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‘DWTS’ Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten Hilariously React to Fans Hoping for a Romance
Could Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten be quick stepping into each other’s hearts?
Dancing With the Stars fans sure hope so. While the Olympian and the 30-year-old professional dancer have continued to dominate on the dance floor (and social media) fans wonder if they’ll be next to take their partnership off the dance floor.
“We see it all over. And honestly keep doing it people. We love it,” Ilona told E! News correspondent Will Marfuggi after the Nov. 12 epsiode of Dancing with the Stars. “If ship means relationship, we are the besties. I think him and I get along truly so well, and we have a lot of fun together.”
The 28-year-old Olympian admitted that in Alan she has found a strong advocate and partner— just like the members of her Team USA rugby team.
Honestly it’s like my teammate,” she continued. “I love my teammates, I love him. I think we’re building something really beautiful here.” (For more with Ilona and the DWTS cast, tune into E! News tonight Nov. 13 at 11 p.m.)
And when it comes to their bond beyond the ABC competition series, Ilona added, “I hope it continues, who knows, it could be the last time we ever talk after this.”
Making sure fans know that it’s all jokes, Alan chimed in with, “No, it won’t.” Hinting where you could find them next Alan quipped, “On podcasts, maybe!”
Disney/Eric McCandless
The dynamic duo had a night of double dances during the milestone 500th show. First they paid tribute to season 25’s duo Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold with a quickstep set to Pharell Williams ’ “Chuck Berry” that ended with Ilona lifting Alan above her shoulders.
Then, the competition’s first Instant Dance, where they were assigned a dance style (the Cha Cha) and song (Freak Nasty’s “DaDip”) and given minutes to come up with a routine.
And ultimately, the performance left Leaving them with a combined score of 52 and a chance for fans to see them dance into the semi-finals. (In the end it was Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach who were eliminated.)
All in all, it was a night of celebration that Ilona and Alan got to share together.
“I’ve been watching this show since it was double digits, me and my family and my sisters, so I’ve watched it from the beginning,” Ilona told E! News. “When I watched the show, I never thought I’d be on it, I just watched it because I loved it. So, to be here for this kind of milestone is such an honor. And to be here with a partner like this, it’s really an honor.”
And for dance pro Alan, the sentiment is the same.
“Honestly, it’s so special,” he noted. “I’m obsessed with the show, even before I was on it. We do this in a week—the celebrities do not get enough credit. You know it’s not easy, it is the most rewarding show, I feel like, on television.”
Keep reading to see all the Dancing With the Stars season 33 pairs...
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Anna Delvey
The inspriation behind Inventing Anna traded her ankle bracelet for dancing shoes alongside partner Ezra Sosa. However, the fake heiress was eliminated during the season's Sept. 24 episode, with her saying that she learned "nothing" in her now-infamous, one-word farewell speech.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ilona Maher
The Olympic rugby player is ready to ruck up the dance floor with pro Alan Bersten.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Chandler Kinney
The Disney Channel star will try to dance her way to the top with partner Brandon Armstrong.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Brooks Nader
The model and her partner Gleb Savchenko were ready to strut along the ballroom, but took their final bow on Oct. 15.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Reginald VelJohnson
All that mattered for the Family Matters alum and partner Emma Slater was taking home the Mirrorball Trophy. However, their journey was cut short during the second week of competition on Oct. 8.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Eric Roberts
The Dark Knight star was partnered with Britt Stewart. They were eliminated in the second week alongside Reginald and Emma.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Joey Graziadei
The Bachelor alum has found his rose between thorns in partner Jenna Johnson.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tori Spelling
The alum of Beverly Hills, 90210 was oh so ready to dance alongside Pasha Pashkov. Unfortunately, the two last only one week and was cut from competition in a double elimination alongside Anna and Ezra.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Danny Amendola
The NFL pro and partner Witney Carson are sure to score a touchdown on the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Dwight Howard
The NBA star is hoping to stand head and shoulders above the competition with partner Daniella Karagach.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Stephen Nedoroscik
The Olympian has his sights set on another medal—or should we say, Mirrorball Trophy—with partner Rylee Arnold.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Phaedra Parks
The Traitors alum was sure to weed out the competition with partner Val Chmerkovskiy, but ended up getting cut from the lineup Oct. 22.
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic & Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Jenn Tran
Though Bachelorette star and partner Sasha Farber were full bloom in the ballroom, they were eliminated from the competition on Oct. 29.
Watch E! News weeknights Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m., only on E!.
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