Emma Slater, professional dancer from “Dancing With The Stars,” recently shared a poignant dance with her former dance partner, James Van Der Beek, that had never been seen before.
Slater and the “Dawson’s Creek” actor were paired up during season 28 of the show in 2019, where they achieved a 5th place finish. Following the tragic news of Van Der Beek’s passing on February 11, Slater took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute, mentioning that she had the opportunity to bid him farewell that Sunday.
In a touching Instagram post, Slater posted a video of her and Van Der Beek performing the samba privately for close friends and family at the actor’s ranch. The text overlaid on the clip indicated that it was filmed four years after their initial live performance of the routine, hinting at a recording in 2023—the same year Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
“He loved to dance! And I know he’s still dancing,” Slater wrote in the caption. “This is Kimberley’s fav dance of his, the samba. We prepared it especially to perform to everyone here! He remembered it more than me!! I love this memory of dancing with you James 💔🙏🏻.”
Van Der Beek’s family announced his passing at the age of 48 via Instagram on February 11, sharing that he had faced his final days with courage, faith, and grace. The caption expressed the family’s intentions to share more about his wishes, love for humanity, and the sanctity of time in the future. For now, they requested privacy as they mourned the loss of their beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
The late actor is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.
As we reflect on this touching moment between Emma Slater and James Van Der Beek, we are reminded of the power of dance to unite and uplift, even in the face of sadness and loss.
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Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.