- 6 hours ago
"To be part of that from the beginning to now is just incredible," the Emmy nominee says.
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00:00Hey everyone, thank you for tuning in to Meet Your Emmy Nominee.
00:03I'm Brian Perica at The Hollywood Reporter with Emmy nominee, Derek Hough.
00:07Hello.
00:08And not only Emmy nominee, nine-time Emmy nominee and two-time winner.
00:12Yeah, not bad.
00:13So how does it feel, ninth time?
00:15It's amazing, man.
00:16You know, it's funny, because the Emmys have been so good to me, and being a part of just
00:23that whole celebration and the Emmy party, if you will, it's been incredible.
00:27And I have some fond, fond memories that are just, I'll never forget.
00:32Do you want to share any?
00:33Well, I mean, winning for the first time was pretty extraordinary, especially since our
00:36category of choreography is in the creative arts, and this particular year was in the
00:41primetime Emmys, and we did this great performance, and I was still sweating and breathing hard
00:46from dancing, and then to win was like, it was really awesome, it was really cool.
00:49Because it was also the first Dancing with the Stars win for choreography, so it was really
00:54exciting.
00:54That's awesome.
00:55Yeah.
00:55Now, for this performance specifically, what went into that choreography?
01:00Well, you know, this one was a very collaborative effort as well, which is great, because I'm
01:04always about learning and growing and expanding, and this was, I created this piece really because
01:09I just wanted something, I wanted to create something that I would want to watch, you know,
01:14and I love, it started with the music, first and foremost.
01:17You know, I'm a drummer, and I play drums, and I was playing drums in the recording studio, and
01:23Lindsey Sterling, the violinist, came over, and we were talking about something, and I
01:27was like, hey, do you want to grab me your violin and just lay in some strings down?
01:31That's awesome.
01:31Sure.
01:32And she just freestyled for like 10 minutes.
01:34That's it.
01:35And it was amazing.
01:36And we just took all the pieces and we created this song, and I had the drums, and we just
01:41created this original piece of music.
01:43And then I got Kelsey McCowan, who is this incredible tapper, and you know, she came in,
01:49and we kind of collaborated and created these tap sounds, and the tap bits, and for me,
01:55I just wanted to create a piece that just had a bit of everything in it, and something
01:59that I would, you know, want to watch.
02:01And also, too, for the live performance, the split screen, where I'm battling myself
02:06with the tap and where I'm drumming, and for me, that was kind of like a throwback to
02:10how, you know, it's like an old Hollywood, when like Gene Kelly or someone was like battling
02:14himself and dancing with himself, and to be able to do that live was, you know, which
02:19again, had never been done before on Dancing with the Stars, was amazing.
02:24I always try to do things that haven't been done yet on that show, and so it's always cool
02:29when it succeeds.
02:30Yeah, I mean, it succeeded, you got another...
02:32Yeah, it was awesome.
02:33But I do have to say, though, it definitely is not a, you know, where I'm getting nominated,
02:39you know, it's very much a joint effort, and I'm so appreciative to everybody that was
02:42a part of it, and from the producers, from Dan Maren, to Ashley Edens, to Kelsey McCowan,
02:48to Alison Hulker, to everybody, they're all just so...it's funny being a choreographer,
02:55because you're very much at the head of the helm, and you are, you know, the architect,
03:00if you will, but there is definitely...
03:02So much that goes into it.
03:03So much that goes into it, yeah.
03:04Now, when you found out you were nominated, like, this year, what was your immediate reaction?
03:09Who did you call?
03:10Did anyone call you?
03:11How did you find out?
03:13My publicist, she always calls me.
03:15I think last year, when I asked you, you said, yeah.
03:18She's up at the crack of dawn, so she finds out immediately, and I'm like, what's happening?
03:22I'm just going to wake her up, and she tells me, and I do have to say, it's always a
03:26really
03:26wonderful call to receive.
03:29Very exciting.
