Derek Hough

Derek Hough (born May 17, 1985) is an American dancer and choreographer. He is known for his work, since September 2007, on the U.S. television dance-competition series Dancing with the Stars, on which he has won five seasons. He also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography in 2013 for three routines that he choreographed on the show. Hough has also acted in stage productions such as in the 2006 original production of Footloose: The Musicalat the Novelo Theatre in London's West End. He holds a world champion title in Under 21 Latin American Dance. --- Hough grew up the fourth of five children in a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) family in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. He has four sisters, three 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. He attended and subsequently taught at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. --- 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. On April 18, 2013, Hough announced that he had started working with world champion ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White on a number for their short dance program that had to contain quickstep and foxtrot rhythms. About this opportunity, Hough said it was an honor that they asked him to do it. --- 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 UK 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. Hough's other theatre work include 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 dated India de Beaufort from 2000 until 2008. In 2008, Hough began dating actress/model Shannon Elizabeth after they met each other as partners on Dancing With the Stars. Their relationship lasted until August, 2009. Hough's subsequent relationships have included Cheryl Cole (2010-2011) and Nina Dobrev (2013).