The Dancing With the Stars Live tour is on the road again, bringing the glamour, energy, and dramatic performances of the hit television show straight to the stage. With fan-favorite pros, celebrity guests, and a fresh production, this year’s tour blends high-energy choreography with behind-the-scenes moments audiences don’t get to see on TV.
Also brand-new this year is a co-hosting role for longtime pro Emma Slater, who shares with Franklin Lifestyle not only what fans can expect from the tour, but everything from quiet moments on the bus to performing in legendary venues like Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.
“This year's show feels very different," says Slater. "We've obviously done the tour for many years now, and this year we have a live camera on stage with us. So we are giving more like a concert. I'd say it's probably one of the biggest changes that we've ever made. We have five couples on the road with us. Last year we had four main couples, and so we have a bigger cast. We have more rotating celebs coming in, including my partner, Andy Richter, who's going to be co-host for some of the tour.”
Slater says one of her favorite parts of touring is watching celebrities connect directly with fans who supported them during the show. “I love touring with my partner," she says. "It just extends their experience from the TV show onto the stage so they can physically see the people who voted for them and then it becomes more real. So I love watching that experience for the celebrities.”
This season also marks an exciting milestone in Slater’s career as she steps into a co-hosting role alongside her dancing responsibilities. After 14 years with the Dancing With the Stars franchise, the transition felt like a natural progression. “It's been amazing," she says. "It's definitely something that I have been working towards - hosting more in my career and having the opportunity to do that within the brand. It felt like it was such a natural progression. I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to do it. And it feels really fun and natural and exciting. It feels like I'm just being myself on stage. And I love it. I absolutely have such a gratitude for being able to do that every single night.”
Of course, life on tour is not without its challenges. With close to 100 shows scheduled, the pace can be demanding, leaving little time for rest or exploration. “For me, at the moment, there's not been a ton of time for exploring and relaxing," Salter says. "I think the cold weather has a lot to do with that too. We were in a bit of a snowstorm over the last few days, although it wasn't quite as bad as we thought it could be. But relaxing to me is exploring the city, walking around with Alan, my boyfriend, who's also on tour, and Jeff, our dog. We go to coffee shops, which seems like such a mundane thing to do, but it's something we love to do. And sometimes we will go to a place that has a sauna because we love saunas, and that's really how we will look after ourselves. And honestly, I think the fueling part about tour for us mentally is being together and finding the pockets of time where we all have fun downtime.”
That sense of camaraderie extends beyond the stage. “When we get on the bus at night, there might be six or seven of us on the same bus, and we will watch TV shows together," Slater says. Last night we watched The Traitors, something I would ordinarily do by myself. But I get to do it with all my friends! It feels like I have roommates for four months, but we're weirdly on a bus. It's great. We have so much fun together and we have a group text and we'll say, 'Hey, meet you for lunch.' And it might just be our catering for the tour, but you're still meeting a friend for lunch.”
Tour life has even become a family affair, complete with pets and children traveling alongside the dancers. “We have Jeff, our dog, who is a Brussels Griffon, and he's currently eating his lunch right now," says Slater. This is his second tour. But we also have Nikita, who is Daniella's and Pasha's little girl, and we have Rome who is Val and Jenna's little boy, and they have the most cutest, adorable relationship. It is heart melting. It's a full, inclusive family tour.”
Performing in iconic venues, like Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House adds another level of excitement for the dancers. "There's so much history and it feels very significant when you're in those dressing rooms because those dressing rooms have had singers and megastar royalty in them," says Slater. "And so much nostalgia! I love looking at all the paintings and I love looking at the memorabilia that they have showcased on the walls. And then the stage itself feels different. There's no other stage like it. And acoustically, we've had it explained to us that when you're standing on a certain point, which is a point that Elvis Presley used to stand on, you can hear a different acoustic sound due to the way that the room is shaped, and it's so significant.”
Among the many dances in the lineup, Slater has a few personal favorites. “I really like performing "Ordinary with Alan," she says. "It's our little duet. And the song is {"Ordinary"} by Alex Warren, and it's such a beautiful song. I love the dress and I love the choreography. It feels very special to me."
"There are a couple of numbers that we do with the camera live on stage, and it feels more like a Dancing With the Stars TV show performance because we are performing to the camera rather than the audience, and the audience gets to see that," she continues. "So it's kind of like a dual effect. And I think that that's very captivating. There's a couple of jives that we do that are like that. And I think it's extremely different and something that we've ever done before.”
The choreography process is highly collaborative, allowing each dancer to bring their own voice and style to the routines. “We do have a hand in the choreography. Mandy {Moore} is our genius, our master director," says Slater. "When it comes to the duets, we have our own identity and our own stamp and our own ways of working together. So we will sometimes choreograph pieces within our duets and we will help put together the steps for some of the large group routines, and then Mandy will orchestrate. Much like a musical director, she'll fit all of the pieces together and she'll have the final say in what she does and doesn't like. And it's really insane to watch."
And while she may not be a Nashville local, Slater has fond memories of visiting Franklin during different times on the show. “I danced with Jimmy Allen, who has a house in Franklin," she says. "And Bobby Bones, I went to his house. I believe at the time, he lived in Franklin. It's just absolutely beautiful. And I've heard friends of mine, when they talk about the area, they've said, 'Oh, I wish I could move to Franklin.' There's been actually quite a few people on Dancing With the Stars that have lived there. I know that Martin Cove, who danced with Brit Stewart is also from there."
This year’s Dancing With the Stars tour celebrates not just dance, but the community and creativity that keep the show highly rated and a beloved cultural phenomenon for nearly two decades. DWTSTour.com
Rapid Fire with Emma Slater
Ballroom or Latin?
Emma: It would have to be Latin.
One song that instantly makes you want to dance?
Emma: Bee Gees "You Should Be Dancing."
Favorite Dancing with the Stars costume you've ever worn?
Emma: It's a green dress that I wear currently for my duet with Alan on tour. It's beautiful and they made it especially for me.
Your go to pre-show snack or ritual?
Emma: Listening to music and PG Tips, which is black tea.
One word that describes the energy of the live tour.
Emma: Electric.
Quickest way you calm nerves before a performance, assuming you still get nervous.
Emma: Solo time. Kind of like a meditative state that I put myself into.
Favorite dance style to teach versus perform?
Emma: Rumba still.
After a show, do you celebrate with a night out or do you rest and recharge?
Emma: Rest and recharge. Girl, those celebrating going out nights are way behind me. I'll still indulge, but I will be on the bus with a blanket.
"It extends their experience from the TV show onto the stage so they can physically see the people who voted for them and then it becomes more real."