He’s back! Derek Hough is returning to Dancing With the Stars and partner Nastia Liukin after sitting out a week due to an injury, Us Weekly has exclusively learned. The DWTS pro was sidelined following a foot injury while rehearsing for the 10th anniversary special, and sat out of last week’s competition to recover.
But Hough, 29, is back to work his magic with Liukin, 25, on the dance floor once again — and so is the Olympic gold medalist’s substitute partner, Sasha Farber.
The three will team up for a trio dance, and Us Weekly has an exclusive sneak peek at their rehearsal for the number.
“For us it was kind of a no-brainer to have Sasha in our dance. Derek’s still not at a place where he can be dancing full out,” Liukin says in the clip.
Hough adds, “The song we have is really good because it has different dynamics. So for the slow parts, she can dance with me. I’m a little bit slower these days. And then for the fast parts, she can dance with Sasha.”
Watch the rehearsal above, and tune in for Hough’s triumphant return to the DWTS ballroom at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
