Emma Slater

Slater dated fellow Dancing with the Stars professional Sasha Farber from 2011 to 2014 and rekindled the relationship in 2015. Farber proposed during a live broadcast of the show in October 2016, and they married on 25 March 2018. They separated in 2022, and Slater filed for divorce in February 2023; the divorce was completed in 2024.

Slater's twin sister, Kelly Slater, is a costume designer and stylist who has worked as Emma's stylist on Dancing with the Stars. Slater's relationship with fellow professional dancer Alan Bersten became public through an onstage kiss during the 2025 Dancing with the Stars Live Tour.

Slater began studying dance as a child and started training in ballroom and Latin dance at age 10. At 16, she won the 2005 British Under 21 Latin American Championship at the Blackpool Dance Festival, followed by the 2006 United Kingdom Under 21 Latin American Championship in Bournemouth. She later represented England in international competitions and reached the world's top 10 ranking.

At 16, Slater joined Simply Ballroom, touring the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. She later performed in London's West End productions of Dirty Dancing, Cheek to Cheek and Latin Fever, including an understudy and principal performance as Lisa Houseman in Dirty Dancing. From 2009 to 2011, she was a lead dancer in Burn the Floor, appearing on its Broadway run and international tours.

Slater appeared in the 2008 Universal Pictures musical film Mamma Mia! and sang on its soundtrack with the cast. Earlier, at age 15, she appeared in George Michael's music video for "Round Here" and took part in the fitness video Latinasize.

She joined the American edition of Dancing with the Stars as a troupe dancer in season 14 in 2012. In that role, she danced in and choreographed opening numbers, including the finale. She became a professional partner in season 17 with Bill Engvall, and the pair reached the final and finished fourth. Slater has also choreographed Usher for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, advised performers on ITV's Popstar to Operastar, hosted Dancing with the Stars All Access Live and appeared on the Dancing with the Stars Live Tour.

Slater's first win came in season 24, when she partnered with Rashad Jennings. They earned the championship in May 2017. She and Drew Scott reached the season 25 final and finished fourth, while her later partnerships included John Schneider, James Van Der Beek, Jimmie Allen and Trevor Donovan. She and Van Der Beek finished fifth in season 28, and she and Donovan reached the semifinals in season 31, finishing sixth.

Slater also partnered with Billy Dee Williams, Michael Waltrip, Redfoo, Hayes Grier, Rick Perry, Johnny Damon, Charles Oakley, Mauricio Umansky and Reginald VelJohnson. She withdrew from season 18 with Williams after he suffered a back injury. In Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, she mentored Elliana Walmsley and Jason Maybaum, who finished seventh. In season 34, she partnered with Andy Richter.