Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart, two former DWTS partners, have gotten engaged

Although The Bachelor has been hosted by ABC for a long time, Dancing With the Stars may be their most popular dating program.

Contestant Daniel Durant (CODA) from Season 31 and his professional partner Britt Stewart announced their engagement on Friday. Nearly a year after they revealed their romance through Valentine’s Day posts, they have announced their engagement. 

The couple made a big splash at the beginning of the year when they revealed the details of their proposal, which included an engagement on Christmas Day in Lake Arrowhead, California.

Britt was pictured in the two photos, taken in Lake Arrowhead, California, with her arm around the prospective groom and her other hand displaying the rock on her finger. The second picture shows them locking lips.

Britt reshared her post on Instagram Story with the caption, “Ending 2023 engaged! I continue to pinch myself. She added, “I love you forever, @Danieldurant.”

While hiking with their families—Stewart’s mother and stepfather, Jasmin and Lonnie Speed, and Durant’s mothers, Lori Durant and Mary Engels—Duriant proposed to Stewart. The family members discussed their top New Year’s resolutions while standing atop the mountain.

Since I was the last, I began discussing the year, our meeting, and everything that occurs in life, Durant said. “It just seems balanced to me. She notices me. She is aware of my language, culture, and overall identity.”

“We were both emotional, overcome with joy, and at peace, knowing that this would eventually be a part of our story,” Stewart went on. “It felt normal and right at the same time as feeling magical.” 

In fall 2022, the couple—who first connected during season 31 of DWTS—was paired with a professional dancer and a celebrity contestant. They finished the season just outside of the championship game, finishing in fifth place in the semifinals.

Due in part to their intense focus on the competition, Durant and Stewart both emphasized that their romance did not start until after their time together on the show ended. “We trained because, as a competitive person, I wanted to win this thing, and I saw that in her,” Durant remarked.

As soon as Stewart learned that Durant would be her partner, she decided to learn American Sign Language (ASL). She said, “As soon as I met him and learned he was my partner on Dancing with the Stars, I knew I had to learn ASL because I was teaching him how to dance.” “I refuse to employ his interpreter.” 

During week eight of the competition, when they performed a jazz routine to “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode, the two realized that their connection might be more than just platonic.

This commitment helped them build that connection. To provide audiences with an insight into Durant’s experiences as a deaf artist, a large segment of the dance was performed without music.

“For me, it was the moment when our lives showed each other,” Stewart said. “I had the opportunity to see him and learn about some of his personal life in addition to his time on Dancing with the Stars.”

Durant said he realized that he could not imagine his life without Stewart in it after the two were eliminated from the competition. He clarified, “I think we realized what we had felt for each other at that very moment.” “It was more than just friendship; naturally, we clicked and went on dates.”

On Valentine’s Day 2023, the two made their relationship official. Actor Durant is well-known for his performances in the Deaf West revival of Spring Awakening and CODA, which won the Best Picture Oscar.

In season 23, Stewart made her debut as a troupe member on DWTS. In season 29, she was the first-ever black professional dancer on the program. She was paired with former NFL player Adrian Peterson this past season.

It is funny; I remember when we first met,” Stewart says. “I recall us as colleagues. We were the best of friends, and I remember both of us at the same time. We feel like we have been together for ages now.”

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