We want to dance with Derek Hough.
As the 21st season of “Dancing with the Stars” premieres Monday night on ABC, it’s clear that the celebrities who get paired with Hough have the best chance to win the televised dance competition.
Hough and five celebrity partners have won the competition five times, more than any other pro dancer.
Hough won season 17 with “Glee” star Amber Riley, season 16 with country singer Kellie Pickler, season 11 with “Dirty Dancing” star Jennifer Grey, season 10 with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and season 7 with television personality and model Brooke Burke, who later co-hosted the show for several seasons.
Wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin is Hough’s partner for season 21. The 17-year-old is the child of Terri Irwin and the late Steve Irwin, known as the Crocodile Hunter. She appeared on his programs and has hosted her own wildlife television shows. We expect animals to appear in their dances.
Professional dancers Kym Johnson, Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke and Julianne Hough — Derek’s sister — have two wins apiece.
Ballas is the only one of the four still dancing on the show, and this season, he’s paired with “Spy Kids” actress Alexa Penavega.
Julianne Hough is now one of the three judges on the show.