Top 20 Julianne Hough Performances on Dancing with the Stars

One of the best things about dance is its ability to give us a glimpse into peoples’ journeys. This routine to “Wouldn’t Change Anything” exemplifies that in beautiful fashion. In it, Hough is portraying choreographer Marinda Davis – who was diagnosed with several autoimmune diseases – and telling her story. You can tell just how seriously Hough takes the job of doing the dance – and the person behind it – justice. She nails each moment, bringing an unparalleled emotion to the fore, and infusing each perfectly executed move with grace, vulnerability, and a slew of feelings. And that’s saying nothing of how poetic each gesture is. Poignant and deeply meaningful, this number is powerful.

Hélio Castroneves and Julianne Hough were the champions of “Dancing with the Stars”’ fifth season. So we don’t need to tell you they gave us a plethora of unforgettable routines. We’ll be discussing plenty of them. Right now, we want to spotlight their Viennese waltz during the fourth week. Dancing to “Iris”, the duo takes our breath away. This is not an easy routine to pull off. Yet they move through the room with elegance, while demonstrating great attention to detail. And they do this without ever seeming disconnected from one another or robotic. We’d definitely call that a competition-worthy showing. Considering the judges all gave them 9’s for the feat, we’d say they agree!

We told you we’d be talking about this duo a lot, and we weren’t lying! Their week 3 jive wasn’t bad. But the judges felt it was disappointing, so for week 10, that was the dance style the pair took on again. To say they redeemed themselves would be a massive understatement. From the minute "Let's Twist Again" starts, we can tell we’re in for a thrilling ride. The retro outfits make us feel like we’re in a different time, and the choreography is jam-packed with excitement. Naturally, Hélio’s skill level has also improved, and his rapport with Julianne shines through, adding a layer of dynamism to the whole affair. They look like they’re having a blast – we know we are!

Did someone say more Hélio and Julianne? Ask and you shall receive, because we’ve got a foxtrot for the ages! When this dance style is mastered, performers practically glide – which is much harder to achieve than it may sound. But yes, Hough and Castroneves do make it look effortless in this routine. From the batons they use at the beginning, to the style and pizzazz they bring to the steps, to their facial expressions, they go beyond mere technique here to give us personality. It’s style and substance, and we’re more than here for it. We probably won’t be surprising anyone by saying this, but the dance earned the pair a perfect score of 30/30 from the judges.

Julianne Hough and Apolo Anton Ohno were a match made in “Dancing with the Stars” heaven, as evidenced by the fact that they snagged the Mirrorball Trophy in season 4. Their tango to “Jessie’s Girl” is a great example of why they were such a threat to the other competitors. This is a dance style that requires a tremendous amount of precision, balance, and of course, passion. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hough and Anton Ohno deliver all that and then some. They’re so completely in tune with one another, and manage to give us flawless steps and a sultry vibe. The whole thing feels creative, and is a joy to watch.

For the semi-finals on “Dancing with the Stars”’ 20th season, each judge picked a routine for – and trained – a duo. Julianne Hough did this for Riker Lynch & Allison Holker, guiding them through an Argentine tango that we can only describe as steamy. Hough said she chose to work with this particular duo because of their artistry, and that really comes through in this routine. It’s dramatic, sexy, and keeps those of us watching wanting more. Granted, Hough doesn’t stay for the entirety of the number – but her dancing during the first part of the performance takes it to another level. It’s gripping stuff, to put it mildly.

If you’re not awe-struck, wondering how two people could possibly move their feet so quickly and in sync, are you even watching a quickstep? Julianne and Apolo’s “Mr. Pinstripe Suit” performance always leaves us utterly amazed. Each step, skip, and spin is gorgeous, both technically and aesthetically. They also take us on an electrifying narrative journey with their movements, which gives the number that little extra oomph. These two are competitive, and they really channel that spirit into their dancing here, which makes for a riveting viewing experience. The perfect score they received for it was just the cherry on top of the fast-paced cake.

Siblings Julianne and Derek Hough have an incredibly special bond, and they’ve showcased it on a few occasions on “Dancing with the Stars.” For instance, the show’s 20th season saw them perform a special routine while Sia sang her hit “Elastic Heart.” The duo are joined by younger dancers portraying kid versions of them, and as the pairs dance, we can’t help but reach for the tissue box. We’re being taken into a world of complex family dynamics, and the intentional movements convey raw, personal truths. We practically feel like we’re in the room with them, being trusted with this dance. That they accomplish this without ever sacrificing the quality of the routine itself is a testament to their talent.

Do you ever wish you could get in on the action, and have a major say in what you see performed on “Dancing with the Stars”? Well, for season 7’s Macy’s Stars of Dance: Design-a-Dance initiative, folks got the chance to do just that. They chose pros Julianne and Derek Hough to perform a jive to “Great Balls of Fire”, and needless to say, we think that was the right call. The siblings take over the room with their infectious personas, and immediately draw us in. This is a high-powered, invigorating routine, and they completely sell every second and stunt while moving in total harmony. It’s pure fun from start to finish, and we can’t stop smiling whenever we watch it.

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.

Who likes to move it? Julianne Hough and Apolo Anton Ohno, if this electrifying routine is anything to go by! It’s sassy, seductive, fierce, and oh so magnetic. There’s such agility on display, and the intricate footwork is so stellar we find ourselves gasping in admiration. We’ve already touched upon how difficult the samba is to get right. But this is yet another instance where Hough and her partner are connected enough that they pass the proverbial dance test with flying colors, and it’s wondrous. They also ace the more literal test, scoring 10s across the board from the judging panel. Our only complaint is that the routine doesn’t last nearly long enough, but thankfully, that’s what rewatching is for.

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.