7 Questions With… Derek Hough of Dancing With The Stars

Derek Hough

 

Derek Hough
Craig Sjodin © 2014 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Since he first joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars in Season 5, Derek Hough and his celebrity partners have won the dance competition five times and he’s choreographed some of the show’s most memorable dance performances. His work has earned Hough an Emmy where he also performed and he even helped choreograph a routine for for Olympic Ice Dancers, Meryl Davis and Charlie White (who later competed on Season 18 of the show).

This season, Hough is paired with former Olympic champion, gymnast Nastia Liukin and while she studies at NYU during the week, Hough performs 10 shows per week while starring in New York Springtime Spectacular featuring the world-famous Rockettes. In between performances, Hough and I chatted about Season 20 of DWTS, and his busy schedule and he answered our 7 Questions.

1. As an athlete, what three things do you have to have in your refrigerator or pantry?
Sweet potatoes, chicken and almonds. I don’t think I even have a pantry.

2. If your TV carried just three shows or networks, what would they be?
I don’t watch TV, but I do love stupid humor like Family Guy. I like watching documentaries.

3. You’re at a magazine rack and can only pick three titles. Which ones do you choose?
I can’t remember the last time I read a magazine. Normally I’m reading a book like The Untethered Soul, or The Power of Now. I like reading spiritual or self-help books. I like anything that feeds my mind.

4. Tell us about a time when you were starstruck.
This morning I met Will Ferrell! I met Will Ferrell today and I was like, “Hi, um, I … I … fan. I’m a fan … I like … bye.” I couldn’t talk.

5. What has been your strangest fan encounter?
Actually, I signed a girl’s wrist and she came back to another show and she’d gotten that signature tattooed on her wrist. I said, “I wish you would have told me; I would have done a better signature.”

6. You’ve won Dancing With the Stars five times, you’ve danced on the Emmys (and won one too!), your tour around the country and now you’re performing in Radio City Music Hall. What’s next?
One of the next things that I want to do, truthfully, is direct something. I look at choreographers who turned directors who inspire me, and that’s something that’s been on my list for a while, and it hasn’t been the right time, but in the next couple of years, I’d like to tackle.

7. What is your favorite movie musical?
One that comes to me off of the top of my head is West Side Story. I love the music in West Side Story; I love the vibe. I love it.

2 Comments

    • If you really look at the scores since she’s been a judge, they’ve been fair. In some cases, they’ve been lower than the other judges, and she gives constructive criticism. Last year she made comments to Derek and Mark (Derek’s best friend) that were harsh. In all I think she’s doing a great job! Derek has also said, Julianne is his harshest critic. I’ve been a fan of DWTS since Season 1 :).

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