All The Right Moves

It was here in Boca Raton that Derek Hough, 37, received one of his most memorable pieces of advice. “It was at a seminar I attended with Tony Robbins and one of the expressions he uses is, ‘Life isn’t happening to you, it’s happening for you.’ To me,” explains Hough, “that was a big game changer.”

In addition to his all-American good looks and dashing smile, Hough’s positive energy is one of the reasons he’s become a breakout talent since his 2007 debut on “Dancing with the Stars.” A professional dancer since he was a teen, Hough quickly became one of the most popular pros on the hit series, nabbing six Mirror Balls — the most top prizes in the show’s 17-year history. Just don’t ask him to pick a favorite among the celebrity partners he won with: actresses Jennifer Grey and Amber Riley, singer Kellie Pickler, TV personalities Brooke Burke and Nicole Scherzinger and Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late, beloved wildlife expert, “Crocodile Hunter,” Steve Irwin.

“Bindi was so special,” reflects Hough. “Growing up, I had been a huge fan of Steve. It was a privilege to mentor his daughter. And Kellie Pickler, nobody expected her to be that good a dancer. There have been so many moments on that show that I’ve cherished and amazing partners I’ve had over the years. It’s been incredible.”

He also came out of Season 18 deeply inspired by partner Amy Purdy, a professional snowboarder who, after having both legs amputated at the age of 19, went on to become a Paralympic champion. They placed second in the competition yet, for Hough, the impression she left was invaluable.

“Her life has been very challenging, but she said, ‘Okay, how can I help?’ She took that mindset and that perspective and now she’s a Paralympian medalist, she’s dancing on television, she’s become an amazing speaker, she’s helping other people with disabilities in sports. She’s created something with so much fulfillment and so much substance in a really beautiful way.”

Since Hough’s first appearance on the show, opportunities and accolades have poured in. He’s won three Emmy awards — the most of any male choreographer in the history of the Television Academy — for “Dancing with the Stars” and received nominations for work on other projects like “The Disney Holiday Singalong.” He starred on London’s West End in a production of “Footloose,” on Broadway in “Burn the Floor” and on a nationwide tour role of “Singing in the Rain.” From 2017 to 2020, he was on the judging panel — along with Jennifer Lopez and other dance world luminaries — of another competition series, “World of Dance.” And for the past two years he headlined his own Las Vegas show, “Derek Hough: No Limit” at the Venetian Hotel, which showcased many of his favorite moves, including classic ballroom, salsa and hip-hop.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have so many pivotal moments,” he says. “Dance has given me so much, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

He’s worked to be here his whole life. His parents, who, themselves met while on a dance team in college, raised their five children in Salt Lake City, Utah. When he was 13 and his younger sister Julianne (now a star in her own right) was 10, the duo left home to attend the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. He remained overseas ten years to perfect his craft and win several world titles, including multiple international championships. In a 2014 interview with People, Hough called the experience, “an amazing opportunity.”

But the long-distance was not always easy. His parents ultimately divorced and his father remarried. And Hough’s stepmother, who he speaks of with great affection, was later diagnosed with breast cancer. “I wasn’t there the whole time, I was living in a different country,” he recalls. “But seeing my father and the way it affected it him, it was incredibly impactful. Fortunately, she’s in remission and was able to come out of it on the other side. That’s not the case for everyone. It’s a huge reminder that makes you thankful for life and for health and to never take anything for granted.”

It’s the driving reason Hough has become an ambassador for Dancers Against Cancer and was the keynote speaker at Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation’s Go Pink luncheon this past fall. “It’s something that’s very important to me,” he notes. “I’m just incredibly thankful to all the medical professionals who help and serve people who, unfortunately, have to go through this. Whenever there’s an opportunity for me to support these causes, I’m happy to do so.”

His career has continued to keep him in a constant state of travel, but — true to form — an ever-optimistic Hough made it work in his favor, finding a silver lining in his fiancée, Hayley Erbert. “We actually met dancing on tour and have been together seven years,” Hough says, “so it’s been good for my personal life. My dance partner is my fiancée.”

When they’re not sharing the stage, they spend as much time as possible outdoors. “I’m such an adventurer. I love to balance being in theaters and on television with nature and hikes and surfing. One of our special places is Yosemite. It’s where we sort of decompress and get reconnected to what’s important. It really grounds us.”

These days, you can find Hough on the other side of the scoring table. After his record-breaking number of wins, he’s now on the “Dancing with the Stars” panel of judges. Is it tough to hold back the urge to jump on stage himself like he used to?  “I’ll be honest with you, after my scores and my comments, I really do wish I had at least 20 minutes to give them a few little pointers,” he laughs. “We eventually get that later on the season. It’s like, ‘I’ve been dying to get my hands on you and move you around a little bit.’ But you know, I love it. I feel so fulfilled in what I achieved as a pro with 17 seasons and winning the show six times. I’m really enjoying being behind the judge’s desk and still being a part of the show in this way. It’s been incredible.” 

And there’s good news for fans hoping to see Hough compete again. “Never say never,” he offers. “I’m here for the audience, I’m here for the people so if that’s something that they want to see again, maybe we’ll make that happen.”

Whatever comes next, one thing will be certain: Hough will be having fun. “I work hard, I’m very passionate about what I do. But I think it’s really important that we not forget fun,” he emphasizes. “I think sometimes we lose sight of that as a value and we put that low on our list. I really encourage people to put fun at the top of your values list and see what happens. Ask yourself the question, ‘How can I be having fun in this moment? How can I bring a little more joy to this moment right now and how can I appreciate this moment even more?’ In any situation, whatever it might be, I really encourage people to do that.”

“Growing up as a competitive dancer, my definition of success was winning, it was trophies, it was making money,” he concludes. “And then, as you get old, things change and you realize, ‘Oh wait, success is laughing or being with my loved ones or the freedom to relax.’ The truth is, those are the moments you really you feel, at least for me, successful.”