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Derek Hough
, Derek Hough in 2009
Born
(1985-05-17) May 17, 1985 (age 28), Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Occupation
Dancer, choreographer, singer
Years active
2007-present
Derek Hough (pron.: /ˈhʌf/; born May 17, 1985) is an American dancer and choreographer. A world champion in Latin American Dance, Hough has appeared since September 2007 (seasons 5-11 and seasons 13-16) on the hit U.S. television series Dancing with the Stars, where he is currently a three-time champion (with Brooke Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jennifer Grey), two-time finalist (with Ricki Lake and Shawn Johnson), three-time semi-finalist (with Jennie Garth, Joanna Krupa, and Maria Menounos), and a quarter-finalist (with Lil' Kim). Hough has earned three Creative Arts Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography (2009 and 2010 ) for his work on the show, including a shared nomination with Chelsie Hightower for the "Paso Doble/Malagueña" dance that they choreographed and performed for season ten.
Prior to joining Dancing with the Stars, Hough starred as Ren in the 2006 original cast production of Footloose: The Musical at the Novelo Theatre in London's West End, as well as on the 2006 U.K. national tour. Hough's West End performance earned him a nomination as The Stuart Phillips London Newcomer of the Year in the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards. Hough made his Broadway debut on January 8, 2010, starring with Kym Johnson and Mary Murphy in Burn the Floor for the final four performances of the show's Broadway run. A founding member of the Ballas Hough Band (formerly Almost Amy), Hough shares lead vocals, plays guitar and has several songwriting credits on the band's self-titled debut CD, released by Hollywood Records in March 2009.
Early life edit:
Hough grew up the fourth of five children in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. He has four sisters, Sharee, Marabeth, Katherine who are older and Julianne, who is younger. All four of Hough's grandparents were dancers, and his parents met while on a ballroom dancing team in college, in Idaho.
When Hough was 12 years old, his parents sent him to London to live and study with dance coaches, Corky and Shirley Ballas. Hough's sister Julianne joined him in London several months later. Originally intending to stay for a year, Hough remained in London for ten years. (Julianne returned after five years.) The Ballases helped tutor the two Hough children alongside their own son, Mark Ballas, schooling them at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. They received training in song, theater, gymnastics and many forms of dance, including jazz, ballet and tap. The three children formed their own pop music trio 2B1G ("2 Boys, 1 Girl") and performed at dance competitions in the UK and the U.S., and showcased UK television show.
Dancing edit:
He attended and subsequently taught at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Before this, Hough's theatre work included playing the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Millfield Theatre, and dancing in the company in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.
Hough is a former IDSF World Youth Latin Champion (2002) for Poland with Aneta Piotrowska. He has won the LA Outstanding Dancer of the Year and the New York Dance Alliance Outstanding Dance awards.
Hough is one of Bruno Tonioli's panelists on BBC One's DanceX, the first episode of which aired on July 14, 2007. Hough choreographed and performed in Cheryl Cole's Parachute music video, after being introduced to her by Tonioli.
Dancing with the Stars edit:
Hough made his first appearance on Dancing With The Stars in season four (week 6) as a guest instructor with Julianne and Apolo Anton Ohno. He then joined the cast of professional instructors in season five of Dancing With The Stars and was paired with Jennie Garth. Hough and Garth competed in the semi-finals and were the ninth couple eliminated from the competition.
For season six, Hough was paired with actress Shannon Elizabeth. They were eliminated from the show in week seven.
For season seven, Hough was partnered with model/TV host Brooke Burke. In rehearsal on October 4, 2008, Hough tripped and fell, hitting his head on the floor and momentarily blacked out. He was sent to the hospital, but sustained no injuries. Hough and Burke earned the mirror ball trophy and won season seven.
For season eight, Hough was paired with rapper Lil' Kim. They were eliminated from the show in week nine.
For season nine, Hough was partnered with model Joanna Krupa. They were eliminated during week nine, the semi-finals, on November 17, 2009, finishing fourth.
For season ten, Hough won with partner Nicole Scherzinger, the lead singer from the singing group Pussycat Dolls and former member of Eden's Crush.