03:30Very, very exciting, and it's such an honor.
03:32What it really is, and, yeah, to be sort of recognized, you know, by this amazing academy,
03:40and as incredible, and also since the choreographers just recently got, you know, their own peer
03:45group.
03:46Is that my phone?
03:47That's your phone.
03:48So unprofessional.
03:50Can you believe that?
03:52Unreal.
03:52Oh, no.
03:53It's a FaceTime for my sister.
03:54They were congratulating...oh, was it really?
03:56Yeah.
03:56Oh, it's awesome.
03:57They were congratulating...she was congratulating you again on your...
03:59That's right, thank you.
03:59She knew you were doing this.
04:01So what do you look forward to most about the Emmys and being there?
04:05What do I look forward to the most?
04:07You know, I think I just look forward to just going.
04:13I think it's just fun.
04:14It's really enjoyable to just be and see a lot of people that, you know, you might know,
04:22and it's actually kind of cool, too, because it's a reminder.
04:24It kind of reminds you of something that you've worked on a while ago, you know?
04:29It's almost been like a year, and it gives you an opportunity to kind of be like, you
04:35know what?
04:36Like, this is cool.
04:37Like, what I'm doing is really cool, and I'm so thankful.
04:41I'm so grateful to be able to be doing it.
04:42And just to be among my peers and see them and just celebrate together, regardless of
04:49the outcome, regardless of the result.
04:50It's amazing to be, you know, to celebrate all together.
04:53Now, if earlier, like in your career, someone had told you you were nominated nine times
04:57for an Emmy, had a successful run on Dance with the Stars, had World of Dance, hit show,
05:03renewed for season two, what would you have said to them?
05:05Like, what would you...
05:06Derek, you're going to be super successful.
05:07I'd be like, that's it?
05:08No, I'm just kidding!
05:11No, unbelievable.
05:12You know, it really is.
05:13It's extraordinary.
05:14And I think that I don't do that often enough where I actually look back and I reverse, you
05:20know, I look back at, like, what I've achieved and what's happened in my life and I'm so thankful.
05:25That's another thing.
05:26Yeah, three sold out tours, you know, World of Dance, which is, you know, amazing.
05:30I can't wait to come back for season two.
05:31It's going to be even better and bigger.
05:33And, you know, Dance with the Stars, over 400 and something episodes, you know, 18 seasons.
05:39It's extraordinary.
05:40It really is.
05:41And to be a part of that sort of dance evolution, revolution, where, you know, 10 years ago when
05:49I began dancing on television in America, dancing has just grown so much.
05:55And to be part of it from the beginning to now to see it, just, it's incredible.
05:59Now, going off that, this, like, dance phenomenon, there have been a lot of dance competition shows.
06:04Yeah.
06:04What do you think about World of Dance, like, made it sick with audiences?
06:08What do you think it was?
06:09I think World of Dance just captures the energy and the energy of a dance competition.
06:16Yeah.
06:16It really does.
06:17It's, the way, the production of it, the way they shoot it, it's so elegant, so cinematic.
06:23It's, it's, but also, too, the heart, the heart of it.
06:27And, and also, too, I will say that it feels like it's the next step in what dancing, a dance
06:33competition, you know, needs, especially from America, where 10 years ago, like, America's
06:37been educated in dance the past 10 years.
06:40And so now this is, like, the next level where we're, where we're able to show these types
06:44of dances from other, you know, countries and groups and duets and trios, and they can
06:50appreciate it.
06:51Whereas maybe six, seven years ago, 10 years ago, they might not have known, you know what
06:56I mean?
06:56Or, or appreciate it as much.
06:58But, you know, I think it, it was just, it was the right time.
07:01Yeah.
07:01But, yeah.
07:02Now, one thing about World of Dance that was kind of different than other shows is America
07:06didn't vote.
07:06You guys decided.
07:08Mm-hmm.
07:08Now, season two, is America gonna have a say?
