Derek Hough Tells Maria Menounos ''You Are a Bit of a Looker'' in Open Letter

Yesterday, one week before the March 19 premiere of Dancing With the Stars Season 14, three-time winner Derek Hough posted a sweet open letter to his new celeb partner, Maria Menounos. It's like he's sending her off to college with his own version of Oh, the Places You'll Go!

"When I first heard you were going to be my partner, I was completely stoked," Derek wrote on the Huffington Post. "You have incredible energy and are full of life. Some may even say you are a bit of a looker. I hadn't noticed. (Just kidding!)"

He said these first weeks of rehearsals are where the majority of the transformation happens. “It’s like going from Bambi on ice to actually dancing full routines with all the bells and whistles." He also shared a deceptively simple key to success: "I think the way to the trophy is to establish a good partnership from the beginning.”

Since viewers don’t get to see these crucial early practice sessions, Derek said he’ll share behind-the-scenes videos on his (plug alert!) website, DerekHough.com. "We will show them where the real magic happens: with the embarrassing falls and your hilarious laugh. Where does that thing come from?"

Derek shared another magical Disney analogy when anticipating Maria's reaction after they dance on Monday's premiere. "It's going to be tough. Your muscles will ache, you will get plenty of bumps and bruises, and you may even cry (this actually sounds really awful). But I can't tell you how excited I am to see your face when the music stops and we have completed our first official dance together. I envision it looking like a 10-year-old who was just told they're going to Disneyland in the morning: simply ecstatic."

Aww! Read Derek's full post for the whole letter.

Dancing With the Stars Season 14 premieres Monday, March 19 at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.

Source: Huffington Post

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