Derek Hough is on a roll — actually and figuratively. From prepping for his Symphony of Dance tour, on the point of choose the thirty second season of “Dancing With the Stars” and planning a marriage along with his fiancé Hayley Erbert, you’d suppose the Emmy-award-winning choreographer would run out of steam sooner or later.

“I feel that momentum is so highly effective — I thrive with momentum,” says Hough. “It provides me extra concepts, power, inspiration and motivation. Every part feeds into one another; it amplifies. If you happen to want one thing completed, give it to anyone that’s busy.”

Recent off his thirteenth Emmy nomination, Hough displays on what earned him that accolade — a dance routine to “Greater,” which was carried out stay by singer Michael Bublé throughout Season 31 of “Dancing With the Stars.”

“There’s lots on this quantity — completely different components, kinds and utilization of the entire area. For me, that was the very first thing: ‘How do I exploit this area?’” he says, revealing that he wished to utilize the capability of the present’s set to create the grandiose group quantity that featured a slew {of professional} dancers and Bublé himself. “It was using this new stage space to the skybox and storage. I performed with completely different digicam angles, ensuring that issues weren’t flat. This was the primary time I’ve danced with all the professionals in seven years.” 

Hough now holds the title for essentially the most Emmy nominations for choreography, a feat he grasps the burden of. “It makes me actually mirror on my journey by way of dance, and the way it’s the present that retains on giving,” says Hough, who was a professional dancer on 17 seasons of the truth competitors sequence earlier than turning into a choose full-time in Season 29. “I by no means got down to be a choreographer, it was one thing I simply form of grew to become with completely different alternatives.”

Within the early levels of his profession, Hough’s concern was his kryptonite. “Reflecting on my journey, it’s actually wild to consider how scared and fearful I used to be to choreograph,” he says. 

So, how did he overcome this trepidation?

“I consider that gratitude is the antidote to concern. You possibly can’t be grateful and fearful on the identical time,” he says. “The second you’re grateful, it’s just like the concern simply dissipates.” He provides that being current “in a second of gratitude” is a confirmed tactic he’s practiced all through his life — an providing he gives to anybody apprehensive about chasing a dream. 

“You don’t should be nice to begin, however it’s important to begin to be nice,” says Hough. “It’s a must to pretend it and determine it out, after which ultimately, you begin believing in what you’re doing.”

Bublé carried out the quantity as a sideline to the artistry created by Hough’s choreography.

“I advised him, ‘That is going to be extra of a dance piece versus an artist piece with dancers within the background,’” explains Hough. On the heart of the composition is Erbert, a mentor on “Dancing With the Stars: Junior” and a previous troupe member of the mainstay sequence. 

As for his upcoming nuptials with Erbert, “The marriage — that’s a complete manufacturing in and of itself,” laughs Hough. “It seems like we’re planning two excursions, two exhibits!” 

All however two of Hough’s 13 Emmy nominations come from numbers showcased on “Dancing With the Stars,” which he’s gained six occasions with six completely different celeb companions. The present’s forthcoming season is the primary because the choose Len Goodman handed away, and Hough’s first from the opposite facet of the dance ground.

“Having the passing of our pricey buddy and colleague Len and simply being there to honor him is unquestionably my focus,” Hough says. 

The present is sashaying again to its house at ABC after being solely accessible on Disney+ in its thirty first season. 

That’s not the one evident shift within the ballroom, although, as audiences will see the addition (or reinstatement) of Hough’s sister, Julianne, to its everlasting solid. Julianne has additionally gained the competitors — twice — with star companions, was a visitor choose in 2013 after which grew to become a everlasting choose from 2014 to 2017. She’ll now function a co-host alongside Season 19 winner Alfonso Ribeiro.

“Jules is such an necessary a part of the present. She was there from the early years and [became] the primary double champ. She actually set a typical early on,” Hough explains. “She will communicate from the expertise of being on the present [as a pro and judge]. She’s going so as to add a number of worth. It’s gonna be unbelievable.”

Like many actuality TV sequence, “Dancing With the Stars” has additionally seen success with the all-star format, which invitations former contestants to compete once more for the Mirrorball trophy. 

“Once I did the all-star season with Shawn Johnson, we ended up coming in second,” says Hough. “That was truthfully considered one of my favourite seasons, and I used to be so devastated.” A method to faucet into that glory? A possible second all-stars season, to which Hough needs to enlist “among the OGs” like Season 3 runner-up Mario Lopez or his Season 18 associate Amy Purdy.

One format international to the sequence that Hough thinks would provide a “unbelievable” shakeup would function a solid stuffed with Mirrorball winners — suppose “Survivor: Winners at Battle” or “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 7. “I feel that it’d be a extremely, actually aggressive season,” says Hough. 

He divulges that he assumes there have been conversations about an all-winners season of “Dancing With the Stars,” however isn’t positive how critical they’ve been. 

When requested to assemble his personal solid for a fantasy all-winners season, Hough names his former companions Bindi Irwin and Nicole Scherzinger. “I feel Rashad Jennings would love to return again,” provides Hough. “Donny Osmond, I do know he’d most likely love to return again too. Even Jordan Fisher, who was unbelievable.”

Might Hough see host and Mirrorball champion Ribeiro throw on his dancing footwear as soon as extra for the prospect to change into the sequence’ first superstar double champion? “No, not now,” he affirms. “Alfonso’s a bunch now, so he can’t come again!”

What about Hough himself? Might he see himself giving up his rating paddles to usher one other superstar into the winner’s circle? “I really feel like I’ve completed that: I actually squeezed the juice out of that you simply, if you’ll,” says Hough. “I like being a choose.” 

“I by no means say by no means as a result of on the finish of the day, I like to entertain, I like to carry out and whether it is one thing that audiences needs to see … ” Hough trails off.

 “By no means say by no means.”