If you have been wondering how old is Alan Bersten, the professional dancer is 32 years old as of September 2026. Born on May 26, 1994, in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Bersten has spent much of his life developing his skills in ballroom and Latin dance before becoming one of the familiar professional faces on Dancing With the Stars. His career has included competitive dance, television appearances, choreography and a Mirrorball Trophy victory.
Bersten’s age is especially relevant as he returns for the 35th season of Dancing With the Stars. In the current season, he is partnered with celebrity chef and television personality Giada De Laurentiis, giving audiences another opportunity to watch the professional dancer work with a celebrity newcomer to the ballroom.
Alan Bersten’s Age and Birthday
Alan Bersten was born on May 26, 1994, which makes him 32 years old in 2026. His birthday comes near the end of May, and he falls under the Gemini zodiac sign.
Born and raised in Minnesota, Bersten began dancing when he was still a child. His early introduction to dance eventually developed into a serious professional pursuit, leading him from competitive ballroom events to nationally televised dance competitions.
His basic biography includes:
- Full name: Alan Bersten
- Date of birth: May 26, 1994
- Age: 32
- Birthplace: Minnetonka, Minnesota
- Profession: Professional dancer and choreographer
- Dance specialties: Ballroom and Latin
- Best known for: Dancing With the Stars
- Major television breakthrough: So You Think You Can Dance
- Dancing With the Stars championship: Season 28 with Hannah Brown
Because Bersten’s birthday has already passed in 2026, he is currently 32 rather than 31.
Alan Bersten Started Dancing at a Young Age
Bersten’s professional career began with an interest in dance that developed during childhood. He has previously been described as starting to dance when he was around seven years old.
That early start gave him years to build the technique, discipline and performance skills required for competitive ballroom dancing. Ballroom is particularly demanding because dancers need to combine precise footwork with posture, musical timing, partner coordination and stage presence.
For Bersten, dance eventually became more than a childhood activity. It became the foundation of his professional career.
Growing up in Minnesota, he continued developing his skills and pursued competitive opportunities. His training ultimately opened the door to television.
His Breakthrough Came on So You Think You Can Dance
Before becoming a familiar face on Dancing With the Stars, Bersten appeared on So You Think You Can Dance.
He competed during the show’s 10th season in 2013. At the time, he was only 19 years old, making his television appearance an important early step in his career.
The competition exposed him to a national audience and allowed viewers to see his ballroom abilities. His appearance also demonstrated that he could adapt to the pressure and choreography demands of televised dance competition.
Television exposure from So You Think You Can Dance helped establish Bersten as a dancer to watch, but his biggest professional opportunity would come through Dancing With the Stars.
Alan Bersten and Dancing With the Stars
Bersten eventually became part of the Dancing With the Stars professional family.
He initially appeared as a member of the show’s troupe before moving into the role of professional celebrity partner. The transition gave him a much larger platform because professional partners are responsible for helping celebrities learn choreography, prepare for live performances and handle the intense schedule associated with the competition.
Unlike trained dancers, celebrity contestants generally arrive with widely different levels of dance experience. A professional’s role therefore involves much more than performing.
Bersten has had to work as a teacher, choreographer, performer and partner while helping celebrities become comfortable on the ballroom floor.
That combination of skills has become a defining part of his career.
His Biggest Career Achievement Came in 2019
One of the most important moments in Bersten’s career came during Dancing With the Stars Season 28.
He was paired with Hannah Brown, the television personality and former Bachelorette star. The couple progressed through the competition and ultimately won the season’s Mirrorball Trophy.
Bersten was 25 years old when he achieved his first Dancing With the Stars championship.
The victory established him as a successful professional within the show’s competitive environment. Winning the Mirrorball Trophy also gave him an important career milestone that continues to be associated with his name.
For a dancer who had entered television through So You Think You Can Dance several years earlier, the championship represented the culmination of a significant period of professional development.
Bersten Continued Building His Television Career
After his Season 28 championship, Bersten continued appearing as a professional on Dancing With the Stars.
Over the years, he has been paired with celebrities from different areas of entertainment, sports and television. Each partnership has required a different teaching approach because contestants arrive with different strengths, personalities and levels of dance experience.
His role has also allowed him to showcase different styles of ballroom and Latin dance.
The professional dancers on Dancing With the Stars are responsible for creating routines that are entertaining for television while also making the celebrity contestant look comfortable and confident. That requires considerable choreography and rehearsal work behind the scenes.
Bersten’s continued participation has therefore been an important part of his career beyond his original Mirrorball victory.
Alan Bersten’s Latest Dancing With the Stars Season
In September 2026, Bersten returned to the ballroom for Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars.
This season began with a special two-night premiere on September 15 and 16. The new season includes celebrities from entertainment, television, sports, food and social media.
Bersten is paired with Giada De Laurentiis, the celebrity chef and television personality.
The partnership brings together two professionals from very different areas of entertainment. De Laurentiis is highly experienced in television and food media, while Bersten brings his years of ballroom competition and professional dance experience.
Their partnership has been one of the notable pairings in the current season because De Laurentiis is taking on a completely different type of performance challenge.
Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten’s Partnership
De Laurentiis entered the competition at age 56, while Bersten is 32. Their age difference is noticeable, but the competition is ultimately built around the partnership between the celebrity and professional dancer.