For season 11, Hough won with actress Jennifer Grey, known for her film roles on Dirty Dancing and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Hough did not participate in season 12 in order to be a part of the film COBU 3D, but he did return for season 13. For season 13, he was partnered with actress and TV host Ricki Lake, known playing the original Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. Lake scored consistently high the whole season and shockingly ended up in third place.
For season 14, Hough partnered with television personality Maria Menounos. In week seven, the couple surprisingly earned the first 30 of the season and topped the leader board the first time in the season. The couple made it to the semi-finals but were shockingly eliminated after they finished at the top of the leader board. Maria is the second celebrity in Dancing With the Stars history to be eliminated on a night where she came in first place with the judges. The first being Willa Ford in season three.
For season 15, Hough was paired with season eight champion, Shawn Johnson. They were runners-up to Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani.
Hough's current DWTS pro average is 26.99. Joanna Krupa's Argentine Tango and Shawn Johnson's Fusion are not included in his average.
He is the first professional dancer to ever win three Mirror Ball Trophies, and has earned 22 perfect scores of 30s and 127 perfect 10s over the seasons.
On July 27, 2012 Hough announced that season 15 would be his last, calling it his "last hurrah".
Hough then announced on February 22, 2013 that he would be back for season 16, stating on his Twitter account, "Wasn't sure if I was able to do this season because of my other projects, but worked it out so I can do both. #pumped.". He is partnered with country singer and former American Idol contestant, Kellie Pickler.
Season
Partner
Place
5
Jennie Garth
4th
6
Shannon Elizabeth
6th
7
Brooke Burke
1st
8
Lil' Kim
5th
9
Joanna Krupa
4th
10
Nicole Scherzinger
1st
11
Jennifer Grey
1st
12
ZZ ! None
ZZ ! N/A
13
Ricki Lake
3rd
14
Maria Menounos
4th
15
Shawn Johnson
2nd
16
Kellie Pickler
last
Performance history edit:
Season 5: celebrity partner Jennie Garth; average: 25.7; placed: 4th
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Cha-cha-cha/"Uptown Girl"
7
7
7
Safe
2
Quickstep/"Suddenly I See"
7
7
7
Safe
3
Tango/"Cite Tango"
9
8
9
Safe
4
Paso Doble/"Because We Can"
8
10
9
Safe
5
Samba/"Cosmic Girl"
8
9
8
Safe
6
Mambo/"Mambo Baby", Rock N' Roll/"Rockin' Robin"
9,
No
9,
scores
9,
given
Safe
7
Viennese Waltz/"Runaway", Rumba/ "Fallen"
8,
9
8,
9
9,
10
Last to be called safe
8
Jive/"It Takes Two", Foxtrot/ "I've Got You Under My Skin"
8,
9
8,
9
8,
8
Last to be called safe
9, Semi-finals
Tango/"The Take Over, The Breaks Over", Cha-cha-cha/"Mustang Sally"
9,
10
10,
10
9,
10
Eliminated
Season 6: celebrity partner: Shannon Elizabeth; average: 24.5; placed: 6th
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Cha-cha-cha/"Shut Up and Drive"
7
7
7
N/A
2
Quickstep/"Swing with Me"
8
8
8
Safe
3
Jive/"Goody Two-Shoes"
8
8
8
Safe
4
Viennese Waltz/"Keep Holding On"
9
10
9
Safe
5
Samba/"Pon de Replay"
8
8
7
Safe
6
Rumba/ "True Colors",
Country Western/"Cotton-Eyed Joe
8,
No
8,
scores
