Derek Hough shares touching Len Goodman tributed performed in his stage show on tour
Last week, Dancing with the Stars pros both past and present performed a touching tribute to the late Len Goodman, the longtime head judge on the show. Afterward there was not a dry eye in the studio.
Now, DWTS judge and former pro dancer Derek Hough shares about creating a piece to honor Len for his tour Derek Hough: Symphony of Dance.
“Since I started the creation process for my tour I knew I wanted to take a moment to honor Len. It ended up being the first piece created for the tour,” Derek wrote on Instagram.
“It began with finding the right song for this important moment . I remember Len telling me how much he loved the song Moon River. I chose an instrumental version to allow space for our individual memories to unfold,” He said, adding, “The song instantly suggested a clean and classic waltz. Something I knew Len would’ve loved.”
Derek brought the idea to Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson
The routine he performs on stage with his wife Hayley Erbert Hough, is an idea he brought to Val Chmerkovskiy and his wife Jenna Johnson. The couple fleshed out the idea–a clean, simple walz, set to the classic song–for an ensemble of dancers that included Derek Hough, host Julianne Hough, former pros Mark Ballas Karina Smirnoff, Maks Chmerkovskiy, Edyta ?liwi?ska, Tony Dovolani, Kym Herjavec, Louis Van Amstel, Anna Trebunskaya, Karina Smirnoff and the current cast of pros.
Derek explains, “Getting to collectively honor Len together on DWTS with @jennajohnson and @valentin thoughtful, careful and elegant choreography elevated this unforgettable moment to new heights.” he adds, “And sharing the stage with past pros amplified the nostalgia and history of the impact that Len has made not only on the show, but in each and every one of our lives.”
“I love this show,” Derek writes, “I love these people and we will always love you, Len @dancingwiththestars.” The caption accompanies a clip of the routine from Derek’s tour.
Jenna and Val thank Derek for his collaboration
In a separate post, Val and Jenna thank the people who helped them put together the beautiful routine, including Derek.
“Our love letter to Len Goodman,” they write on Instagram. “We have been in disbelief at the beautiful messages we’ve received on behalf of this dance.” They write, “A special and resounding thank you to @derekhough for bringing the creative to the show and picking this beautiful piece of music that was so thoughtfully perfect for this moment. We know how personal this tribute was to you.”
Derek and his sister Julianne met Len while they studied ballroom dance with Mark Ballas’ mom Shirley in the UK. Derek was only 12 years old, and Len was judging him in competition.
Watch the full routine from last week’s “Most Memorable Year” episode below.
