PureDWTS A Challenging Week Of Rehearsals For Derek Hough And Kellie Pickler And More Details
What a breathtaking photo by Adam Taylor for ABC! I don’t think any of us will forget this dance with Derek Hough and Brilynn Rakes for a long time to come!! She talked all about it with Access Hollywood this past week too. In case you didn’t catch it, see Pure Derek Hough. Heidi has more too including new pictures of Derek and Kellie going to rehearsals, interviews, and more. So be sure to take it all in when you can.
Also, Derek has written a new blog for TV Guide. Below he describes what rehearsing for the Fox Trot has been like with Kellie. He also describes how it will go down with the pros joining them….
This week we have the foxtrot. It’s going… OK! I’m not going to lie — it’s been one of those weeks where I’m not liking anything I’m choreographing. It’s one of those things where the creative process is not coming to me. On Wednesday, I was banging my head against the brick wall. Sometimes you just have your off days. It’s choreographer’s block, I guess. I have a lot on my plate this week, so it’s about compartmentalizing and not getting overwhelmed. But I’m excited for the dance. Whenever I beat myself up about the choreography, it’s only because I want to arrive at the right stuff, so I think it will turn out good.
It’s also a little tricky for us because this is Kellie’s first ballroom dance, so I feel a little bit behind. I had to teach her the frame and the technique. We couldn’t just jump into the choreography, which is kind of frustrating, but she’s doing well. It’s completely different from any of the dances we’ve done, so it’s just a matter of her getting used to it. We’re also missing the entire day of Saturday. She has a show in Alabama and I can’t go with her because I’m choreographing a routine for the results show that is very elaborate. There’s a lot going on this week, but they’re good problems!
Henry and Anna are dancing with us. I know some people are confused by the side-by-side dancing, so here’s how it’s going down: Henry and Anna will dance for 30 seconds, then Kellie and and I come in and we all dance together for 15 seconds, and then Kellie and I dance the rest of the routine. It’s more about couples dancing side-by-side than the celebrity and another pro. It’s something interesting to do to keep the show fresh. I’m curious to see how it all pans out.
I’m really going to miss Lisa. She’s such a wonderful woman and a great personality. I think she did great. The show is so incredibly physically demanding. We don’t get a single day off. Not having a day off can be relentless. I think she exceeded expectations from the beginning. And to go out and dance like that after being ill is a testament to her fight.
And isn’t this an interesting part of his blog too? We’ve been saying for so long that just because someone is in the last three standing, does it mean that’s how the voting computes for them. The producers pick some couples to be at the bottom for pure drama. I wonder again too if he hasn’t been reading us?
Someone pointed out to me that Lindsay, Gleb and Sharna, our new pros, were part of the last three couples standing for the second time this season. I didn’t even realize that! Obviously two of them were in the bottom two both times, but that is interesting. The producers have a way of planning out the results show and who to declare safe when. I have no idea how they decide it, but I think sometimes leaving a couple in jeopardy until later in the show helps them. Some casual fans might not be paying attention that closely and think that the couple is in the bottom three when in fact that’s not the bottom three, so it might spur them on to vote the next week. Still, I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be safe first than wait that long!
Let’s see if our Miss Heidi has something to add….
Heidi: Well, I’m intrigued – not by what Derek said, but what Henry revealed about his and Anna’s dance with Derek and Kellie to a paparazzi. He said that it’s not going to be what might be expected, that they’ve done it a bit differently. Since this is Derek we’re talking about, I can’t imagine anyone is surprised. 🙂 I’m envisioning Derek and Kellie entering the dance, but Kellie dancing with Henry and Anna with Derek for the 15 seconds. 🙂 Wouldn’t that be a nice little finger to TPTB!! 🙂 I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Another great blog from Derek!
That photo of Brilynn and Derek is STUNNING!
I’m hoping he & Kellie are able to pull out a great Foxtrot next week. Like Derek said, this is their 1st ballroom routine and missing a full day of practice can be tough. IMO, Kellie has great potential and the Foxtrot should be one of her stronger routines seeing her gorgeous lines, elegance and posture. Hopefully, they practiced like crazy before she left.-lol
Will be interesting to see how Anna & Henry are incorporated in their routine. Both are very elegant performers as well.
Good luck to them all!
Yes, that picture is just beautiful as was the whole experience, for everyone. It is wonderful to hear once in a while when a pro dancer is genuinely affected by a dance, and I don’t mean some of the fake things that are said on the show about the infamous chemistry. You get the feeling more from Derek that sometimes he is touched by a song or really into the Latin dances and having fun. LOVE his blogs, so informative. So I guess, PH, if he deliberately does the dance differently than they were told, they will get an automatic deduction from the judges ?
No idea if he will be penalized for doing the dance differently. I guess that depends on if they made an actual rule about how it had to be done. I find that doubtful.
Wow, another fantastic blog from Derek. I love how he mentions various things about the show that caught his attention instead of talking only about Kellie and what they’re doing. He’s interested in everything that happens on the show.
And, dang, he got me tearing up with this line (in response to Kellie being bummed about her dancing): …perfection lies in the feeling that it gives you. I said, “How do you feel right now?” And she said, “I feel amazing that I got to do that with my husband.” I said, “There you go. Then it was perfect.”
PH, I hope you’re on the right track with the idea that they might swap partners and have Kellie do the 15 second side-by-side with Henry while Derek dances with Anna. That would be a very neat twist. Of course, Len will accuse them of breaking the rules although my guess is it isn’t IN whatever rules TPTB put together because it would never occur to them that anyone would try something like that.
That would be a very interesting twist to swap pros in mid dance. Here’s a crazy thought: what would happen if Maks worked with Kellie and Derek, instead of Zendaya and Val? We know he can act like a team player on his brothers team. And if he can manage to ACT like a team player on his ex-fiance’s team, that surely won’t further hurt his already damaged image. But it really would be fascinating to see him work side by side with the most popular and most talented male pro on the show, and see them SHARE and help coach the SAME celeb for a dance.
Great blog by Derek. He seems to be such a loving and giving type of person. Wonder if he was born on a Friday? That comes from a old nursery rhyme and not sure if people still say it, but was used to help a child remember the days of the week. Friday’s child is loving and giving and since my son was born on a Friday and has that same type of personality just curious. lol Someone who is more concerned about others and not wrapped up in himself as some people can be. I have always loved Derek and his beautiful choreography. For whatever reason he came back to the show this season I am glad he did for me as a viewer. I may be selfish, but I know I would really miss Derek. I can’t say that about everyone.
A perfect example is the dance he choreographed for Brilynn Rakes and the picture above is just breathtaking! Another master piece by Derek that was just stunning and will be one I will always remember.
I can’t imagine Derek having choreography block because he always comes out doing such incredible things. Example being what PH mentioned with Henry’s reveal about this week’s foxtrot and the way they may execute it. I like the way PH envisions it. I didn’t realize this was their first ballroom dance, but I am sure it will be fantastic.
Best of luck to both of them!
Yes Gail, Derek was born on a Friday! He’s just absolutely brilliant! Even though he’s better than the show, it will never be the same without him!