8,
given
Safe
7
Tango/"Tanguedia III", Mambo/ "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That"
9,
8
9,
8
9,
8
Eliminated
Season 7: celebrity partner: Brooke Burke; average: 27.1; placed: 1st
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1, Night 1
Cha-cha-cha/"Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)"
7
8
8
Safe
1, Night 2
Quickstep/"Lover, Come Back to Me"
9
8
9
Safe
2
Paso Doble/"Palladio, First Movement"
8
8
8
Safe
3
Viennese Waltz/"Daughters"
9
10
9
Safe
4
Samba/"Hip Hip Chin Chin"
9
8
9
Safe
5
Jitterbug/"Don't Be Cruel"
10
9
10
Safe
6
Rumba/"No Air",
Old School Hip Hop/"It Takes Two
8,
No
10*,
scores
8,
given
Safe
7
Foxtrot/"Lullaby of Birdland",
Group Paso Doble/ "Rocks"
10,
10
10,
9
10,
10
Safe
8
Tango/"Tango Diabolo", Mambo/ "Cuban Mambo"
10,
9
8,
9
10,
9
Safe
9, Semi-finals
Jive/"The House is Rockin'", Salsa/ "Barbarabatiri"
7,
9
7,
10
7,
9
Safe
10, Finals
Samba/"Blame It On the Boogie", Freestyle/"You're the One That I Want", Viennese Waltz/"Daughters"
9,
10,
10
9,
10,
10
10,
10,
10
Won
(*)Due to Len Goodman's absence in week 6 the 10 was awarded by stand-in guest judge Michael Flatley
Season 8: celebrity partner: Lil' Kim; average: 25.8; placed: 5th
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Cha-cha-cha/"Nasty"
7
7
7
No elimination
2
Quickstep/"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"
8
7
8
Safe
3
Samba/"Remedio P'al Corazon"
8
8
9
Safe
4
Argentine Tango/"Taquito Militar"
9
8
10
Safe
5
Viennese Waltz/"I'll Be"
9
8
9
Safe
6
Jive/"Jailhouse Rock"
10
8
10
Safe
7
Rumba/"Lost Without U"
9
8
9
Safe
8
Paso Doble/"El Gato Montes",
Team Tango/"Womanizer"
9,
9
9,
9
10,
10
Safe
9
Waltz/"When I Need You", Salsa/"Por Arriba, Por Abajo"
8,
9
9,
9
8,
9
Eliminated
Season 9: celebrity partner: Joanna Krupa; average: 25.5; placed: 4th
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Salsa/"Meddle", Foxtrot/"The Best Is Yet to Come"
8
8
8
Safe
10
2
Jive/"What I Like About You"
6
7*
7
Safe
3
Samba/"La Bomba"
7
8
8
Safe
4
Lambada/"Dançando Lambada"
9
8
9
Safe
5
Argentine Tango/"Whatever Lola Wants"**
8
8
8
Safe
6
Waltz/"Be Here To Love Me", Mambo/"Ran Kan Kan"
8
9
9
Safe
10
7
Rumba/"The Look of Love",
Team Tango/"You Give Love a Bad Name"
9,
9
9,
9
9,
10
Safe
8
Quickstep/"Valerie", Paso Doble/"Living on Video"
8,
9
7,
10
8,
10
Safe
9, Semi-finals
Viennese Waltz/"Hallelujah", Cha-cha-cha/"Can't Get You Out of My Head", Salsa/"Lal Luz Del Ritmo"
9,
9,
9
9,
9,
9
9,
9,
9
Eliminated
^* Due to Len Goodman's absence in week two the 7 was awarded by stand-in guest judge Baz Luhrmann., ^** Due to illness Derek Hough was unfortunately unable to perform that night, Joanna Krupa performed this dance and the Group Hustle with stand-in partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Season 10: celebrity partner: Nicole Scherzinger; average: 27.5; placed: 1st
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Viennese Waltz/ "Hold You In My Arms"
9
7
9
No elimination
2
Jive/"SOS"
10
8
10
Safe
3
Quickstep/"Anything Goes"
8
6
9
Safe
4
Rumba/"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
9/8
8/8
8/9
Safe
5
Tango/"Oh, Pretty Woman"
10
9
10
Safe
6
Samba/"María",
Swing Marathon/"In the Mood"
9,
Awarded
7,
10
10,
Points
Safe
7
Waltz/"You Light Up My Life",
