Pure Derek Hough

Derek Hough: Biography of a Song and Dance Man (continued)

Dancing with the Stars

In December 2006 to February 2007, in between theater engagements, Derek joined his sister Julianne (who had returned to the United States much earlier), as a company dancer for the first Dancing with the Stars tour.  Dancing with his sister was not something he was thrilled with doing. “You know, my dad always wanted me and Julianne to get together and compete… and I always was like, ‘Heck no! I do not want to dance with my sister. That’s weird. That’s random. It’s awkward.”

Dance with his sister he did, however, performing a beautiful rumba with her for the Dancing With the Stars tour after Season 3.  Later he was asked by the producers to join the cast for Season 4, an honor that he declined.  At the time, he was still busy pursuing his acting career back in London, and his musical career with his friend Mark.  He did, however, perform in a professional dance with his sister, and professionals Tony Dovalani and Elena Grinenko to Joss Stone’s Super Duper Love.>

The producers did not relent in pursuing Derek to join the cast of the show.  He was asked a second time to join the cast for Season 5. This time, his role with Footloose had recently ended, and his musical ambitions with Almost Amy were not going as planned, so he decided to accept the challenge of performing on the American version of Dancing with the Stars, along with Julianne, and his best friend and ‘brother’, Mark Ballas.

When we were first asked, Mark and I were in England and I told him, “Dude, that’s awesome, but do we really wanna be known as dancers?”  We love dancing, but we really want the music. If we do Dancing and then make the music work, are people gonna look at us as dancers and not as musicians?  So we were very hesitant, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity. It was too big of a thing.”

Derek joined Season 5 of Dancing With the Stars, being partnered with the popular star of 90210, Jennie Garth.  In week 5, he and Jennie earned the perfect score of a 30 for their cha-cha. They came in 4th overall for the season.  The following season, he was partnered with Shannon Elizabeth, the star of the popular American Pie series, and shortly thereafter became involved in a romantic relationship with her as well that lasted for well over a year. Derek and Shannon danced on-air together until the 7 th week. Later, they produced and directed their own spoof-video in which they partially performed the Foxtrot.  In Season 7, Derek partnered with host and model, Brooke Burke.  In three dances that season they earned a perfect score of 30:  for their foxtrot, their freestyle and their Viennese Waltz.  Together they won the famed Mirrorball Trophy, making Brooke, under Derek’s tutelage, the first female cast member to break the famed “curse of the pretty model”. In Season 8, Derek partnered with rapper Lil’ Kim, and in Season 9 with model and host Joanna Krupa, and in Season 10 with lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls Nicole Scherzinger. Derek took home his 2nd trophy with Nicole, winning Season 11. Derek is currently still under contract with ABC, and should return for Season 11.

“This may sound like sacrilege to some more veteran movie star fans, but Hough dances almost as beautifully as Fred Astaire, almost as athletically as Gene Kelly.” – Diane Pucin, Reviewer

The Ballas Hough Band

While performing on the Dancing With the Stars show, and on its tours, Derek continued to pursue his passion for music.  His group Almost Amy, realized its dream of being signed by a major record label.  In November of 2008, after months of being pursured by two major record distributors, Almost Amy signed with Hollywood Records. Shortly thereafter, however, due to copyright issues, the name Almost Amy had to be changed.  The result was the birth of BHB, or the Ballas Hough Band.  Only a few months later, on March 10 of 2009, one of Derek’s dreams came true.  This date marked the release of BHB’s first CD album, entitled BHB.  The album landed in Billboard’s Top 100 the first week. Undoubtedly, Derek’s visibility on the Dancing With the Stars TV show aided in album sales.

“Yeah, that’s the thing. It’s definitely helped us as far as helping us build up a different fan base and to help get our music across to people. I will say that when people came to listen to us play, they had very low expectations, just kinda laughed, like “oh, dancer boys,” and I think every single person that’s seen us play live has been pleasantly surprised. They realize we’re not a joke band, we’re not just two guys who met on a show and decided to capitalize on that and make a band. We’re best friends; we’re brothers, who’ve dreamed of playing music live and making an album. We just hope that people will see past the dancing — and still enjoy it. We’re not nay-saying the dancing at all. We still love it and enjoy it, but just see us in a different way of performing.”

Mark and Derek

From March to May, every Tuesday night in 2009, BHB performed free concerts at THE GROVE, an outdoor shopping mall near CBS Studios, the studio used by ABC for the taping of Dancing With the Stars.  Fans were witnesses to the group’s full scope of entertainment, including joking, acoustic sets, dancing, performances with guest artists, and Derek’s leaps off of the band’s speakers, while playing his guitar, a movement sure to wow the crowd!

Derek Leaping off of the speakers at the GROVE

Derek Leaping off a piano in at an Indianapolis performance

Derek continues to charm his fans with his multi-faceted talents.  What is next for him?  Movies? More musicals? Vegas shows?  Stay tuned! Derek Hough, our Song and Dance Man, will be around for a very long time to come.

The Biography of a Song and Dance Man continues – Bibliography

For more specific information about Derek’s work, see the Accomplishments section on this website.