Alan Bersten has spent years being the guy who makes everybody else look good on "Dancing With the Stars," and now the internet is wondering when the show will finally return the favor.
The pro dancer, who first joined the ABC ballroom in 2017, has quietly built one of the most talked-about résumés in the franchise without ever lifting a Mirrorball Trophy.
That drought became a running joke among fans this past season, when Bersten and his celebrity partner made a deep run only to fall short in the finale once again.
Social media lit up with the same refrain: how does the most consistently excellent choreographer on the roster keep finishing second?
Part of the frustration is that Bersten's partnerships tend to produce genuine viral moments.
His freestyles lean theatrical, his rehearsal packages lean chaotic, and his ability to coax non-dancers into legitimately impressive routines has made him a favorite among casting producers and viewers alike.
Off the floor, his personal life has fueled just as much chatter.
His long-running friendship with former partner Alexis Warr has been dissected by fans for years, and any time he's spotted out in Los Angeles, the speculation machine spins up again.
Bersten, for his part, tends to keep romance rumors vague and lets the dancing do the talking.
Like several of his fellow pros, Bersten has leaned into touring, conventions, and brand partnerships between seasons, turning ballroom fame into a year-round career rather than a seasonal gig.
That hustle has kept him visible even in the show's off-months.
With casting rumors for the upcoming season already swirling, Bersten's name keeps surfacing in fan wishlists alongside dream partners ranging from Olympians to pop stars.
Whether producers finally hand him a ringer is anyone's guess.
For now, he remains one of the few pros whose every pairing feels like an event, which is exactly the kind of currency that keeps a dancer relevant long after the confetti falls.
The honest take: Bersten is overdue for a win, and the show knows it.
Fans aren't just rooting for a trophy at this point, they're rooting for a narrative payoff years in the making.
Final Thoughts
If the casting gods cooperate, this could finally be the season that changes the conversation.