Amy Purdy Talks 'DWTS' Rehearsals with Derek Hough

Amy Purdy can’t stop smiling as she heads inside the Dancing with the Stars studio on Tuesday afternoon (April 22) in Los Angeles.

The 34-year-old athlete was soon followed by her pro partner Derek Hough.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Amy Purdy

“The dance begins to take life on Tuesdays, that’s when we get the music,” Amy recently told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s the most creative, private time we have all week to think through what we want to do. It’s just us listening to the music and finding inspiration, trying new moves. Derek basically says ” try this” and we try a move and if we like it we know we will put it somewhere. Derek doesn’t come in with a set dance that he teaches me, we build it together and sometimes we don’t even know the beginning or end until Fridays.”

Amy continued, “Sometimes depending on the difficulty we won’t even put it to music until Fridays. Sometimes we even change moves at the last minute. Derek is such a brilliant choreographer that I’m sure there are countless possibilities running through his head all the time. So while the dance really begins to take shape on Tuesdays it often takes a couple of days before we have finalized a routine, then by Saturday and Sunday we’re trying to fine tune it and come Monday it’s showtime!”

FYI: Amy is carrying Element Eden‘s Anchor bag.

15+ pics inside…