Emma Slater is a British American professional dancer, choreographer and television personality best known for her long running role as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. Born on December 25, 1988, in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England, she began training in dance as a child and developed into a competitive ballroom and Latin dancer before pursuing a career in theatre, film and television. Her technical ability and energetic performance style have made her one of the recognisable professional dancers associated with the American dance competition series.
Before becoming a familiar face on American television, Emma Slater established herself as a competitive dancer and stage performer in the United Kingdom. She trained in ballet from a young age before beginning ballroom and Latin dance training at age 10. As a teenager, she appeared in a George Michael music video and later performed in stage productions, including Simply Ballroom and Dirty Dancing, gaining professional experience before moving further into television.
Emma Slater eventually moved to the United States and became part of the Dancing with the Stars professional troupe before being promoted to a professional dancer. Her career on the show has included numerous celebrity partnerships and a Season 24 victory with former NFL player Rashad Jennings. Beyond the ballroom, she has also appeared in projects including Mamma Mia! and continued working as a choreographer and performer.
Emma Slater’s Early Life
Emma Louise Slater was born on December 25, 1988, in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. She has a twin sister named Kelly Slater, who later developed a career in costume design and styling. Emma was raised in Tamworth, Staffordshire, where she grew up surrounded by opportunities to pursue dance and performance.
Emma began studying ballet at the age of four at Novelli Stage School. By the age of 10, she had moved into ballroom and Latin American dance and began competing. Her early training quickly became more serious, and she began participating in competitions while still young, eventually establishing herself as a successful junior dancer.
At age 15, Emma appeared in George Michael’s music video for Round Here, giving her an early professional experience in front of a camera. A year later, she joined the touring stage production Simply Ballroom as a principal dancer, performing in the United Kingdom as well as internationally. These experiences helped establish the foundation for her later career in professional dance and entertainment.
Emma Slater’s Education
Emma Slater received her early dance education at Novelli Stage School in Tamworth, where she began ballet training at the age of four. Her education in dance continued as she developed an interest in ballroom and Latin American styles and began competing at age 10.
Her training was heavily focused on practical dance development rather than a conventional academic career. Through competitions, stage performances and professional instruction, Emma developed technical knowledge in ballroom and Latin dance while still in her teenage years.
Emma’s education in dance continued through professional performance opportunities. Her work in stage productions and competitive championships provided additional training and experience that eventually prepared her for an international career in dance, choreography and television.
Emma Slater’s Career
Emma Slater began competing in ballroom and Latin American dance at the age of 10 and quickly developed a reputation as a talented young dancer. At 15, she appeared in George Michael’s Round Here music video, and at 16 she became a principal dancer in Simply Ballroom, which toured the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. She later performed in West End productions including Dirty Dancing and worked as a principal Latin dancer and ballroom supervisor.
Her competitive career included major junior achievements. Emma won the British Under 21 Latin American Championship in 2005 at Blackpool and the UK Under 21 Latin American Championship in 2006 at Bournemouth. These accomplishments helped establish her credentials as a serious competitive ballroom and Latin dancer before she moved into American television.
Emma became associated with Dancing with the Stars after joining the show’s professional troupe and was later promoted to the main professional cast. She competed with numerous celebrity partners across different seasons, while also becoming known for her choreography, performance style and ability to create routines suited to different celebrity contestants.
One of the biggest milestones of Emma Slater’s Dancing with the Stars career came in Season 24, when she partnered with former NFL player Rashad Jennings. The pair went on to win the season and the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Her work on the programme has since remained a major part of her professional identity.
Outside Dancing with the Stars, Emma Slater has expanded her entertainment career through film, television and live performance. She appeared in Mamma Mia! and has continued working as a dancer and choreographer. Her career has ultimately combined competitive ballroom, theatre, television and choreography, making her a long standing figure in the professional dance world.
Emma Slater Reveals a Painful Toenail Injury During Dancing with the Stars Season 35
Emma Slater attracted renewed attention in September 2026 after revealing that she suffered a painful toenail injury during rehearsals for Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. Following the season premiere, she shared a video showing that her big toenail had become detached and explained that she had to remove it because of the discomfort.
Despite the injury, Emma continued competing in Season 35 with her celebrity partner Jackson Olson, known for his work with the Savannah Bananas. Their first performance was a cha cha to the Spice Girls song Wannabe, which earned them a score of 15 out of 30. The injury became part of the wider discussion around the physical demands professional dancers and their celebrity partners face during the competition.
Emma’s Season 35 appearance has also drawn attention because of her relationship with fellow professional dancer Alan Bersten. Bersten is competing on the same season with Giada De Laurentiis, and the two dancers have publicly supported each other while working with different celebrity partners. Their relationship has remained a point of interest among Dancing with the Stars viewers as the competition continues.
Emma Slater’s Personal Life
Emma Slater was previously married to fellow Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Sasha Farber. The two dancers had an on and off relationship before becoming engaged in 2016 and marrying in 2018. Their relationship was closely followed by fans because they worked together professionally and frequently appeared alongside each other on Dancing with the Stars.
Emma and Sasha Farber later ended their marriage, with their divorce finalised in 2024. Despite the end of their marriage, they have continued to work within the same professional dance environment and have remained connected through Dancing with the Stars.
