Derek Hough Hopes for an All-Winners Season of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ Reflects on Setting Emmys Record

variety.com:

McKinley Franklin editor Derek Hough is on a roll — literally and figuratively. From prepping for his Symphony of Dance tour, getting ready to judge the 32nd season of “Dancing With the Stars” and planning a wedding with his fiancé Hayley Erbert, you’d think the Emmy-award-winning choreographer would run out of steam at some point. “I think that momentum is so powerful — I thrive with momentum,” says Hough. “It gives me more ideas, energy, inspiration and motivation.

Everything feeds into each other; it amplifies. If you need something done, give it to somebody that’s busy.” Fresh off his 13th Emmy nomination, Hough reflects on what earned him that accolade — a dance routine to “Higher,” which was performed live by singer Michael Bublé during Season 31 of “Dancing With the Stars.” “There’s a lot in this number — different elements, styles and usage of the whole space.

For me, that was the first thing: ‘How do I use this space?’” he says, revealing that he wanted to make use of the capacity of the show’s set to create the grandiose group number that featured a slew of professional dancers and Bublé himself. “It was utilizing this new stage area to the skybox and garage.

I played with different camera angles, making sure that things weren’t flat. This was the first time I’ve danced with all the pros in seven years.” Hough now holds the title for the most Emmy nominations for choreography, a feat he grasps the weight of. “It makes me really reflect on my journey through dance, and how it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” says Hough, who was a pro dancer on 17 seasons of the reality competition series before becoming a judge full-time in Season 29. “I never set out to be a choreographer, it was something I just sort of.