07:11I don't know.
07:12I, I...
07:12You must know.
07:13I, I don't know yet.
07:14You don't know.
07:14I honestly don't know yet.
07:15I, I personally am an advocate for it.
07:18Okay.
07:18I hope, I hope they are.
07:19At least towards, at least towards the end, you know, maybe like a fourth judge.
07:23Yeah.
07:23You know, um, I just feel like it would be...
07:26It was also a cool dynamic, though, having the judge, but having you guys judge.
07:30Yeah, yeah.
07:31Yeah.
07:31But I will say there was a few results that, you know, I wasn't for, and so I was, I
07:37went
07:38home, like, but that's why we have three judges, because we have three different opinions, which
07:41is great.
07:42But there was some times when I, I, you know, went home with my tail between my legs because
07:46I was upset about the result, and that was a terrible feeling.
07:50I was like, I almost, I almost felt like I had lost.
07:54Yeah.
07:54You know what I mean?
07:55Or I had gone home on some of those, on some occasions, and it was tough.
07:59It was a hard thing, and also that's a lot of pressure.
08:02You don't realize when you have a million dollars really in your hand to give, you know,
08:07this isn't just like a trophy.
08:08This isn't just bragging rights.
08:09This is a million dollars.
08:10So it was, uh, it's, it's a lot of pressure, for sure.
08:14What kind of, do you want to see, I guess, if any changes in season two?
08:18Is there anything you want to see different?
08:19Definitely.
08:19Yeah, yeah.
08:20Will it be a live event, or?
08:22Who, I don't, I don't know yet.
08:24I don't know.
08:25But I will say that the episodes, the plan right now is that they're going to be longer
08:29episodes.
08:30It's going to be at a different time slot, you know, at eight o'clock, I think, instead
08:35of ten, which is great.
08:37And I think we're going to have, because we're going to have more time and more episodes
08:40and more, just longer episodes, we're going to have more time to do things.
08:44So for me, I, I, I'm encouraging, you know, some performances from the judges.
08:49Well, that's what I remember, because there was none in season one.
08:51And also season one, if you think about it, it's really just like a proof of concept.
08:55Of course.
08:55Like, is this going to work?
08:56Like, this is brand new.
08:58What is this show?
08:59Um, we're figuring it out.
09:01But really, to be honest with you, we figured it out pretty early on, because it felt natural.
09:06It felt, it felt effortless.
09:08It felt natural.
09:09And we all were like, this feels good.
09:11And, um, but I am, I am definitely like texting, you know, Jennifer and Jenna and Neo
09:16and stuff.
09:17I was like, hey, like, I got some ideas.
09:19I think we should definitely have some fun.
09:21And I'm sure they're all game for it too, right?
09:23I think so.
09:23I think, you know, I think when you have more time, you have more time to have some fun.
09:27And that's what I did with Dancing with the Stars.
09:28You know, I came to the producers and I had ideas and thoughts and, you know, with these performances,
09:33for instance, you know.
09:34And I come to them and I pitch it and, you know, they end up doing pretty well sometimes,
09:43you know.
09:43And in this case, you know, a few Emmy nominations was fantastic.
09:47And so I would love to be able to do the same for and with World of Dance.
09:50Now, with your commitment to World of Dance, you obviously, Dance with the Stars you can't go back to?
09:55Sure.
09:56Right?
09:56Yeah, yeah.
09:57I mean, you know, it's one of those things where I'll always be a positive advocate and a positive ambassador
10:02for Dance with the Stars.
10:03I love the show.
10:03It's an amazing show.
10:05It's my family.
10:07But right now, you know, I'm, you know, focusing on World of Dance.
10:10But you never know.
10:12You never know.
10:13I might pop my head up.
10:14You never know.
10:15See, last year when I interviewed you about your Emmy nominee, you weren't supposed to be on that season of
10:20Dance with the Stars.
10:20And then you showed up and didn't tell me.
