Finding Joy with Derek Hough and Julianne Hough
Jill Weinlein, Chief West Coast Theatre Critic
Since first rising to international acclaim over a decade ago, Emmy Award–winners Derek Hough and Julianne Hough have entertained the pubic with appearances on television and movies, music and concert stage. This celebrated brother and sister duo recently appeared at the Paley Center to be honored for their work on television, including Dancing with the Stars, World of Dance, and America’s Got Talent, as well as their live television roles in Hairspray Live! and Grease Live!
Rene Reyes, Vice President at Paley Center in Beverly Hills sat down with the two stars for an enlightening evening. He introduced the Hough’s to an audience of over 100 people to discuss their childhood, and how they have conquered all facets of entertainment. After watching clips of both Derek and Julianne performances, Reyes told the audience that their work will be preserved at the Paley Center and kept in the archives.
RR: You have helped create a Dance Renaissance with class and kindness. Yesterday you were on the Today Show, and last night you attended the Rockefeller Tree Lighting ceremony. Today you are here in Beverly Hills. How do you accomplish so much?
JH: If you are in the Hough family you have to dance. Our oldest sister (11 years older than Julianne) started dancing at Center Stage Performing Arts School in Orem, Utah. We would all get into the “Big Red” van and ride for one hour to go to the school.
DH: I liked going, because I got to dance with girls.
JH: Our mom took the holistic approach to keep us active kids busy, by taking us to a lot of lessons.
RR: You moved to England at a young age. Tell us about this.
DH: I was 13 years old when I first lived in London and later I encouraged Julianne to come when she was 10 years old.
JH: We went to England when out parents were getting a divorce. This experience gave us a strong work ethic. Every Sunday we competed in Ballroom Dance competitions. If we were sick or tired we still had to go to practice. It gave us structure. Dancer Mark Ballas needed a new dance partner, since his partner was growing taller than him, so I became his dance partner at a young age. I was fearless and knew this is what I wanted. One time I won a competition while suffering with shingles, a sprained ankle and tonsillitis.
DH: I had night terrors as a little boy and didn’t like sleeping over at others homes, but I went to London and liked the structure.
JH: We took a 7 a.m. train over the Thymes River, and then changed to another train. We would stop and get a sausage bagel and tea before starting school from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. We were not allowed to leave the 10 story high building before taking two trains and walking back home in the rain and cold. Once we got home, we had dance practice from 7:30 to 11 p.m.
DH: We had dance lessons all weekend. We were so immersed in it, learning a lot of life lessons and building character. Having discipline gives you freedom.
JH: We were in a perfect storm - so prepared for the opportunity. It’s like the saying “Fake it until you become it.” Joy impacted my life. When I arrived in London, I was disappointed there were no horse-drawn carriages. I had to create my own Joy. There were hardships in London, but it made me who I am today. I look at what was hard to me at 4 years old, to what I am today. There is joy in everything.
DH: You can’t have joy without sorrow. When you experience something vast, your range is vast. We all have the choice to focus on what is bad and what is good.
RR: When did you feel you could become professional dancers?
DH: Competing as ballroom dancers, we saw out coaches getting paid. Our goal was to go dance in Japan to make the big money.
RR: Dancing gave you a massive stage. It’s more popular than ever now.
DH: While dancing in Utah, I was bullied so much, that I went to different schools. Now boys who dance are awesome and some of the most popular students in school.
JH: When I came to LA, I wanted to sing and act. I had to fall in love with dance again in 2013.
DH: Our whole life was to compete and reach #1. We found joy again.
JH: I now dance with joy and freedom instead of perfection.
DH: I like competition. On a human level, I always felt not being good enough. Success equals love, and if I won, I will be accepted.
RR: Derek you are a 6 time winner on Dancing with the Stars. How was that experience?
DH: Dancing with the Stars has me focus not on myself, but guide my star partner to be focused and lifted. I helped my partner achieve something they never thought they could do.
RR: You both were mentors to stars who didn’t have much training. Was that difficult?
JH: To focus on teaching them to learn something new shifts us from a student to a teacher and leader. They were vulnerable people and we made sure they felt safe. We loved the deadlines on DWTS.
DH: The stars are scared of not being good enough. It’s not just a dance show, it’s a pressure cooker. Their spirit comes alive. The show has been around for so long because it transforms people who have no idea they can achieve.
RR: It must be so exciting to be a big part of the Dance Renaissance.
DH: It’s an education and appreciation for artistic athletes. We get to create a story and expression. These shows on television has created a new genre. It’s a shared experience with the audience.
RR: You both won an Emmy for the Elastic Hearts episode in DWTS. (Derek Hough was nominated in the category of Outstanding Choreography, and Julianne and Tessandra Chavez for the performance in Sia's "Elastic Heart.”)
DH: We put that together pretty quickly. I saw Sia in the parking lot and asked if she would sing it live on the show.
RR: Julianne you recently worked with Dolly Parton in Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings streaming on Netflix. What was that like?
JH: Dolly was wonderful and gave me nuggets of Dolly advice. She told me “You are an artist first and foremost. Hire people smarter than you for the business side and you in turn are smarter for hiring them.” Dolly had no idea how to build Dollywood, so she hired people to do that.
RR: You both seem to be so supportive of each other.
JH: It’s one thing to do what you love, but to share it with someone you love enhances the experience.
RR: What is in store in the future for you both?
JH: I want to sit back and get creative as an artist. I want to do things that make my heart go crazy. Our Christmas Special on ‘Holiday with the Houghs’ has a new original and modern song - “All I want for Christmas is Love.”
DH: The next two years are going to be busy. We love to sing, dance, play and interact with people.
JH: We like to create art for people to see themselves in it, and see how amazing they are.
Watch the Houghs on NBC on Monday, December 16 at 10 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Paley Center