Emma Slater

Emma Louise Slater was born on December 25, 1988, in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England. Her dance journey commenced at age four with ballet, later specializing in Latin American and Ballroom dancing by age ten. Demonstrating early talent, she made her first notable appearance at fifteen in a George Michael music video. In 2005, at the age of sixteen, Slater starred as the Principal Latin Dancer in the stage show ‘Simply Ballroom,’ which toured the UK, UAE, and South Africa. During this period, she achieved significant competitive success, winning the 2005 British Under 21 Latin American Championship at Blackpool and the 2006 UK Under 21 Latin American Championship at Bournemouth, ranking among the world’s top twenty for Under 21 Latin dancers.

Slater expanded her career into film and theater, appearing in the Universal Pictures movie ‘Mamma Mia!’ in 2007, where she also contributed vocals to the soundtrack. She subsequently performed in several West End shows, including ‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Latin Fever,’ and ‘Cheek to Cheek’ between 2007 and 2008. In 2009, she joined the acclaimed dance show ‘Burn the Floor,’ participating in its world tour and New York Broadway residency. Her involvement with ‘Dancing with the Stars’ began in 2012 as a troupe member before transitioning to a professional dancer in season seventeen. She achieved her first victory in season 24 with celebrity partner Rashad Jennings, making her the first British professional to win the American series.

Throughout her tenure on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ Emma Slater has been paired with numerous celebrities, including Bill Engvall (season 17, 4th place), Billy Dee Williams (season 18, withdrew due to injury), Michael Waltrip (season 19, 7th place), Redfoo (season 20, 12th place), Hayes Grier (season 21, 8th place), Rick Perry (season 23, 12th place), Drew Scott (season 25, 4th place), Johnny Damon (season 26, 9th place), John Schneider (season 27, 7th place), James Van Der Beek (season 28, 5th place), Charles Oakley (season 29, 15th place), Jimmie Allen (season 30, 7th place), Trevor Donovan (season 31, 6th place), Reginald VelJohnson (season 33, 10th place). In 2012, she choreographed Usher’s performance at the Billboard American Music Awards. Beyond competitive dancing, Slater has also ventured into entrepreneurial pursuits, announcing the establishment of her own creative marketing company.