10:22I know.
10:23Yeah, you just never know what happens.
10:25Like, it's just things just happen.
10:26And I love, like for me personally, if I could, I would be part of every show simultaneously that has
10:35to do with, you know, dancing or performing.
10:37But right now, I'm in the process and in the place of, you know, creating new types of content, so.
10:45Now, one thing a lot of your fans have talked about recently is Julianne's wedding.
10:49How was that?
10:50Was there a dance off?
10:52Yeah.
10:53Yeah.
10:53Oh, it was incredible.
10:54It was insane dancing and nonstop.
10:57And it just was, it was the most magical thing on the, it was insane.
11:01It was like the fireworks.
11:04That's awesome.
11:04The dancing.
11:06The James Bond wooden Stancraft boats, you know.
11:10It was, it really was perfect.
11:12It really was.
11:13So much so that I just, I was like, great.
11:16Like, now, like how am I going to compare to that?
11:18No pressure.
11:18How am I going to compare to that?
11:19I'm going to, eloping in Vegas.
11:20There's no way of competing with that.
11:22I guess that's what we're going to do.
11:23So we're going to play a game that we play here.
11:25It's called first, last, best, worst.
11:28Okay.
11:28So I ask you serious questions based on first, last, best, and worst.
11:32First.
11:33Got it.
11:34You'll get it once we start playing.
11:35Got it.
11:35I'm ready.
11:36First, first, last, best, worst?
11:38Yes.
11:39First, last, best, worst.
11:40Got it, got it.
11:41Okay.
11:41So what's the first job that you did that you thought, I've made it?
11:47That I thought I made it?
11:49My first one I would say would be Footloose, the musical in London, in the West End.
11:54And it was my, I was a lead role.
11:56I was the Kevin Bacon character.
11:57I was in the West End, which is like the Broadway, you know, of England.
12:01And I was like on a billboard.
12:05And yeah, it was cool, man.
12:06I got good reviews and stuff.
12:07It's so much so that I tried to get into like a nightclub one night, and I was like,
12:10look at the billboard.
12:11I was like, hey, look.
12:12And I was like, did the pose, and the guy was like, get out.
12:15It didn't work?
12:15No, it did not.
12:16And then I never did that ever again.
12:18I've never in my life tried to pull a, hey, so I'm on that.
12:22Never, ever since, never done that.
12:24But now you just get right in, right?
12:28Sometimes.
12:29Maybe not.
12:29I don't know.
12:29Sometimes, but I definitely don't do it.
12:31Hey, you know that, that guy?
12:32Oh, that's me.
12:33Definitely did that.
12:34What's the, I guess, what's the best story you have from the set of World of Dance?
12:38Best story?
12:39Yeah.
12:40I don't know if I think.
12:41I think it's the funniest.
12:42Crazy stories.
12:43Behind the scenes.
12:44I'll just say that, I've said this many times, mainly because I just couldn't believe
12:48it, but Jennifer, man, she's just, you just, she's a unicorn.
12:53You know, she's like Benjamin Button.
12:55She ages backwards.
12:57And so I just imagined her eating these, like, you know, pearls of, I don't know, or something.
13:06And she's just rocking, like, ham sandwich and, you know, minestrone soup.
13:10And chips.
13:10I remember I interviewed Jenna, and Jenna was, like, telling Jennifer how busy she was.
13:15Yeah.
13:15And then Jennifer was like, listen, I have five shows, I'm doing this, you can do it.
13:19Yeah.
13:20She did it.
13:20She's a rock star.
13:21She really is.
13:22She's a rock star.
13:23That's the reason why she is who she is.
13:24But that surprised me.
13:25I was like, okay, alright.
13:26No magical food that's making you age backwards.
13:29Yeah.
13:29It's just standard, you know, Ralph's.
13:36If you want to look like Jennifer Lopez, go to Ralph's.
13:38Go to Ralph's.
13:39It's a nice plug.
