# Alan Bersten

Alan Bersten (born 26 May 1994) is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer. He was a contestant on the tenth season of So You Think You Can Dance and is currently a professional dancer and choreographer on Dancing with the Stars. He is the winner of season 28 of Dancing with the Stars with his celebrity partner, The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown.

## Personal life

Bersten was born and raised in Minnesota. His family heritage is Russian Jewish. He started dancing at the age of 7.
In 2018, Bersten was on tour with Dancing with the Stars when he began to have severe stomach pain. A blood test showed he had symptoms of a tumor on one of his parathyroid glands called hyperparathyroidism. He underwent surgery the next day to remove his left parathyroid. Bersten returned to work after only a week of recovery.

## Dancing with the Stars
### Performances

Bersten started working on Dancing with the Stars in season 20 as a member of the troupe. He remained in that role for four more seasons until he made his debut as a professional partner in season 25.
During the second week of season 22, Bersten danced a salsa with Paige VanZant, as VanZant's regular partner, Mark Ballas, suffered a back injury during rehearsals. Bersten learned the entire dance routine on one day's notice and performed the dance for the live show the following day. In season 24, Bersten danced with Heather Morris for four weeks while Morris's regular partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, was recovering from an injury.
Bersten was promoted to a professional partner in season 25, where he was partnered with 1980s singer-songwriter and Broadway actress Debbie Gibson. They were eliminated in the second week and took 12th place. Bersten was also featured on the official promotional poster for the show that season alongside fellow cast member Sharna Burgess.
For season 26, Bersten was partnered with Olympic figure skater Mirai Nagasu. They were eliminated in the third week of competition, tying for 4th place with Chris Mazdzer and partner Witney Carson and Jennie Finch Daigle and partner Keo Motsepe.
For season 27, Bersten was partnered with model Alexis Ren. The couple reached the finals and took 4th place.
For season 28, Bersten was partnered with The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown. They reached the finals and were crowned the season's champions on November 25, 2019.
For season 29, Bersten returned to compete again and is paired with Disney Channel star Skai Jackson. They were eliminated week 10, finishing in 5th place.
For season 30, Bersten was partnered with The Talk co-host and dancer Amanda Kloots. They reached the finals and finished in 4th place.
For season 31, Bersten was partnered with country music singer Jessie James Decker. They were eliminated week 6, finishing in 10th place.
For season 32, Bersten was partnered with Zoey 101 actress and singer Jamie Lynn Spears. They were eliminated on the second week of competition and finished 13th; Bersten's lowest placement to date.
For season 33, Bersten was partnered with Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher. They made it to the finale and finished as the runners-up on November 26, 2024.
| Season | Partner | Place |
| 25 | Debbie Gibson | 12th |
| 26 | Mirai Nagasu | 4th |
| 27 | Alexis Ren | 4th |
| 28 | Hannah Brown | 1st |
| 29 | Skai Jackson | 5th |
| 30 | Amanda Kloots | 4th |
| 31 | Jessie James Decker | 10th |
| 32 | Jamie Lynn Spears | 13th |
| 33 | Ilona Maher | 2nd |

#### Season 25

With celebrity partner Debbie Gibson
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Foxtrot / "Lost in Your Eyes" | 6 | 5 | 6 | 17 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Quickstep / "This Is My Time" Argentine Tango / "Havana" | 7 7 | 6 7 | 7 7 | 20 21 | Safe Eliminated |

#### Season 26

With celebrity partner Mirai Nagasu
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Salsa / "No Excuses" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | Safe |
| 2 | Foxtrot / "It's a Small World" Team Freestyle / "Instant Replay" | 9 9 | 9/10$^1$ 9/10$^1$ | 9 9 | 37 | Safe |
| 3 | Quickstep / "BO$$" | 9 | 8/9$^2$ | 9 | 35 | Eliminated |
$^1$ Score given by guest judge Rashad Jennings
$^2$ Score given by guest judge David Ross.

