Derek Hough |
Wiki |
Derek Hough (rhymes with "rough") (born May 17, 1985) is an American dancer and choreographer. A former world champion in Latin American Dance, he appeared on the fifth season of the ABC television series, Dancing with the Stars with actress Jennie Garth (earning fourth place in the competition), and was eliminated during the seventh Week of the sixth season, earning sixth place with actress Shannon Elizabeth. He returned for the seventh season, this time partnered with Brooke Burke, and won the competition. He returned for the eighth season, earning fifth place with rapper Lil' Kim. Hough also sang a duet, "Dreaming Under The Same Moon", with his sister, Julianne Hough, on her self-titled debut album. Julianne Hough is also a professional dancer and a two-time winner of Dancing with the Stars.
Hough was born in 1985 in Salt Lake City, Utah to a Mormon family. In 1998, he and his sister, Julianne Hough, moved to London to further their dance training with world renowned dancing couple, Corky and Shirley Ballas.
He attended and subsequently taught at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. On this foundation, he built a career, which has included professional competition, television work, and roles in the West End Theatre.