Aside from being a popular dancer and choreographer on the hit ABC dance-competition series Dancing With the Stars, Derek Hough has extended his work beyond the dance studio. Just recently, October 17th to be exact, The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) honored Hough at the organization’s Respect Awards ceremony. He is the recipient of this year’s Inspiration Award for his work and commitment to stand up against bullying.
According to his book, Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion, which was released this 2014, the dancing star was also once a victim of bullying during his childhood. But instead of taking revenge by fighting back, Hough tried to consider the point of view of a bully.
According to US Weekly, Hough used his acceptance speech to share with everyone his experience of being bullied. “I was actually bullied as a young boy on one occasion. They would tie my ankles up with a very rough rope and hang me in a tree upside down, spit on me and call me names, even hold a gun to my head. Coming from a family of hunters, I assumed the gun was real. I didn’t tell anybody — my parents or teachers or friends or sisters.”
He also said that he used dancing as a means to escape his tormentors. However, he did not just encourage the victims of bullying to find something they love to help them cope with their situation—he also stressed the importance of speaking out about bullying. “I know now that the worst thing you can do is suffer in silence… Let me tell you right now, you are not alone. Seeking help requires incredible strength and courage. The most powerful weapon you have against bullying is your voice.”
Hough is an American professional ballroom dancer and choreographer. He is popularly known on the ABC dance-competition series Dancing With the Stars for his work as a dancer and coach of the stars, since 2007. He is also the only five-time champion in franchise history of the said hit show. He also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography in 2013 for three routines that he choreographed for the show.
Recently, Derek Hough, along with YouTube star Bethany Mota, performed a bullying-inspired rumba dance on an episode of Dancing With the Stars. Same with Hough, Mota was also once a victim of bullying.