Siblings Julianne and Derek Hough look like they have it all. The superstar “Dancing With the Stars” celebrities are beautiful, talented, and seemingly couldn’t be closer. Few would guess at first glance that the siblings briefly lived apart as children.
When Julianne was 9 years old and Derek was 10, their parents got divorced. Julianne went live with her mother while Derek lived with his dad. After a year apart, the siblings went together to dance school in London.
Recently, the talented pair came together to share the story of that divorce with the world in a heart-wrenching dance to “Unsteady” by the X Ambassadors.
In the dance, an older couple represents the Hough’s parents while a younger pair represents young Julianne and Derek. Julianne and Derek together express the emotions they grappled with at the time of their parents’ divorce, the fear they felt as their family fell apart.
The dance was performed on “Dancing With the Stars” as the Hough’s mother watched from the audience. It was a deeply emotional– but therapeutic– moment for the family.
Julianne posted on Instagram about the emotional performance, saying
This piece was so much more than a dance. It was an opportunity for us to express our most vulnerable parts of who we are in our most safe environment through movement!
I know we aren’t alone in this subject matter and want everyone out there to know that no matter what has gone on or is going on at the moment in your life that is hard, you must hold on to the people that are there for you always and know that in time everything will work out how it’s supposed to and for the best.
As adults we are now able to connect and understand what we couldn’t as kids. We are so grateful for our family for allowing us to open up and expose our vulnerabilities through art so that others may be moved and inspired to hold on.
This dance reminds us that it is okay to be transparent, to be vulnerable. What a powerful example of two siblings using art to express themselves and inspire hope in others.
Check out the beautiful performance below and share!