Team GaGa/Cha-cha/"Telephone"
9,
9
9,
9
9,
9
Safe
8
Foxtrot/"Haven't Met You Yet", Paso Doble/"Spanish Guitar"
10,
10
9,
10
10,
10
Safe
9, Semi-finals
Argentine Tango/"El Capitalismo Foraneo", Cha-cha-cha/"Kiss"
10,
10
10,
9
10,
10
Safe
10, Finals
Rumba/"The Lady in Red", Freestyle/"A Little Less Conversation", Argentine Tango/"El Capitalismo Foraneo", Jive/"Proud Mary"
9,
9,
Awarded,
10
9,
9,
30,
10
10,
9,
Points,
10
Won
Hough won season 10 of Dancing with the Stars on May 25, 2010
Season 11: celebrity partner: Jennifer Grey; average: 27.2; placed: 1st
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Viennese Waltz/"These Arms of Mine"
8
8
8
Safe
2
Jive/"Shake It"
8
8
8
Safe
3
Samba/"A Little Respect"
8
8
8
Safe
4
Argentine Tango/"La Cumparsita"
9/10
9/9
9/10
Safe
5
Foxtrot/"Love and Marriage"
8
8
9
Safe
6
Paso Doble/"So What", Rock 'n' Roll Marathon/"La Grange"
6,
Awarded
7,
9
7,
points
Safe
7
Tango/"Shut Up",
Team Cha-cha-cha/ "Bust A Move"
10/9,
9
9,
9
9,
9
Safe
8
Quickstep/"Let's Face the Music and Dance", Rumba/"Waiting for a Girl Like You"
9,
10
9,
10
9,
10
Safe
9, Semi-finals
Cha-cha-cha/"Mercy", Waltz/"Way Over Yonder"
10,
10
10,
10
10,
10
Safe
10, Finals
Paso Doble/"Habanera", Freestyle/"Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)", Viennese Waltz/"These Arms of Mine",
Instant Cha-cha-cha/"Raise Your Glass"
10,
10,
10,
9
10,
10,
10,
9
10,
10,
10,
10
Won
Hough and Jennifer Grey hold the most perfect scores in all 15 seasons. They won six perfect 30s. Hough and Grey won season 11 on November 23, 2010.
Season 13: celebrity Partner: Ricki Lake; Average: 26.7; Placed: 3rd
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Viennese Waltz / "This Year's Love"
7
6
7
Safe
2
Jive / "Hey Ya!"
8
7
8
Safe
3
Rumba / "Gravity"
9
9
9
Safe
4
Tango / "Theme from Psycho"
10
9
10
Safe
5
Foxtrot / "Easy Lover"
8
8
8
Safe
6
Quickstep / "Luck Be a Lady",
Group Broadway Dance / "Big Spender" & "Money Money"
10,
No
9,
scores
10,
given
Safe
7
Paso Doble / "Sweet Dreams",
Team Paso Doble / "Bring Me to Life"
9,
9
9,
8
9,
9
Safe
8
Waltz / "You Make Me Feel",
Instant Jive / "Land of a Thousand Dances"
9,
8
9,
8
10,
8
Safe
9, Semi-finals
Samba / "Jump in the Line", Argentine Tango / "Allerdings", Cha-cha-cha relay / "I Like How It Feels"
10,
9,
Awarded
10,
10,
8
10,
10,
Points
Safe
10, Finals
Cha-cha-cha/"Yeah 3x", Freestyle/"Can't Touch It", Tango/Theme from Psycho
9,
9,
Awarded
9,
9,
30
9,
9,
points
Third place
Season 14: celebrity partner: Maria Menounos; average: 26.8; placed: 4th
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Cha-cha-cha/"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"
7
7
7
No elimination
2
Quickstep/"Sexy Sexy"
8
8
9
Safe
3
Rumba/"Material Girl"
9
9
9
Safe
4
Tango/"School's Out"
9
8
9
Safe
5
Salsa/"The Cup of Life"
9
9
9
Safe
6
Foxtrot/"Jimmy Mack", Motown Marathon/"Nowhere to Run"
8,
Awarded
9,
4
9,
points
Safe
7
Paso Doble/"Montagues and Capulets",
Team Tango/"Toccata"
10,
10
10,
8
10,
9
Safe
8
Viennese Waltz/"A Thousand Years",
(Trio Challenge) Samba/"Mama Do the Hump"
10,
9
8,
7
10,
9
Safe
9, Semi-finals
Argentine Tango/"La Yumba", Jive/"Tightrope"
10,
10
10,
9
10,
10
Eliminated
Season 15: celebrity partner: Shawn Johnson; average: 27.9; Placed: 2nd
