'Dancing With the Stars' Derek Hough: Marilu Henner's Partner Reveals 'Strategy' For Competition [VIDEO]
Even though all the pros on Dancing With the Stars want each other to succeed, there is still an element of competition - especially for Derek Hough.
Hough, who has become the most successful pro in DWTS history with six wins under his belt, didn't become the best without having a unique strategy. The pro, who is currently dancing with Marilu Henner this season, spoke recently about how he teaches and employs strategy to get further into the competition.
"I definitely have a formula in terms of how I teach. There is some strategy in a week-to-week basis with song or routine choices. With Marilu, I try to give her less to think about," Hough told Toronto's 24 Hours in a recent interview. "My normal way to teach is to be very particular and specific about every detail. I like to be very refined but with Marilu, it was too much information. Over-analysis led to paralysis so that's my strategy this season. There's always strategy in a competition."
Hough has won DWTS with a variety of partners from different age groups, including Brooke Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Grey, Kellie Pickler, Amber Riley and Bindi Irwin. He has even won Emmys for his work as a choreographer on the show, which he described as "amazing. Growing up, being a choreographer wasn't on my radar," he added. "I just fell into it by being in rehearsal and creating my own pieces. I'm proud that the public and my peers have enjoyed my work."
Hough draws upon dancing greats like Gene Kelly as well as modern YouTube tutorials.
"If I'm completely transparent with you, it's all YouTube! [Laughs] I had to teach myself many styles of dance in my apartment watching videos online," he said. "Gene Kelly is one of my biggest inspirations. I was wowed when he used props and utilized his surroundings. I love his stuff. Whenever I get blocked, I look at the old classics and they inspire me."
Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
