Derek Hough
American dancer and choreographer with six Dancing with the Stars wins.
Derek Bruce Hough is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, and television personality. He is best known for his work on the ABC dance competition series *Dancing with the Stars*, where he was a professional dancer from 2007 to 2016. During that time, he won the show a record-breaking six times with his celebrity partners. For his choreography on the series, Hough received 14 Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Choreography, winning the award four times. He later returned to the show as a judge beginning with its 29th season.
Beyond *Dancing with the Stars*, Hough has appeared as a judge on the NBC dance competition series *World of Dance* from 2017 to 2020. Since September 2025, he has been hosting the syndicated entertainment news program *Extra*, starting with its 32nd season. Hough has also worked as an actor on stage, appearing in the West End premiere of *Footloose: The Musical* at the Novello Theatre and in the 2015 New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. On screen, he starred in the film *Make Your Move* and had a recurring role on the ABC musical-drama *Nashville*. In 2016, he played Corny Collins in NBC’s live television production of *Hairspray Live!*
Hough grew up in Sandy, Utah, the fourth of five children in a Latter-day Saint family. His parents, Marianne and Bruce Hough, met while on a ballroom dancing team in college, and all of his grandparents were dancers. When he was 12, his divorcing parents sent him to London to live with dance coaches Corky and Shirley Ballas. His sister Julianne joined him months later. Originally intended to last three months, Hough remained in London for ten years. The Ballases tutored the Hough children alongside their own son, Mark Ballas, schooling them at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where they trained in singing, theater, gymnastics, and multiple dance forms. The three children formed a pop trio called 2B1G and performed at dance competitions in the UK and US. Hough later taught at the Italia Conti Academy and can play piano, guitar, drums, and bass.
In competitive dancing, Hough won the IDSF World Latin U-21 Championship in 2002 and the Blackpool U-21 Latin title in 2003 with Aneta Piotrowska. He also earned the LA Outstanding Dancer of the Year and New York Dance Alliance Outstanding Dance awards. In 2013, he worked with Ol
- field
- Dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, television personality
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Six-time champion on Dancing with the Stars; four-time Primetime Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Choreography
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Derek Hough grew up the fourth of five children in a Latter-day Saint family in Sandy, Utah. His parents, Marianne and Bruce Hough, met while on a ballroom dancing team in college. When Hough was 12, his divorcing parents sent him to London to live and study with dance coaches Corky and Shirley Ballas. His sister Julianne joined him several months later. Originally intending to stay for three months, Hough remained in London for ten years, training at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in singing, theater, gymnastics, and many forms of dance. He made his first appearance on Dancing with the Stars in season four as a guest instructor, then joined as a professional in season five. He received 14 Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography, winning four times.
Reader's Guide
Derek Hough's significance lies in his record-breaking success on Dancing with the Stars, where he won six mirror ball trophies, more than any other professional dancer in the show's history. His choreography earned him four Primetime Emmy Awards and 14 nominations, reflecting his influence on televised dance. His transition from professional dancer to judge on Dancing with the Stars and World of Dance, and later to host of Extra, demonstrates his versatility in entertainment. Hough also contributed to live theater and musical television productions, such as Hairspray Live! His early training in London under Corky and Shirley Ballas, alongside his sister Julianne, shaped his career and helped produce a generation of dance talent. Hough's legacy is that of a multi-talented performer who helped popularize ballroom and Latin dance on mainstream television.
Did You Know?
- He choreographed the short dance program for Olympic gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White.
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