Julianne Hough is a woman of many talents, but it was her skill as a dancer that first placed her in the spotlight. At only 18, she participated as a professional dancer on the popular competition series Dancing with the Stars, and became the youngest pro to win the show when she and her partner, Olympic gold-medal-winning speed skater Apolo Ohno, took home the mirrorball trophy.
Besides her career as a ballroom dancer, Julianne is an actress and an award-winning country singer. Her debut country album topped the Billboard country charts and also secured the third spot on the overall albums chart.
But no matter what other directions her career has gone, Julianne has always come back to dancing. She has participated as a guest dancer and a judge on Dancing with the Stars in the past, and has toured across the country to show off her dancing skills along with her brother, Derek. Their Move on Live Tour featured both singing and dancing from the two siblings, and was a huge hit.
Both Julianne and Derek left Dancing with the Stars following the conclusion of Season 21 with the hopes of finding time to dedicate to other aspects of their careers. This decision left many fans wondering if they would ever return to the dance floor again.
Well if you’re one of those people, there’s no need to worry. As one young dancer revealed, Julianne and Derek are set to strap on their dancing shoes and tear up the floor once more in September!
Julianne and Derek are set to perform at the Dizzy Feet Foundation’s Celebration of Dance Gala on September 10, as shared by 13-year-old Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler. Maddie is also scheduled to perform that day, and shared a photo collage on her Instagram of the many other dancers who are participating in the celebration. The collage features Maddie, Julianne and Derek, and another Dancing with the Stars professional dancer, Mark Ballas.
In addition to performing, Julianne and Derek are being honored during the gala as the recipients of the Dizzy Feet Foundation’s Inspiration Award. The organization describes the award on its website, writing, “Each year our gala celebrates the accomplishments of exemplary individuals and entities whose unique contributions have significantly impacted the world of dance. These awards recognize innovation, dedication, support and promotion of the art form.”
Knowing what we know about Julianne and Derek, we’d say they are more than deserving of such an award! We’re excited to see both of them dance again, but in the meantime, enjoy their duet on “Dreaming Under the Same Moon,” a track from Julianne’s debut country album.
Congratulations to Julianne and Derek on being named the recipients of this year’s Inspiration Award!