Emma Slater and Trevor-Donovan.Photo: ABC/Christopher Willard
Dancing with the Starsfans are taking notice of the dance floor partnership betweenEmma SlaterandTrevor Donovan.
The pairperformed a steamy rumbato “Always on My Mind” during Monday’sElvisWeek episode. The routine earned Slater, 33, and Donovan, 43, a great deal of praise from judges — and a score of 30 out of 40.
“It felt great. It was such a nice improvement from last week,” Donovan told reporters of the judges' positive feedback. “I blacked out, so I don’t remember. I’m going to have to watch it because I don’t remember. I was starting to hyperventilate right before it.”
But the factor that made Slater and Donovan’s routine so praise-worthy was their off-the-charts chemistry.
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“We genuinely get on really well. Rehearsals go so quick,” the pro dancer said. “We really do get on and have a great chemistry, which made this dance so much easier.”
Emma Slater and Trevor Donovan.ABC/Christopher Willard
Co-hostAlfonso Ribeiroeven questioned whether it was real or an act. To that, the90210alum said it’s “100 percent truthful.”
“[There are] a lot of movies I do with a romantic lead [where] you have at least a couple scenes that are intimate scenes, and you’re with [someone] who very well be married or that you just met, you’re not in a relationship and so you have to create that,” Donovan continued. “And luckily, we’ve had a few weeks of getting to know each other to become friends.”
Slater also detailed how they prepared for Monday’s sensual routine: “When it’s a rumba, people expect passion, people expect that steam and you really have to tell a story.”
“We had the best song, in my opinion. I love this version of ‘Always on My Mind.’ And I honestly believe in Trevor,” she continued. “I believe in his dance ability, I know we have this great connection, this great chemistry. I really fought hard to achieve the environment for us to just be ourselves and be expressive.”
Added Slater, “I think it was a dance that really needed it, and it felt really good in the moment.”
ABC/Christopher Willard
Donovan also noted they wanted their dance to be “technically sound and correct, but we wanted to absolutely hit those moments where it felt like we were going through something together.”
Going into week 2, Donovan said on the series thathe aimed to “show the judges why I should be on top.”
Speculation about Slater’s “connection” with Donovan comes amid her split from fellowDWTSproSasha Farberafter four years of marriage.
The pairgot engagedduring a live taping of theDWTSin October 2016 after performing to Bruno Mars' “Just the Way You Are.”
Farber, 38, is also competing on this season alongside celebrity partnerSelma Blair, who brought the crowd — including longtime friendSarah Michelle Gellar— to tears with her performance on Monday night.
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Dancing with the Starsairs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Disney+.
source: people.com
