Though he’s an Emmy Award-winning choreographer, author and dancer, Derek Hough leads as a showman, not a showoff, in his Venetian residency show No Limit.
Standing at the center of the Summit Showroom stage, the six-time Dancing With the Stars champion and judge, recognizes the night’s unsung heroes.
“I want to introduce my dancers at the beginning of the show,” he says on this particular night, “because I believe they’re that good.”
This statement sets the tone for the evening. Hough’s name shines brightly on the marquee, but the true star is dance itself. And the theater formerly known as the Sands Showroom makes for the perfect venue, offering a panoramic view of the stage and a setting both intimate and open enough for Hough and his elite troupe to hop into the audience, which they do often.
Hough flows through most every style of dance imaginable, from many musical eras, without missing a beat. Songs ranging from “I Can’t Get Next to You” by The Temptations to “Fireball” by Pitbull orchestrate rapid-fire moves, shimmies and slides. At one point, Hough pauses to acknowledge the music.
“For me that’s where it all starts, that’s where it all begins,” he says. “I have to choreograph to it; I have to dance to it. When I hear a song, I actually see color. It’s like this tone or this energy ...”
“The energy shifts,” an enthused woman from the audience calls out. Everyone chuckles.“Yes, darling,” Hough coolly replies, “the energy shifts.”
It’s these unscripted moments that make Hough feel real. He’s flexible in his delivery, on and off the dancefloor. Less idolized dance virtuoso and more Derek, the entertainer bantering onstage with girlfriend and former So You Think You Can Dance contestant Hayley Erbert, sweating as much as anyone onstage and jesting about “why they call it ballroom. These pants are tight!”
No Limit offers a Strip residency we don’t see very often. It’s a show geared toward everyone, whether you’ve watched all 30 seasons of Dancing With the Stars or only know the “washing machine” dance from Selena. Hough and his crew can swing through a boisterous big band number, slink into an intimate tango duet and pivot to a graceful ballroom waltz in a matter of moments. The choreography is fast, meticulous and outright fun.
Sometimes the overall performance is so synchronized, so fluid, you forget Hough’s been doing this since age 11. His experience speaks for itself on “Moses Supposes” from Singing in the Rain, where he and a fellow entertainer perform a complicated and devilishly fast tap dancing extravaganza. The showman later joins his band on guitar for a solo and sings while other dancers take center stage.
It’s refreshing to watch someone as high-profile as Hough show such respect for his crew and his craft. And though he’s no stranger to the stage, this Vegas residency clearly means a lot.
“My mom lived here for 20 years. I used to come here a lot as a kid and always dreamed of having a show here,” Hough says. “I’m so thankful for dancing. It’s given me so much.”
DEREK HOUGH: NO LIMIT November 3-7, 10-14 & 17-21, 7:30 p.m., $63+. Venetian’s Summit Showroom, 702-414-9000.
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