Photo:Matt Stroshane/Disney via Getty
Matt Stroshane/Disney via Getty
Dancing pros and siblingsDerek HoughandJulianne Houghare totally in step.
The brother-sister duo first rose to fame through ABC’s reality showDancing With the Stars, but their dancing background dates back to when they were much younger.
After growing up in Utah with their three other siblings, Sharee, Marabeth, Katherine, Derek and Julianne moved to London, where they eventually attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Now, the brother and sister are set to reunite onDancing With the Stars;Julianne, formerly a dancer on the show, will return to co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro and Derek returns as a judge.
They grew up in Utah
Julianne and Derek were born in Orem, Utah, to parents Marianne and Bruce Hough. They also have three other siblings, sisters Sharee, Marabeth, Katherine. Julianne, the youngest, is three years apart from Derek.
They come from a family of performers
Andrew Eccles via Getty
Julianne and Derek have dancing in there genes; their grandparents were dancers and their parents met while on a ballroom dancing team in college,perTaste of Country.Additionally, Derek and Julianne are the second cousins of musicians Riker, Rydel, Rocky, Ryland Lynch and Ross Lynch from R5 and The Driver Era.
They lived in London with Mark Ballas’ family to study dance at a young age
Jerod Harris/Getty
In their adolescence, amid their parents' divorce, Derek and Julianne weresent to live in London with dance coaches Corky and Shirley Ballas, the parents of fellowDWTSpro Mark Ballas (who remains close with the Houghs to this day andwas in Derek’s wedding party).
While living in London, Derek and Julianne attended Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where they studied music, theater and many forms of dance. Derek, Julianne and Mark went on to form their own pop music trio 2B1G (“2 Boys, 1 Girl”) and performed at dance competitions in the UK and US.
Speaking with PEOPLE in 2014, the brother-sister duo recalledhow their challenging childhood shaped their successas ballroom dancers. “People will say, ‘How could your parents let you go off to do that?’ ” Derek told PEOPLE at the time. “I think it’s great that they saw an amazing opportunity. That is the reason we are here today.”
They both appeared inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
While living in London, Derek and Julianne hadsmall cameos inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Julianne appeared as a Gryffindor student during one of the Quidditch matches, while Derek had a small cameo as a Ravenclaw student in a scene with Emma Watson’s Hermione.
“There’s a specific scene where Hermione is leaving for Christmas while carrying her suitcase. We pass in the hallway,“Derek toldEntertainment Weeklyabout his scene. “I was holding an owl. That’s my big moment. I’m right in the camera’s viewpoint, so every time you look at Hermione, you can see me, clear as day.”
They’ve gone on tour together
Noam Galai/Getty
“We actually work pretty well together,”Derek toldGood Morning Americaabouthis professional relationship with his sister. “We kind of have like this hidden language where we don’t really talk … it’s actually great. We’re very privileged, we feel very lucky to do something that you love with somebody that you love and care about. It’s a wonderful thing.”
They’ve wonDancing With the Starsmultiple times
Kelsey McNeal/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Derek and Julianne have made countless appearances as pro dancers onDancing With the Starsover the years, and havewon eight Mirrorball trophiesbetween the two of them, with Derek having six wins and Julianne having two.
Though they later left the realty series as pro dancers to pursue other projects,Derek returned to the show as a judge in season 29. He is set to return as a judge inseason 32, alongside Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, who have served on the panel for 31 consecutive seasons.
Season 32 will also mark a special reunion for Derek and Julianne, as the latter isset to join the cast as co-hostalongside Alfonso Ribeiro.
“You know, it makes sense,“Derek toldEntertainment Tonightabout his sister rejoining the show. “I mean Julianne is an alum, you know. She’s won the show twice. She’s a part of the family, you know what I mean? And so when I heard the news too, I was like, ‘That makes sense.'”
They are both Emmy winners
Jason Kempin/Getty
In 2015, Derek and Julianne won an Emmy for outstanding choreography for their Dancing With the Stars routine set to Sia’s “Elastic Heart.” At the 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the duo showed off their trophies as they posed alongside their co-choreographer Tessandra Chavez in the press room.
Derek has two other Emmy winsfor his work onDancing with the Stars, including one for outstanding choreography in 2013 and outstanding choreography for variety or reality programming in 2021.
They were in each other’s weddings
Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Derek and Julianne are supportive of each other on and off the ballroom floor. Naturally, the siblings have played big roles in each other’s weddings.
WhenJulianne tied the knot with Brooks Laichin July 2017,Derek served a groomsman. “It was amazing, it really was. It was perfect. It was perfection. And I’m like, ‘Shoot, I’m going to have to elope after this. There’s no competing with this wedding,”Derek told PEOPLE about his sister’s wedding, joking it was like “a Nicholas Sparks movie on steroids.”
ThoughJulianne and Brooks later divorced in 2022, they were both inDerek’s wedding partywhenhe tied the knotwithlongtime girlfriend Hayley Erbertin August 2023. Brooks served as one of Derek’s groomsmen, while Julianne was one of Hayley’s bridesmaids.
source: people.com
