Booking Derek Hough

Derek Hough Biography

The American dancer Derek Hough was born in 1985 in Sandy, Utah. Derek is the fourth of five children in a Mormon family, but he was also born into a family of dancers; his parents met while competition in ballroom dancing, and his grandparents were dancers also. It is no surprise that Derek’s parents supported his interest in pursuing dance as a career, and so they approved his move to London at the age of twelve, so that he might study professionally.

Derek remained in London until his early twenties, at which time he returned to the United States to begin work as a professional dancer. Hough rose to prominence after he joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars in 2007, and since then has become one of the show’s most popular and successful dancers, winning a record six seasons. Hough’s work on the show has also earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography, and another six nominations for the same.

Even before joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars, Derek Hough had performed on stage in various musicals, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Jesus Christ Superstar. In 2006, Hough joined the cast of Footloose: The Musical in London’s West End, and in 2010, he made his Broadway debut in Burn the Floor. Hough has continued his theater work during his years with Dancing with the Stars, most recently with the New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.

Most recently, Derek Hough joined the cast of ABC’s drama, Nashville, in a recurring role. Hough is scheduled to join the cast of Hairspray Live! in late 2016, and in early 2017 he is scheduled to appear on Broadway in the lead role in Singin’ in the Rain.