Derek Hough facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Derek Hough
Hough in 2018
Born	Derek Bruce Hough (1985-05-17) May 17, 1985 (age 40) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Education	Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation	Dancer choreographer actor singer television judge
Years active	2001–present
Spouse(s)	Hayley Erbert ​ (m. 2023)​
Relatives	Julianne Hough (sister)
Awards	Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography: Dancing with the Stars (2013, 2015, 2021, 2023)

Derek Bruce Hough (born May 17, 1985) is a famous American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is best known for being a professional dancer on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. From 2007 to 2016, he won the competition a record-breaking six times with different celebrity partners.

Derek has also won four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography for his amazing dance routines. Later, he became a judge on Dancing with the Stars, starting with its 29th season. Besides dancing, Derek has acted in plays, movies, and TV shows. He was also a judge on the NBC dance show World of Dance from 2017 to 2020.

Early Life and Dance Training

Hough and his sister Julianne at the 2014 Kaleidoscope Ball

Derek Hough grew up in Sandy, Utah, with his four sisters. His family loved to dance, and his parents even met on a ballroom dancing team in college. His sister, Julianne Hough, is also a well-known dancer and performer.

When Derek was 12, his parents sent him to London to live and train with famous dance coaches, Corky and Shirley Ballas. His sister Julianne joined him a few months later. Derek stayed in London for ten years, learning many types of dance like jazz, ballet, and tap at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. He also learned to sing and act. Derek can play several instruments, including the piano, guitar, drums, and bass.

Dance Career Highlights

Competitive Dancing and Choreography

Derek Hough was a very successful competitive dancer. He won the IDSF World Latin Under-21 Championship in 2002. He also won the Blackpool Under-21 Latin title in 2003 with his partner Aneta Piotrowska.

He has been nominated for many Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography. An Emmy is a special award for excellence in television. Derek won this award four times for his choreography on Dancing with the Stars, including in 2013, 2015, 2021, and 2023.

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

In 2013, Derek worked with American ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White. He helped them create a dance for their 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics program. Davis and White won the gold medal with this routine, making Olympic history for the United States.

Move Live On Tour

In 2014, Derek and his sister Julianne started a dance and music tour called "Move Live on Tour." They performed in over 40 cities across the U.S. and Canada. The tour was so popular that they did another one in 2015, performing in even bigger venues.

They also created "Move Interactive" events, which were free fitness pop-ups. These events included workouts, runs, and dance fitness classes, aiming to bring health and community together. In 2017, they launched a new tour called MOVE BEYOND Live on Tour.

Dancing with the Stars Journey

Derek Hough first appeared on Dancing with the Stars as a guest instructor in season four. He officially joined as a professional dancer in season five. He quickly became known for his incredible talent and creativity.

He won the Mirror Ball trophy a record six times with different celebrity partners:

• Brooke Burke in season seven (2008)
• Nicole Scherzinger in season ten (2010)
• Jennifer Grey in season eleven (2010)
• Kellie Pickler in season sixteen (2013)
• Amber Riley in season seventeen (2013)
• Bindi Irwin in season twenty-one (2015)

After many successful seasons as a pro dancer, Derek became a judge on Dancing with the Stars in 2020. He continues to share his dance knowledge and experience with new contestants.

Celebrity Partners

World of Dance

In 2017, Derek became a judge on another popular dance competition show called World of Dance on NBC. He judged alongside famous artists Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo. The show was very successful and ran for four seasons.

Acting and Other Projects

Theater

Derek has performed in several theater productions. He played the main role of Ren in Footloose: The Musical in London's West End in 2006. He also performed in Burn the Floor on Broadway in 2010. In 2015, he appeared in the New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.

Acting

Derek has had small roles in movies like Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and Rock of Ages (2012). He starred in the dance film Make Your Move, which came out in 2014.

On TV, he had a recurring role as Noah West in the musical-drama series Nashville. In 2016, he played Corny Collins in NBC's live musical TV production of Hairspray Live!.

Other Media

Derek is also a talented musician. He was a founding member of the Ballas Hough Band, where he sang and played guitar. He has also directed music videos, including one for his friend Mark Ballas.

In 2014, Derek released his first book, Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion, which became a bestseller. He also appeared in a four-episode HGTV show called Mark & Derek's Excellent Flip, where he and Mark Ballas renovated a house. In 2016, he danced and choreographed in Lindsey Stirling's music video for "The Arena."

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Theater

Awards and Honors

Derek Hough has won many awards for his dancing and choreography. He is a four-time Emmy winner for Outstanding Choreography, which is a big award in television. He has received 14 Emmy nominations in total for his work on Dancing with the Stars.

In 2014, Derek and his sister Julianne received the Kaleidoscope Award from Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. This award honors people in entertainment who bring joy to children through their work. Also in 2014, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) gave Derek the Inspiration Award for being a positive role model.

See also

In Spanish: Derek Hough para niños