is How We Roll"Quickstep / "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"8877 78 Safe 3 Jive / "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme" 7 81/7 8 Safe 4 Contemporary / "Stitches" 9 9 9Safe 52Viennese Waltz / "Like I'm Gonna Lose You" 8 8/73 7No Elimination 6Jazz / "You're the One That I Want" 8 8/84 8Safe 7Waltz / "Once Upon a Dream"Team Freestyle / "This Is Halloween" 810 910 910Eliminated
1 Score given by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro.
2 This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Grier performed with Allison Holker instead of Slater. Slater performed with Alek Skarlatos.
3 Score by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
4 Score given by guest judge Olivia Newton-John.
Season 23: with celebrity partner: Rick Perry Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultInabaGoodmanJ. HoughTonioli 1 Cha-cha-cha / "God Blessed Texas"5555No Elimination 2 Quickstep / "Green Acres Theme"6565Safe 3 Paso Doble / "Tamacun"6566Eliminated
Season 24: with celebrity partner: Rashad Jennings