13:40Good job.
13:41By the way, she's like, I have no affiliation with Ralph's.
13:47When's the last time you were recognized in public?
13:50Recognized in public?
13:53Yesterday.
13:54Yeah.
13:55Yeah.
13:56Yeah.
13:56Where was I?
13:58Do you like getting recognized?
13:59Actually, I was in Yosemite.
14:01I was in Yosemite National Park.
14:02Oh, cool.
14:02And I just go hiking, and people, you know, up in the mountains, or the cliffs and the waterfalls,
14:07and, you know, yeah, a lot of people come up.
14:10Yeah.
14:10Because it's like families.
14:11Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course.
14:11It's the right, you know, it's the people who watch the show.
14:13I mean, do you like getting recognized and, like, interacting with fans?
14:16Yeah, absolutely.
14:17Absolutely, absolutely.
14:17I think there's a time when I can understand why people get, like, annoyed by it, or whatever,
14:23and set up, but it's really your choice.
14:26You know what I mean?
14:26It's your decision to embrace it, and I certainly embrace it because I'm so thankful.
14:32You know, it's just such a privilege and pleasure to be able to entertain.
14:38Because that's what we're doing.
14:39You know, we're here to serve.
14:41You know, we're here, I'm choreographing and I'm creating these pieces ultimately to entertain,
14:46which is as a form of service.
14:48You know, to entertain people, to make them feel better, to make them escape somewhere.
14:52So if I'm serving other people when I meet them, I just want to continue serving them in some way.
14:57Last one.
14:58What was the worst or hardest elimination to watch on world events for you?
15:04The hardest one?
15:05I think Keone Amari.
15:06Okay.
15:07That was probably my hardest one.
15:09Kinja's was pretty tough as well.
15:11But I think Keone Amari, mainly because they are the kindest, sweetest people in the world.
15:19And also, they're just so creative.
15:21Like, I actually, I look at them and I'm like, wow.
15:22Like, how intelligent the choreography is.
15:25Speaking of Emmys, I feel confident.
15:29And I could, I mean, I could be wrong.
15:30But I said it.
15:31They didn't show it on the television.
15:33But I had said that these are, some of their routines were definitely, definitely Emmy-worthy routines.
15:38But it was, it couldn't be considered because of the time.
15:40Yeah, yeah.
15:40Next year it will be considered.
15:41So I'm hoping to see, I'm hoping to see, you know, World of Dance and these dancers and choreographers be
15:48nominated next year.
15:49Because I believe that it's, it's warranted for sure for some of those routines.
15:53Now, the twins being the winner of season one, the winners of season one.
15:57Do you think they're a good representation of what the show is?
16:00Yeah, I do.
16:01I think that, you know, listen, the twins are, you know, sort of iconic in the dance world.
16:10They are great.
16:11I think they're a great representation of it because they're so unique and they've developed their own style, their own
16:17thing.
16:19And also they've been grinding, you know, so many years, so hard for such a long time.
16:25So I think that, you know, with that said, I think, you know, it is warranted.
16:32But, you know, I slightly went a different way.
16:35Yeah.
16:35But I also feel good about the result at the same time.
16:38So I think it, for me, I'm, I could have been either way about it.
16:42Now, would you want them back for season two and, like, doing a dance with you and the judges or?
16:47Um, I don't know. Who knows? I don't know.
16:49To be honest with you.
16:49I just put that in my head. I think that's a good idea.
16:50But to be honest with you, I'm actually looking, I'm, I'm, I'm kind of recruiting right now.
16:54Oh, you know, I'm, I'm actively.
16:57Yeah, I know I am. I'm, I'm actively calling out people, you know, from the UK and from my friends
17:03from Italy.
17:04And, you know, dancers that I know of who are the top of the game to come out and compete.
17:09Because, you know, for me, it's, it's about, it's, the show is only as good as the talent.
17:15It's only as good as the performers.
