17 Dancing with the Stars Couples Who Took Their Chemistry Beyond the Ballroom (Including the Newest Showmance!)
For nearly 20 years, Dancing with the Stars has delivered amazing choreography, emotional stories, and intense competition — but the show has also become a surprising matchmaking hotspot. Since its 2005 premiere, dozens of pros and celebrity partners have developed real-life sparks that continued long after the music stopped.
Some DWTS romances were short flings, some became long-term relationships, and a few led to marriages and growing families. One of the newest couples to join the show’s romantic legacy is Alan Bersten and Emma Slater, who publicly confirmed their relationship in April 2025.
Here’s a full look at 17 DWTS couples whose chemistry didn’t end on the dance floor.
01 of 17 — Brooks Nader & Gleb Savchenko
During Season 33, Brooks Nader and pro Gleb Savchenko fueled dating rumors with flirty backstage moments and even matching tattoos. Although they split after their elimination, the pair briefly reunited before officially ending things in April 2025.
On her reality series Love Thy Nader, Brooks alleged she found messages confirming Gleb was unfaithful — claims he strongly denied as “100% fake.”
02 of 17 — Daniel Durant & Britt Stewart
Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart met as partners on Season 31 and quickly formed a strong connection. Stewart learned ASL to communicate with Durant, creating a deeper bond.
The couple confirmed their relationship on Valentine’s Day 2023, later getting engaged on Christmas Eve and married on August 23, 2025 in California.
03 of 17 — Matthew Lawrence & Cheryl Burke
Though they didn’t meet on the dance floor, they were introduced through Joey Lawrence, a Season 3 contestant. Cheryl and Matthew dated in 2007, reunited a decade later, and married in 2019 before divorcing in 2022. Both have spoken openly about personal growth after their split.
04 of 17 — Alan Bersten & Alexis Ren
During Season 27, Bersten and model Alexis Ren developed a flirtation that turned into a short-lived romance. They confirmed their relationship in 2018 but split soon after the season wrapped.
05 of 17 — Peta Murgatroyd & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
One of the show’s most iconic pairings, Peta and Maks began dating in 2012 after performing together on Burn the Floor. They married in 2017 and share three sons: Shai, Rio, and Milan. Maks frequently praises Peta’s exceptional parenting.
06 of 17 — Valentin “Val” Chmerkovskiy & Jenna Johnson
Val and Jenna met in 2014, began dating, broke up briefly, then reunited. They married in 2019 and welcomed their son Rome in 2023. Val credits Jenna for helping him become his best self.
07 of 17 — Kym Johnson & Robert Herjavec
Kym Johnson and Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec charmed viewers when sparks flew during Season 20. They married in 2016 and welcomed twins Haven and Hudson in 2018. Kym still calls their love story “magical.”
08 of 17 — Emma Slater & Sasha Farber
Slater and Farber were close friends before dating. Their 2016 on-air engagement delighted fans, and they married in 2018. Although they separated in 2022 and later divorced, they remain supportive coworkers and friends.
09 of 17 — Amber Rose & Val Chmerkovskiy
After competing with Maks, Amber Rose began dating Val. Their relationship lasted about five months, ending amicably in early 2017.
10 of 17 — Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff
Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff’s Season 3 chemistry turned into a real relationship lasting two years before their 2008 breakup.
11 of 17 — Maksim Chmerkovskiy & Karina Smirnoff
After splitting from Lopez, Smirnoff began dating Maksim Chmerkovskiy. They got engaged in 2009 but ended the relationship later that year, reportedly due to differing views on starting a family.
12 of 17 — Val Chmerkovskiy & Janel Parrish
Val and Pretty Little Liars star Janel Parrish sparked intense romance rumors during Season 19. They were spotted holding hands off the dance floor, fueling speculation of a brief off-screen fling.
13 of 17 — Mark Ballas & Sabrina Bryan
Mark and Sabrina were a fan-favorite Season 5 couple. Their romance continued while she filmed The Cheetah Girls: One World, but distance led to their breakup a few months later.
14 of 17 — Derek Hough & Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough dated for over a year after competing together in 2008. They ended their relationship amicably in matching social media posts in 2009.
15 of 17 — Cheryl Burke & Chad Ochocinco
Cheryl later admitted she and Ochocinco had a brief fling after their Season 10 partnership. Although not a long-term romance, their chemistry had fans talking.
16 of 17 — James Maslow & Peta Murgatroyd
Before Season 18 began, James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd went on a single date. While fans hoped for a showmance, both later said they were focused solely on dancing.
17 of 17 — Alan Bersten & Emma Slater
The newest DWTS couple hard-launched their romance with a kiss onstage during the DWTS: Live! 2025 tour.
Slater proudly supported Bersten ahead of the Season 34 finale, celebrating her “finalist boyfriend” on Instagram. Bersten says they’re keeping things natural and pressure-free.