#### Season 27

With celebrity partner Alexis Ren
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Jive / "Good Golly, Miss Molly" Jive / "Shake the Room" | 7 7 | 7 8 | 7 8 | 21 23 | Bottom five Safe |
| 2 | Argentine tango / "Swan Lake Suite" Salsa / "Booty" | 8 8 | 9 8 | 8 8 | 25 24 | Safe |
| 3 | Contemporary / "How To Save A Life" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 26 | Safe |
| 4 | Trio Tango / "Move Your Body" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 25 | Safe |
| 5 | Foxtrot / "Just Around the Riverbend" | 10 | 9 | 10 | 29 | No elimination |
| 6 | Jazz / "Candyman" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Last to be called safe |
| 7 | Samba / "Ladies in the ’90s" Team Freestyle / "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" | 9 9 | 10 8 | 10 9 | 29 26 | Safe |
| 8 (Semifinals) | Waltz / "Water" Jive / "Yes" | 9 10 | 9 10 | 10 10 | 28 30 | Last to be called safe |
| 9 (Finals) | Argentine tango / "Swan Lake Suite" Freestyle / "Head Above Water" | 9 10 | 9 10 | 9 10 | 27 30 | Fourth place |

#### Season 28

With celebrity partner Hannah Brown
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha / "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Viennese Waltz / "Lover" | 8 | 8 | 7 | 23 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba / "Hold On" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Safe |
| 4 | Paso Doble / "I Love It" | 8 | 8$^1$/8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 5 | Foxtrot / "A Whole New World" | 9 | 7 | 8 | 24 | No Elimination |
| 6 | Samba / "Southbound" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| 7 | Jazz / "Bad Girls" Team Freestyle / "Somebody's Watching Me" | 8 9 | 9 9 | 8 9 | 25 27 | Safe |
| 8 | Quickstep / "American Girl" Salsa Dance-Off / "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" | 10 Awarded | 9 2 | 10 Points | 29 | Safe |
| 9 | Salsa / "No Scrubs" Tango / "Boy with Luv" | 8 10 | 8/8$^2$ 9/10$^2$ | 8 10 | 32 39 | Safe |
| 10 (Semifinals) | Rumba / "Dancing with a Stranger" Contemporary / "Lose You to Love Me" | 9 9 | 9 9 | 9 9 | 27 27 | Safe |
| 11 (Finals) | Viennese Waltz / "Lover" Freestyle / "Girl on Fire" & "Hollaback Girl" | 10 10 | 9 10 | 10 10 | 29 30 | Winners |
$^1$ Score given by guest judge Leah Remini.
$^2$ Score given by guest judge Joey Fatone.

#### Season 29

With celebrity partner Skai Jackson
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Hough | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Tango / "Super Bass" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Samba / "Miss Independent" | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive / "Almost There" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | Safe |
| 4 | Foxtrot / "Ordinary People" | 10 | 9 | 9 | 28 | Safe |
| 5 | Jazz / "The Power of Love" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| 6 | Cha-cha-cha / "Say So" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | Safe |
| 7 | Argentine tango / "Everything I Wanted" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 8 | Salsa / "Work It" Samba relay / "Levitating" | 8 Awarded | 9 2 | 8 Points | 25 | Bottom two |
| 9 | Paso doble / "If" Salsa Dance-Off / "The Cup of Life" | 9 Awarded | 9 2 | 9 Points | 27 | Safe |
| 10 (Semifinals) | Cha-cha-cha / "Move Your Feet" Viennese waltz / "Lonely" | 9 10 | 9 10 | 9 10 | 27 30 | Eliminated |

#### Season 30

With celebrity partner Amanda Kloots
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Hough | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Tango / "Dance Again" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Foxtrot / "It Had to Be You" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 3 | Cha-cha-cha / "Circus" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Safe |
| 4 | Rumba / "You'll Be in My Heart" Paso doble / "Call Me Cruella" | 8 9 | 8 9 | 8 9 | 8 9 | 32 36 | No Elimination Safe |
| 5 | Viennese waltz / "Beauty School Dropout" | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 6 | Argentine tango / "Paint It Black" | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 38 | Safe |
| 7 | Jive / "Don't Stop Me Now" Viennese waltz relay / "We Are the Champions" | 8 Awarded | 8 1 | 8 Extra | 9 Point | 33 | Safe |
| 8 | Jazz / "Miss You Much" Cha-cha-cha Dance-off / "Together Again" | 10 Awarded | 10 2 | 10 Extra | 10 Points | 40 | Safe |
| 9 (Semifinals) | Tango / "Titanium" Contemporary / "Live Your Life" | 9 10 | 10 10 | 10 10 | 10 10 | 39 40 | Bottom three |
| 10 (Finals) | Viennese waltz & Paso doble Fusion / "Never Tear Us Apart'' Freestyle / "A Sky Full of Stars" | 9 10 | 10 10 | 9$^1$ 10$^1$ | 10 10 | 38 40 | Fourth place |
$^1$ Julianne Hough filled in for Derek Hough.

