Derek hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born in 1985 and moved, aged 12, to London in 1998 where his passion for Latin-American dance could best be nurtured.[1] He attended and subsequently taught at the Italia Conti Academy of theatre arts. From this foundation, he has built a career, which has included professional competition, television work, and roles in the West-End.


Derek has danced at professional level with Polish dancer Aneta Piotrowska, who has competed on Dancing with the Stars Poland.

He has won the LA Outstanding Dancer of the Year and the New York Dance Alliance Outstanding Dance awards.

He is also a former World Champion Latin-American dancer.



Derek played the role of Ren McCormack in both the UK Tour and the West-End run of Footloose the Musical. His moves in routines including Can't Stand Still and the show's finale particularly impressed audiences at Aldwych's Novello Theatre, where Footloose ran from April until November 2006.

Before this, Derek's theatre work included playing the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Millfield Theatre, and dancing in the company in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.