The Dance Of Being A Judge

After decades of competing, Derek Hough experiences the joys and challenges of giving critiques on NBC’s new World of Dance

- Derek Hough

WITH 20 YEARS of dancing under his belt—as well as six Dancing With the Stars victories and two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography— Derek Hough is taking on a new challenge: He’s a judge, alongside Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo, on NBC’s new reality series World of Dance. In the show, three divisions of dancers—Juniors (competitors under 18), Uppers (acts 18 and older with one to four performers) and Teams (groups with five or more, all 18 and older)—compete among themselves until the final round, when one winner from each division faces off for the grand prize of $1 million. Hough shares the highs and lows of being on the other side of the competition.