#### Season 31

With celebrity partner Jessie James Decker
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Goodman | Hough | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha / "Sweet Home Alabama" | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20 | Safe |
| 2 | Foxtrot / "Trouble" | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 25 | Safe |
| 3 | Rumba / "Goldfinger" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 4 | Jive / "One Way or Another" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 5 | Tango / "Blue Jeans" Viennese Waltz / "Breakaway" Hustle & Lindy Hop Marathon | 7 8 Given | 7 8 11 | 8 8 Extra | 7 8 Points | 29 32+11=43 72 | Safe |
| 6 | Salsa / "Come Dance With Me" | 8 | 8 | 9$^1$/8 | 8 | 41 | Eliminated |
$^1$ Score given by guest judge Michael Buble.

#### Season 32

With celebrity partner Jamie Lynn Spears
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Inaba | Hough | Tonioli | Total | Result |
| 1 | Tango / "Don't Call Me Up (Zac Samuel remix)" | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | Safe |
| 2 | Cha-cha-cha / "Shake Señora" | 6 | 5 | 5 | 16 | Eliminated |

#### Dancing with the Stars: Juniors

Bersten joined the first season of Dancing with the Stars spin-off series Dancing with the Stars: Juniors as a professional mentor. He formed Team Alan with junior professional dancer JT Church and 10-year-old professional skateboarder Sky Brown. Team Alan ended up winning the Juniors Mirrorball trophy on December 9, 2018.
| Week | Dance / Song | Judges' score | Judges' score | Judges' score | Total | Result |
| Week | Dance / Song | Chmerkovskiy | Moore | Rippon | Total | Result |
| 1 | Salsa / "Light It Up" | 8 | 7 | 7 | 22 | Safe |
| 2 | Cha-cha-cha / "Just Dance" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Safe |
| 3 | Contemporary / "How Far I'll Go" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 24 | Safe |
| 4 | Jive / "Little Shop of Horrors" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 5 | Samba / "The Greatest" | 8 | 8 | 7 | 23 | Safe |
| 6 | Foxtrot / "Unconditionally" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 29 | Safe |
| 7 | Charleston / "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 8 | Argentine Tango / "Thunder" Jive-Foxtrot Fusion / "369" | 10 10 | 9 9 | 10 9 | 29 28 | No elimination |
| 9 | Salsa / "Light It Up" Freestyle / "Underneath the Tree" | 10 10 | 10 10 | 10 10 | 30 30 | Winners |

## Awards and achievements

Awards and achievements :
| Preceded byBobby Bones & Sharna Burgess | Dancing with the Stars (US) winner Season 28 (Fall 2019 with Hannah Brown) | Succeeded byKaitlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev |
| Preceded byN/A | Dancing with the Stars: Juniors (US) winner Season 1 (Fall 2018 with Sky Brown & JT Church) | Succeeded byN/A |
| Preceded byJason Mraz & Daniella Karagach | Dancing with the Stars (US) runner-up Season 33 (Fall 2024 with Ilona Maher) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded byN/A Justina Machado & Sasha Farber | Dancing with the Stars (US) fourth place Season 27 (Fall 2018 with Alexis Ren) Season 30 (Fall 2021 with Amanda Kloots) | Succeeded byLauren Alaina & Gleb Savchenko Shangela & Gleb Savchenko |
| Preceded byVictoria Arlen & Valentin Chmerkovskiy James Van Der Beek & Emma Slater | Dancing with the Stars (US) semi-finalist Season 26 (Spring 2018 with Mirai Nagasu) Season 29 (Fall 2020 with Skai Jackson) | Succeeded byJuan Pablo Di Pace & Cheryl Burke Joe Amabile & Jenna Johnson Suni Lee & Sasha Farber Melora Hardin & Artem Chigvintsev |