Julianne Hough Performs Dance Inspired by Choreographer's Chronic Illness on DWTS
Julianne Hough took to the “Dancing With the Stars” stage Monday night to perform an emotional dance inspired by a choreographer’s chronic illnesses.
The dance, set to “Wouldn’t Change Anything” by Alexander Jean (a band made up of Mark Ballas and his wife Jean), was created by dancer and professional choreographer Marinda Davis. In a pre-taped segment before the performance, Hough explained that Davis was “unfortunately was diagnosed with seven autoimmune diseases that left her terminally ill.” Some of her diagnoses include lupus, Hashimoto’s disease and dysautonomia. Davis used her own journey as inspiration for the piece.
The dance begins with Hough (who herself has endometriosis) exiting a doctor’s office looking stunned, then walking and dancing among a group of “townspeople.” She also picks up and throws a folder filled with papers, presumably meant to embody medical records. At the end of the dance, Hough is lifted into the air towards the ceiling by a wire.
Watch the performance below:
In an Instagram post after the performance, Davis said she was grateful the piece had “moved” so many with chronic illnesses, and urged her “fellow warriors” to keep fighting.
While hearing how much you loved the choreography means so much, what means the most is to hear from so many battling autoimmune diseases, genetic diseases, and other illness, how much this piece moved you. Whether it was because you recognized yourself, felt represented for the first time, or maybe helped your caregivers feel appreciated, or maybe even helped them accept your diagnosis and prognosis, this is why we did this. To reach out and touch YOU.
Before the performance, Hough wrote an Instagram post explaining that when she heard Marinda’s story, saw her work and found out it was a dream for her to have a piece on “Dancing With the Stars,” she was blown away and had to find a way for her to share her work on the show.
Image via Wikimedia Commons/The Heart Truth
Erin is the former senior editor and chronic illness editor of The Mighty. She joined The Mighty in 2015 and previously worked at Inside Weddings magazine, Mic, and The Huffington Post. She was also the features editor at The California Aggie, UC Davis' student newspaper. She is honored to be a part of the Mighty community!
erin-migdol