The feeling is becoming more and more familiar for Emma Slater. The Dancing With the Stars professional dancer and host of the live tour is finding that she can hardly go anywhere these days without someone recognizing her from the hit ABC show. This increased public attention mirrors the show’s own remarkable journey, as the 20-year-old program is now hitting its highest ratings in years by successfully reaching a whole new, younger audience.
Slater, who has been a part of the show since 2012, is currently hosting the Dancing With the Stars live tour, bringing the spectacle to cities across the country. She says being recognized for her craft, for what she produces on stage and screen, is a special kind of reward. However, she acknowledges that life in the public eye comes with its own set of challenges, requiring a strong personal foundation to navigate.
Why A 20-Year-Old Show Is Hotter Than Ever
The numbers speak for themselves. Dancing With the Stars is in the middle of a major ratings resurgence. Its Season 34 semifinals episode was watched by 7.22 million viewers, marking the show’s highest semifinals audience since 2018. In a stunning run this season, the show grew its total viewership for five consecutive weeks after its premiere, a feat no fall television show has managed in at least the past 34 years.
So, what’s behind this new wave of popularity for a two-decade-old format? Showrunner Conrad Green points to a strategic and successful push to connect with younger viewers while keeping its loyal original audience. He credits much of this success to the power of social media.
“Our dances are a minute long and spectacular with really high production values. Guess what? That should work on TikTok,” Green explained in a recent interview. He noted that many younger viewers are discovering the show by watching clips online and thinking, “What is this?”.
The data backs this up. This season, fans broke a record by casting 55.9 million votes during one episode. The show is now meeting audiences on their preferred platforms, airing live on ABC while also being available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the next day.
How The Show Changed Its Stars To Match A New Era
A major shift has been in the casting. The show has broadened its definition of a “star” to reflect today’s digital landscape.
“The world of celebrity has fundamentally changed,” said showrunner Conrad Green. “How people consume media has fundamentally changed, and so as a show, we have to work with that… now we can have people that never would have been a celebrity 20 years ago, but are far more important and engaging for a younger audience.”
This season featured a mix of traditional celebrities and modern digital stars. The cast included actors like Elaine Hendrix and TV personality Andy Richter, who partnered with Emma Slater. It also featured social media influencers with massive online followings, such as Alix Earle and reality stars from the Hulu series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
This strategy of tapping into pre-existing fan communities has proven effective. As one pop culture expert noted, by casting popular influencers, the show is essentially “casting the audience”.
The Pro Dancers Became Social Media Stars, Too
The professional dancers themselves have become key players in the show’s social media strategy. Their behind-the-scenes content gives fans a new way to connect with the competition.
Ballroom dancer and professor Ilya Vidrin, who knows many of the show’s pros, observes that social media breaks down the polished facade of the ballroom.
“On social media you see them joking around and being silly. It gives it dimensionality,” Vidrin said. “Now, every day between episodes, you can see them working on things. Before, it was really focused on the performance. We get to see the daily stories, failure.”
For viewers like 28-year-old Katelyn Poore, this access is a game-changer. “Social media has really helped it evolve, especially TikTok,” Poore said. “Now we can interact with the pros and celebrities outside of just the Tuesday airtime.”
This has contributed to a vibrant online community where fans, especially younger ones, share their own dance videos and discuss the show.
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Emma Slater’s Personal Journey In The Spotlight
For Emma Slater, the show’s growth has paralleled her own evolving career and life. The British-born dancer, who became an American citizen in 2020, joined the show as a troupe member in 2012. She was promoted to a professional dancer the following year and won the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 24 with partner Rashad Jennings.
Slater recently opened up about her personal life on a podcast, confirming her relationship with fellow Dancing With the Stars pro Alan Bersten. The couple went public with their relationship during the DWTS live tour earlier in 2025. Slater shared that fellow pro Britt Stewart gave her pivotal advice about embracing life in the public eye.
“She said to me, ‘You’re kind of living in fear. You’re not really owning your own life because you’re worried about what people will say,’” Slater recalled. “And I listened to her and she was right… it was by far the best thing because we just popped that illusion.”
Slater and Bersten, who are currently touring together, will be on the road with the Dancing With the Stars tour from January to May 2026.
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