Derek Hough
It is truly a family affair among some of the professional dancers this year on ‘Dancing with the Stars.” Derek Hough is partnered with actress Jennie Garth. His little sister, Julianne, will be dancing with Helio Castroneves, two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. His best friend, Mark Ballas, will be dancing with Sabrina Bryan from Disney’s Cheetah Girls.
Derek was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1985. Derek was spotted by Corky and Shirley Ballas while they were teaching in the U.S. At the age of 12, he moved to London to live with the Ballas family so he could better cultivate his passion for Latin American dance. He attended the Italia Conti Academy of Dramatic Arts associate school along with Mark. Derek eventually ended up teaching there as well.
Derek has danced professionally with Aneta Piotrowska, a professional dancer who has appeared on “Dancing with the Stars Poland.” The two won the World Latin American Championship. He has been awarded the LA Underground Outstanding Dancer of the Year award as well as the New York Dance Alliance Outstanding Dancer award.
Just like Mark, Derek is not only interested in dance, but also music and theatre as well. He played the role of Ren McCormack in Footloose the Musical on both the UK Tour and at the West-End Novello Theatre. He has also played the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Millfield Theatre and Choo-Choo in Top Cat the Musical workshop. He was the lead dancer in the Fosse Tribute at the Grosvenor House. He was a dancer in the production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium. He was the lead dancer in a George Michael video, hosted the show “Real Lives,” and appeared in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Derek has worked with “Dancing with the Stars” judge Bruno Tonioli before. He was one of the panelists on the BBS One show “DanceX” which began airing in July 2007.
Derek and Mark formed the band Almost Amy, in which Derek sings and plays guitar. They describe the group’s music as acoustic pop with a blues tone.
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