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Foxtrot/"Good Time"
8
6.5
7.5
Safe
2
Jive/"The Nicest Kids in Town"
8.5
8
8.5
Safe
3
Quickstep/"Hey Pachuco"
9
8
9.5
Safe
4
Mambo/"Paro los Rumberos"
10
9.5
10/10*
Safe
5
Rumba/"My Heart Will Go On",
Group Freestyle/"Call Me Maybe"
9,
9.5
8,
10
10,
10
No elimination
6
Cha-cha-cha/"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", Country/"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" & "I Play Chicken with a Train"
9.5,
No
8.5,
scores
10,
given
Safe
7
Tango & Paso Doble/"Livin' On A Prayer", Swing Marathon/"Do Your Thing"
10,
Awarded
10,
8
10,
points
Dance with Mark Ballas
8
Viennese Waltz/"Angel",
(Trio Challenge) Samba/"Jungle Jazz"
10,
10
9.5,
7
10,
9
Safe
9, Semi-finals
Bhangra "Knight Rider"/"Mundian to Bach Ke", Argentine Tango/"Bad"
10,
9
10,
10
10,
10
Safe
10, Finals
Quickstep/"Hey Pachuco", Freestyle/"Carnival de Paris",
Instant Cha-cha-cha/"Respect
9,
10,
10
8.5,
10,
10
9.5,
10,
10
Runner-up
^* Score from guest judge Paula Abdul ^* During Week seven, Mark Ballas danced with Shawn Johnson in place of Hough, due to Hough having an injury in his neck.
,
Season 16: Celebrity partner: Kellie Pickler; average: 26.8;
Week #
Dance/Song
Judges' score
Result
Inaba
Goodman
Tonioli
1
Cha-cha-cha/"Domino"
7
7
7
No Elimination
2
Jazz/"Lights"
9
8
9
Safe
3
Jive/"Footloose"
8
9
8
Safe
4
Rumba /"Say I Do"
9
8
9
Safe
5
Foxtrot / "It Had to Be You"
9
9
9
Safe
6
Quickstep / "Part-Time Lover",
Team Samba/ "Superstition"
9,
8
10,
9
10,
8
Safe
7
Samba / "Shake Your Bon-Bon"
9
10
10
Safe (Immunity)
8
Viennese Waltz / "Fade Into You", Paso Doble (Trio Challenge) / "Unstoppable"
9,
10
9,
7
10,
10
Safe
9, Semi-finals
Argentine Tango/"Para Te", Flamenco/"The Pirate That Should Not Be"
10,
9
10,
10
10,
9
Safe
10, Finals
/, Freestyle /,
/
TBA
Other edit:
Hough, along with his sister Julianne, was an extra in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US), the film adaptation of British author J. K. Rowling's bestselling novel. He appeared in an uncredited role as a "Hogwarts schoolboy".
On April 25, 2011, Hough made a guest appearance as a dance instructor on Better With You.
Hough played the principal male of Kate Voegele's many boyfriends in the music video for her song "99 Times" from her album A Fine Mess. His character received a heated kiss from Voegele before she then knocked him backwards along with multiple other men in a domino effect.
He also starred in former "Dancing with the stars" partner Lil Kim's music video for her song Download.
Hough was the choreographer and principal dancer in Cheryl Cole's music video for "Parachute" from Cole's debut studio album, 3 Words.
Hough will be starring with BoA in a movie titled Cobu 3D.. The film was later retitled Make Your Move 3D.
Hough, alongside Julianne, will take part on a new series called Blackpool set to air on the channel Starz. The series will revolve around the annual ballroom competitions that take place in Blackpool, England, and its competitors. The Houghs will serve as executive producers and head choreographers.
Source: Wikipedia
Text from this biography licensed under creative commons license
Source: Wikipedia
Text from this biography licensed under creative commons license