Emma Slater is currently in a relationship with fellow Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Alan Bersten. Their relationship became more public over time, and they confirmed their romance in 2025. The couple have continued to support each other professionally while competing on the same show with different celebrity partners.
Emma Slater’s Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Emma Slater was born on December 25, 1988, making her 37 years old as of September 2026. She was born in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England, and holds British and American citizenship. Her professional career has taken her from the United Kingdom to the United States, where she has become widely recognised through Dancing with the Stars.
Emma Slater has generally kept her religious beliefs private, and there is no consistently documented public statement establishing a specific current religious affiliation. Her public career has primarily focused on dance, entertainment, choreography and television rather than religion.
Emma Slater is approximately 5 feet 4½ inches, or 164 centimetres, tall. She has an athletic physique shaped by years of professional dance training and performance. Her appearance is also associated with her polished ballroom costumes, stage presence and distinctive British accent.
Emma Slater’s Net Worth
Emma Slater’s exact net worth has not been consistently confirmed through official financial records. Her income has come from several areas, including professional dancing, choreography, television appearances, stage performances and entertainment projects.
Some celebrity wealth publications have estimated Emma Slater’s net worth at around $300,000, although such figures are not independently verified and can become outdated. Given her long tenure on Dancing with the Stars, competitive dance background, stage work and television career, her actual earnings may vary considerably from publicly published estimates.
Emma’s continued work on Dancing with the Stars provides her with an ongoing professional platform, while choreography, performances and other entertainment opportunities create additional sources of income. Her long career in professional dance has also allowed her to establish herself beyond a single television programme.
Emma Slater’s Legacy
Emma Slater has built a career that demonstrates the progression from competitive ballroom dancing to international stage performance and American television. Her early achievements in British ballroom competitions provided the technical foundation for a career that eventually brought her to one of the most prominent dance competition programmes in the United States.
Her work on Dancing with the Stars has made her especially recognisable among mainstream television audiences. Her Season 24 victory with Rashad Jennings remains one of the major achievements of her career, while her continued appearances have allowed her to work with celebrities from different professional backgrounds.
Emma Slater’s career also reflects the international nature of professional dance. From childhood training in England and performances in the West End to television success in the United States, she has maintained dance as the central focus of her professional life. Her work as a dancer, choreographer and television personality continues to shape her place in the entertainment industry.
Conclusion
Emma Slater has established herself as a British American professional dancer and choreographer whose career spans competitive ballroom, theatre, film and television. From her early dance training in England to her championship achievements, West End performances, Dancing with the Stars victory and continued work on the series, she has built a career around professional dance while expanding her presence in American entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emma Slater
Who is Emma Slater?
Emma Slater is a British American professional dancer, choreographer and television personality best known for her role as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars.
How old is Emma Slater?
Emma Slater is 37 years old as of September 2026. She was born on December 25, 1988.
Where was Emma Slater born?
Emma Slater was born in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England.
What is Emma Slater famous for?
Emma Slater is famous for her career as a professional dancer and choreographer on Dancing with the Stars and for winning Season 24 with Rashad Jennings.
Is Emma Slater a professional dancer?
Yes. Emma Slater is a professional ballroom and Latin dancer and choreographer who has competed, performed on stage and worked extensively in television.
Who is Emma Slater dating?
Emma Slater is dating fellow Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Alan Bersten. Their relationship became public in 2025.
Was Emma Slater married?
Yes. Emma Slater was previously married to fellow Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Sasha Farber. Their divorce was finalised in 2024.
Does Emma Slater have children?
Emma Slater does not have any publicly reported children.
What is Emma Slater’s height?
Emma Slater is approximately 5 feet 4½ inches, or 164 centimetres, tall.
What is Emma Slater’s nationality?
Emma Slater is British American and holds citizenship in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
What is Emma Slater’s net worth?
Emma Slater’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Some published estimates place it at around $300,000, although such estimates are not independently verified.
Did Emma Slater win Dancing with the Stars?
Yes. Emma Slater won Season 24 of Dancing with the Stars with former NFL player Rashad Jennings.
Who is Emma Slater’s Dancing with the Stars partner in Season 35?
Emma Slater is partnered with Jackson Olson of the Savannah Bananas for Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.
What happened to Emma Slater’s toenail?
Emma Slater revealed that she suffered a painful detached big toenail during rehearsals for Dancing with the Stars Season 35 and had to remove it because of the discomfort.
Who is Emma Slater’s twin sister?
Emma Slater’s twin sister is Kelly Slater, who works in costume design and styling.
When did Emma Slater start dancing?
Emma Slater began ballet training at age four and started competing in ballroom and Latin American dance at age 10.
What dance competitions did Emma Slater win?
Emma Slater won the British Under 21 Latin American Championship in 2005 and the UK Under 21 Latin American Championship in 2006.
What did Emma Slater do before Dancing with the Stars?
Before Dancing with the Stars, Emma Slater competed in ballroom and Latin dance, appeared in a George Michael music video, toured with Simply Ballroom and performed in West End productions including Dirty Dancing.
What is Emma Slater’s religion?
Emma Slater has generally kept her religious beliefs private, and a specific current religious affiliation has not been consistently publicly confirmed.