Bersten’s job is to teach the routines, develop choreography and help De Laurentiis prepare for the live ballroom performances.
The training process can be physically demanding even for experienced performers. De Laurentiis has discussed the challenges of preparing for the competition, while Bersten has been helping her adapt to the demands of ballroom dancing.
Their partnership also gives Bersten an opportunity to demonstrate the teaching side of his profession.
How Old Was Alan Bersten When He Started Dancing?
Bersten was approximately 7 years old when he began dancing.
That means he has now spent roughly a quarter-century connected to dance. By age 32, he has already accumulated extensive experience as a competitor, television performer, choreographer and professional dance partner.
His long involvement with dance is one reason he can work effectively with contestants who have little or no formal ballroom background.
A professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars needs to understand how to break complicated movements into manageable steps. Bersten’s years of experience allow him to combine technical knowledge with performance skills.
Alan Bersten’s Education and Early Background
Bersten’s early life in Minnesota played an important role in his development.
He attended the University of Minnesota, although his professional dance career increasingly became the center of his working life.
His family also has a connection to dance. His older brother Gene was involved in dance and also appeared in the audition process for So You Think You Can Dance.
That family connection helped make dance an important part of Bersten’s early life.
Alan Bersten’s Dance Style
Bersten is particularly associated with ballroom and Latin dance.
These disciplines require a combination of technical precision and performance ability. Dancers must maintain posture, timing and coordination while also communicating the mood of the music.
On Dancing With the Stars, professional dancers may be required to teach and perform styles ranging from the cha-cha and salsa to the foxtrot, tango, Viennese waltz and contemporary routines.
Bersten has worked across these different styles throughout his television career.
His choreography is also designed for a television audience, meaning routines need to tell a story while remaining technically appropriate for the celebrity contestant.
Alan Bersten’s Personal Life
Bersten’s personal life has also attracted attention because of his connection to the Dancing With the Stars professional community.
He has previously been linked romantically to people outside the show, including model Alexis Ren. In more recent years, his relationship with fellow professional dancer Emma Slater has attracted media attention.
Slater and Bersten are both members of the Dancing With the Stars professional community, making their relationship particularly familiar to longtime viewers.
Their connection has added another dimension to Bersten’s public profile beyond his dance performances.
Alan Bersten’s Career Timeline
Bersten’s career can be viewed through several major milestones:
| Year | Age | Career milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 | Born in Minnetonka, Minnesota |
| Around 2001 | 7 | Began dancing |
| 2013 | 19 | Competed on So You Think You Can Dance |
| 2015 | 20–21 | Became part of the Dancing With the Stars troupe |
| 2017 | 23 | Began competing as a professional partner |
| 2019 | 25 | Won Season 28 with Hannah Brown |
| 2025 | 31 | Reached the Season 34 finale with Elaine Hendrix |
| 2026 | 32 | Returned for Season 35 with Giada De Laurentiis |
This timeline shows how quickly Bersten moved from competitive dance television into a long-term professional role on one of America’s best-known dance programs.
Why Alan Bersten’s Age Gets Attention
Search interest around Bersten’s age often increases when a new season of Dancing With the Stars begins.
The reason is straightforward: audiences see him regularly on television but may not know his exact birth year. His youthful appearance and long professional résumé can also make his age surprising to viewers.
For anyone asking how old is Alan Bersten, the answer is 32 as of September 2026.
What makes his age particularly interesting is how much he has accomplished before reaching his early thirties. He began dancing as a child, appeared on a major dance competition as a teenager and later won the Mirrorball Trophy as a professional.
What Is Alan Bersten Doing Now?
Bersten is currently focused on Dancing With the Stars Season 35 and his partnership with Giada De Laurentiis.
The season is already underway following its two-night premiere in September 2026. The current competition includes a mix of actors, athletes, television personalities, musicians and other public figures.
For Bersten, the new season represents another opportunity to demonstrate his abilities as both a professional dancer and a teacher.
His continued presence on the show also means that viewers can expect his career to remain closely connected with ballroom television for the foreseeable future.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alan Bersten
How old is Alan Bersten in 2026?
Alan Bersten is 32 years old in 2026.
When is Alan Bersten’s birthday?
His birthday is May 26, 1994.
Where is Alan Bersten from?
He was born in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
What is Alan Bersten famous for?
He is best known for his work as a professional dancer and choreographer on Dancing With the Stars.
Did Alan Bersten win Dancing With the Stars?
Yes. He won Season 28 in 2019 with Hannah Brown.
Who is Alan Bersten’s partner in Dancing With the Stars Season 35?
Bersten is partnered with Giada De Laurentiis during Season 35.
How old was Alan Bersten when he won the Mirrorball Trophy?
He was 25 years old when he won Season 28 with Hannah Brown.
When did Alan Bersten start dancing?
He began dancing at approximately 7 years old.
Final Takeaway
Alan Bersten has built an impressive dance career since starting the discipline as a child. At 32, he has already experienced several major stages of the entertainment industry, from competing on So You Think You Can Dance to joining Dancing With the Stars and winning its Mirrorball Trophy.
His latest chapter is unfolding in Season 35, where he is working alongside Giada De Laurentiis. As the 2026 competition continues, Bersten remains one of the show’s established professional dancers and continues to combine choreography, teaching and performance in front of a national television audience.