The landscape of professional ballroom competition shifted once again with the highly anticipated premiere of the 35th season of Dancing With the Stars. As the long-running series returned to screens on September 15, the spotlight was not only on the eclectic roster of celebrities but also on the personal dynamics of the professional dancers who anchor the production. Among the most notable narratives this season is the participation of professional dancer Emma Slater, who is navigating the high-pressure environment of the competition alongside her partner, Savannah Bananas baseball star Jackson Olson, while simultaneously supporting her real-life partner and fellow professional, Alan Bersten.
The intersection of professional intensity and personal partnership has brought a unique layer of complexity to the ballroom. For seasoned veterans like Slater and Bersten, the 35th season represents a departure from standard routine, as both dancers balance the demands of intensive choreography with the maintenance of a relationship that has become a fixture of the Dancing With the Stars community.
Navigating the Ballroom as a Couple
Emma Slater, a veteran of the franchise with over a decade of experience, has been vocal about the logistical and emotional benefits of having a partner who understands the unique rigors of the show. Bersten, who is paired this season with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, has become a sounding board for the choreography and creative direction of Slater’s routines.
According to behind-the-scenes accounts, the collaborative process between the two has been highly constructive. In the immediate aftermath of the season premiere, Slater noted that the ability to cross-examine choreography and solicit honest feedback from someone who shares the same professional lexicon has been an asset rather than a distraction. This peer-level support system is particularly vital given the unpredictable nature of the competition, where weeks of training can be dismantled by a single technical error or a harsh critique from the judging panel.
The relationship between the two, which was confirmed to the public following an onstage kiss during the 2025 Dancing With the Stars live tour, has transitioned from a private romance to a highly visible aspect of the show’s backstage culture. By integrating their personal support system into their professional lives, they have effectively mitigated some of the isolation often felt by contestants navigating the grueling rehearsal schedule.
The Challenge of the 35th Season
The 35th season of the show features an expansive cast, reflecting the production’s ongoing effort to diversify its talent pool. The inclusion of figures from various sectors—including sports, social media, reality television, and acting—creates a broad spectrum of skill levels that the professional dancers must navigate.
Jackson Olson, representing the sports world as a player for the Savannah Bananas, brings a unique athletic background that Slater must adapt to the requirements of ballroom dance. Similarly, the participation of figures such as celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis and social media personality Connor Wood underscores the show’s reliance on the "fish-out-of-water" archetype. For the professionals, this necessitates a high degree of pedagogical skill, as they must teach the fundamentals of dance to individuals with varying degrees of prior physical training.
The pressure to perform is compounded by the judging panel, which has demonstrated a trend toward more conservative scoring during the opening rounds. Following the premiere episode, the discourse surrounding "stingy" scores became a central topic of conversation among both the cast and the audience. Slater, while acknowledging the frustration inherent in receiving lower-than-expected marks, has maintained a pragmatic approach, emphasizing that the focus must remain on long-term progression rather than initial baseline scores.
A Chronology of the Relationship
The public timeline of the relationship between Slater and Bersten serves as a backdrop to their current professional activities. Their rapport developed through years of working together on the show and its associated touring productions.
- Early Years: Both dancers established themselves as staples of the franchise, working through multiple seasons and developing a professional friendship based on mutual respect for their respective technical abilities.
- 2025 Live Tour: The relationship gained significant public attention during the 2025 live tour, where an unscripted moment onstage—a kiss—confirmed the shift in their dynamic from colleagues to romantic partners.
- 2024 Finalization of Divorce: Prior to this new chapter, Slater navigated the high-profile conclusion of her marriage to fellow professional Sasha Farber. The finalization of their divorce in 2024 marked a transition period for both, as they continued to maintain a professional working relationship within the same production environment.
- September 2025: The premiere of the 35th season served as the first major professional milestone for the couple as a confirmed pair, with both managing their respective partnerships while navigating the public eye.
Professional Synergy and Support Systems
The concept of a "support system" within the ballroom is not merely sentimental; it is a functional necessity. The physical toll of the competition, characterized by repetitive motion and extended hours of training, requires dancers to maintain a level of physical and mental resilience that is difficult to sustain in a vacuum.
Bersten has been open about the importance of external grounding factors, specifically mentioning their pet, Jeff, and the importance of finding normalcy in the downtime between rehearsals. By intentionally carving out time for personal connection, the couple avoids the burnout that often plagues participants in high-stakes reality television environments.
This dynamic of mutual support is increasingly common in professional dance circles, where the blurring of lines between personal and professional life is often the only way to manage the intense travel schedules and the psychological weight of public performance. Analysts of reality television production note that these interpersonal narratives often drive audience engagement, as viewers find the authentic behind-the-scenes dynamics as compelling as the performances themselves.
Analysis of the Competitive Landscape
The 35th season of Dancing With the Stars is characterized by an exceptionally diverse field. The inclusion of high-profile names such as Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, and Harry Shum Jr. suggests a strategic push by the network to attract a multi-generational audience. The competitive implications are significant: with a higher density of participants who possess prior dance or performance experience, the curve for success has steepened.
For a professional like Slater, the challenge is not just to teach her partner, but to ensure that her choreography can compete with the high-caliber routines being produced by her peers. The scores, which were described as "stingy" in the premiere, reflect a broader judging strategy: by keeping scores low early in the season, the panel preserves the ability to demonstrate a clear arc of improvement for the celebrities, which is essential for narrative development over the course of the season.
The strategy of "managing expectations" through scoring is a standard practice in long-running competition formats. It prevents the inflation of scores in the early stages, which would leave the judges with no room to reward the dramatic improvements that usually occur in the middle and final weeks of the competition.
Official Responses and Future Outlook
While there have been no formal statements from the production regarding the scoring controversy, the general consensus among the professional cast is that the early episodes are meant to establish a baseline. The participants, including Slater and Bersten, are focusing their energy on the technical requirements of the upcoming weeks, which will involve more complex dance styles and, inevitably, higher stakes.
The partnership between Slater and Olson is being closely watched, particularly as the season progresses into the mid-point. For the fans of the show, the interplay between the established professionals and the new celebrity recruits provides the primary source of intrigue. As the competition moves forward, the ability of the couples to adapt to new styles while maintaining their personal relationships will likely remain a focal point of the series.
In conclusion, the 35th season of Dancing With the Stars represents a significant moment for both the franchise and the individuals involved. By balancing the rigors of professional competition with a collaborative personal dynamic, Emma Slater and Alan Bersten have highlighted the reality of working in the entertainment industry: that the most successful performances are often built on a foundation of support, honest feedback, and the ability to find stability amidst the chaos of a televised competition. As the season continues, the focus will shift from the initial scoring reactions to the endurance and creative growth of the contestants, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons in the history of the show.
