When Derek Hough began planning his Symphony of Dance tour, he knew one thing immediately — there would be a moment for Len Goodman. The late Dancing with the Stars head judge wasn’t just a mentor; he was a living symbol of ballroom elegance, and Derek wanted to capture that legacy in motion.
“Since I started the creation process for my tour I knew I wanted to take a moment to honor Len,” Derek wrote on Instagram. “It ended up being the first piece created for the tour.”
The perfect song came easily — Moon River, an instrumental version that gave the dance room to breathe, to hold memories in its pauses. “Len loved Moon River,” Derek said. “The song instantly suggested a clean and classic waltz. Something I knew Len would’ve loved.”
To bring the vision to life, Derek called on fellow DWTS icons Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson. The three crafted a routine both restrained and powerful — a pure, timeless waltz. On stage, Derek danced it alongside his wife, Hayley Erbert Hough, while an ensemble of ballroom legends joined in: Julianne Hough, Mark Ballas, Karina Smirnoff, Maks Chmerkovskiy, Edyta Śliwińska, Tony Dovolani, Kym Herjavec, Louis Van Amstel, Anna Trebunskaya, and the current cast of DWTS pros.
“Getting to collectively honor Len together with Jenna and Val’s thoughtful, elegant choreography elevated this moment to new heights,” Derek said. “Sharing the stage with past pros amplified the nostalgia and history of the impact Len has made — not just on the show, but in each and every one of our lives.”
Val and Jenna shared their own tribute online, calling the number “our love letter to Len Goodman.” They thanked Derek for choosing the song and inviting them into such a deeply personal performance. “We have been in disbelief at the beautiful messages we’ve received on behalf of this dance,” they wrote.
For Derek, the tribute was decades in the making. He first met Len in the UK when he was just 12 years old, training in ballroom with Mark Ballas’ mother, Shirley. Len was there — judging him in competition — never knowing that years later, he’d be judging Derek on a global stage.
It wasn’t just a dance. It was a thank-you. A farewell. And a reminder that Len Goodman’s love for ballroom — clean, classic, and brimming with grace — will always glide across the floor.
