Amber Riley Not Ready To Be Called The Dancing Frontrunner

Amber Riley is the first frontrunner to emerge during “Dancing with the Stars” Season 17, but she’s not ready to entertain the idea that she might win at this early stage.

“It’s way too early to say [that],” she told Access Hollywood during rehearsals with her professional partner, Derek Hough on Wednesday.

“We had a really great number, and [Derek] was saying earlier like, it was just a good song, the choreography was right… He did a good job choreographing for me. It was sassy. It was just a great formula and so it was a good dance, and I was really proud of it when we [did it]. But it’s way too early to say who’s gonna win. It’s way too early,” she added.

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Derek warned that the pair might not be able to replicate the energy, excitement and stunning moves each time they hit the “DWTS” ballroom.

“It doesn’t mean it’s gonna be like that every week. And sometimes, it’s out of your hands. Sometimes, you… get a song that you just don’t click with or something, you know what I mean? So it’s one of those where it’s too early to tell because everybody else was fantastic.”

Asked if the moves come easy because of the numbers she learned for “Glee,” Amber said no, but she did pick up a lot from the Fox show.

“It’s totally different, but one thing ‘Glee’ has taught me is focus,” she said. “And so when I come here I come to work and I come to focus and give it 100 percent, because from that show I’ve learned you don’t have a lot of time. So the time constriction that we have this season doesn’t bother me. I don’t really feel it because I’m used to coming in the morning sometimes and having to learn a number. I mean it [wasn’t] as difficult as what I’m doing now, but I’m just used to the focus. So I think it’s really prepared me to come in and focus and right away put the performance in it, see how it’s gonna look.”

“Dancing” continues Monday at 8/7c on ABC.

Jolie Lash

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