17:16Um, and so I want the best of the best.
17:19And I know that there's some people out there that we haven't even.
17:21And, you know.
17:21You want that global reach.
17:22Yeah, absolutely.
17:24So I'm reaching out and I'm, and I'm actively doing it.
17:26And it's, and what I love about the show too, is that the judges, we don't have to pretend like
17:31we haven't seen some of these dancers.
17:32Yeah, yeah.
17:32We don't like, oh, we saw them on YouTube, but we can't talk about it.
17:35Like, no, no, no.
17:36We're very transparent, very open about it, but it doesn't matter because once you hit that stage, it's an even
17:41playing field.
17:42And anything can happen as we saw with Jabbawockeez, which was a huge controversy and, you know, people, there's an
17:48uproar.
17:49I mean, my phone was blowing up and I was like, ah.
17:52Um, but anything can happen, you know.
17:54So, yeah.
17:55Now, how do they audition or like what's the process like?
17:57Is it, is that okay?
17:59Yeah, yeah.
17:59You just, you just gotta go.
18:00There's a website, you can go to World of Dance and you can, you can submit your routines.
18:04Um, also, honestly, just, I mean, honestly, just reach out.
18:09Yeah.
18:09And, and to, to, you know, either just anybody and we'll put you in the right, you know, contact with
18:16who you need to do the casting, essentially.
18:18I want to apply.
18:18But I'm, yes, you apply, brother.
18:20But I'm excited because the first season is always interesting because it's, nobody knows what the show is.
18:25They're just like, oh, I don't know.
18:27And now I think now what people know what it is, the, the stage, and now knowing that the second
18:31season is going to be bigger.
18:32Yeah.
18:33It's going to be, you know, longer episodes.
18:36I think that's going to be very encouraging to the dance community.
18:39And what's so, what I love about the success of World of Dance is that it is a, it's a
18:43win for dance.
18:44Yeah.
18:44It's a huge success for dance and especially for these groups.
18:47And, and, you know, I'm, I'm looking, I'm looking forward to seeing some of the acts back.
18:51You know, I think sometimes, I'm gonna be honest with you, sometimes when they get, like, knocked out.
18:56Yeah.
18:57You get a little booty hurt, you get a little bit, your ego knocked.
19:00And there's that sense of like, oh, I'm not doing this show or I'm not coming back.
19:04But once it gets closer, they're like, okay, I'm coming back.
19:07You know, I'm, I'm ready to go for round two.
19:09It's another chance.
19:10Well, see, for me as a competitor, I've competed my whole life.
19:14And I've lost many of the time when I feel like I, I should have won.
19:18And I've won when I should, didn't think I should have won.
19:21Um, and it's, it's about re-strategizing.
19:25It's about a different approach.
19:27And, and as long, when you, when you have those tools, I think coming back a second time is, is,
19:31is an awesome idea.
19:33Let's come back a second time.
19:34Yeah.
19:34What do you want to say fans?
19:35And you know who I'm talking about.
19:36Yeah.
19:36I'm talking to you.
19:37What do you want to say to fans before we go?
19:39Um, I just want to say thank you guys for watching.
19:42Uh, I'm so thankful and so appreciative for, for just everything.
19:45I really am.
19:46Um, it's been such an incredible year already with, you know, move live on tour.
19:50Yeah.
19:51And, uh, world of dance.
19:53Um, and now being nominated for an Emmy, I, I, I truly feel grateful.
19:56The ninth one.
19:56Just, uh.
19:57Yeah.
19:58I just want to say thank you all to, to people who've inspired me, who have helped me.
20:02Um, who are part of the process.
20:04And it's, I definitely could not do anything by myself.
20:07It is, definitely takes a village.
20:09So I just want to say thank you to everybody that's in my circle and who has helped me, you
20:13know, make my dreams come true.
20:14Um, and I will continue sharing, continue, um, serving in any way I can as long as you'll have me.
20:20So thank you.
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