Top 10 Julianne Hough Performances on Dancing with the Stars

Julianne and Apolo waste no time in bringing the drama to the dance floor as they close the show with a bang. As always, Julianne’s choreography is ambitious, but Apolo breezes through it with all the stamina, power, and passion needed to deliver a perfect Paso Doble. In fact, it’s so impressive that you might be fooled into thinking that you’re watching two professional dancers. This dance is so iconic that Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson chose to recreate it during the season 25 semi-finals. Of course, they did a great job, but naturally, nothing can compare to the original.

In 2014, Julianne returned to the show as part of the judging panel. But to mark her transition from pro dancer to judge, she joined the other male professionals on the ballroom floor for this showstopping number. The fast-paced, athletic, and, at times acrobatic choreography, reminds us of all the killer routines Julianne produced for the show in the past. Even though she’s dancing with lots of talented men, it’s almost impossible to tear your eyes away from her the entire time. We can only imagine how the contestants were feeling after seeing this jaw-dropping routine ahead of their own dance debuts.

Although they were generally considered as the underdogs of the competition, this duo really got the party started with their samba. They stripped back on everything else and just focused on the choreography and performance, to prove why they deserved their place in the competition. The samba’s rhythm and patterns, not to mention that bounce action, is often hard to master, but when your chemistry is this good, it looks effortless. The music complements the dance so perfectly and their energy makes us want to join their party too. So, we were hardly surprised when the judges scored them nines across the board.

The Jitterbug never quite made it as a staple on the show but fortunately, it stuck around long enough to give us this memorable moment. Dancing an “I Love Lucy” inspired routine, the pair had us in awe with this extremely energetic and exciting performance. The stamina you need to pull off a dance like this is simply next level. And it’s even more impressive when you realize that Julianne danced through excruciating abdominal pain and was rushed to hospital soon after their encore performance. Still, it’s an unforgettable performance and at least they could finally celebrate their first ten of the season.

Julianne fills the music with intricate choreography and Hélio doesn’t put a foot out of place, giving us this flawless routine. On the technical side, they completely wowed the judges, who all scored them top marks. But that isn’t necessarily what makes this dance so memorable for us. We can’t help but notice how much fun the pair are having dancing together and their positive vibes are simply infectious. It’s a real testament to their friendship that they move together in such perfect synchronization the entire time. After that dance, how could it not be a smooth ride straight to the finals?

This week marked not only Apolo’s dance debut but Julianne’s as well. Although they had limited rehearsal time due to Apolo’s busy schedule, the performance they deliver is impressive and totally joyous. It’s one thing to pull off the steps, but it’s their strong worth ethic and natural chemistry that takes this dance from good to great. And even though it was of their lowest scoring dances, it was clear from this moment that they would be the ones to watch. Ohno was used to going for gold and he wasn’t making any exceptions. Luckily, Julianne was just the teacher to get him there.

Julianne stopped by the ballroom during her “Footloose” promo tour, which could only mean one thing. She and her brother Derek reunited on the dance floor for an extraordinary and exhilarating jive. These siblings are known for leaving it all on the dance floor with their high-energy and ambitious choreography, and this time was no exception. Their gravity-defying tricks, in particular, just remind us that they’re in a complete league of their own. We love anytime the Houghs come together for a creative collaboration. There’s never a dull moment watching them dance and they always find new ways to surprise and amaze us.

Putting the “quick” in the “quickstep”, Julianne and Hélio proved that they were a cut above the competition with this upbeat, fast-paced, and thrilling routine. As any long-time fan of the show will know, it’s not easy staying so synchronized with your partner whilst moving at that speed, and in hold no less. But these two work together so seamlessly that you might believe that they’d been dancing together for years rather than just eight weeks. The judges all scored them a well-deserved ten. But for us, the lasting impact is how elated we feel anytime we watch this dance.

Although Julianne and Apolo brought their A-game every week, this dance just proved that they were truly in a class of their own. Julianne’s choreography is original and ingenious and nothing at all like what we’d come to expect on this show. They bring a fun and fresh energy and we certainly didn’t expect them to break out the break-dancing. Needless to say, there’s hardly a moment of their performance that doesn’t have us lifting our jaws up off of the ground. It’s one of the most innovative and spectacular freestyles we’ve ever seen, and one that viewers are unlikely to ever forget.

With their hearts on their sleeves, Julianne and Derek performed a routine that likely didn’t leave a dry eye in the room. This dance tells the story of how they were separated as kids following their parents’ divorce. We’ve already talked about how immensely talented the Houghs are but this routine is simply next level. The beautiful and striking choreography shows us a more vulnerable side to the siblings and you can’t help but feel choked up as they bare their souls through every step. Ultimately the dance puts a spotlight on their unbreakable bond and how together, they can get through anything.