A Christmas Performance Poised to Become the Most Heartfelt Moment of the Season
Christmas at Rockefeller Center has always been a night of tradition — a night of music, wonder, and the kind of magic only New York City can create. But this year, that magic is about to be elevated to an entirely new level. Fans from around the world are already buzzing, because NBC has confirmed what social media has been whispering for weeks: Julianne Hough and Derek Hough are returning to deliver a holiday dance spectacular titled “Under the Mistletoe.”
And if early rehearsals are any indication, this performance is about to become the defining holiday moment of 2025.
🌟 A Christmas Night Unlike Any Other
Each December, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting draws millions of viewers and transforms Midtown Manhattan into a glowing landscape of joy, hope, and pure holiday spirit. But this year promises something deeper — something intimate, emotional, and timeless.
Right beneath the towering 80-foot tree, surrounded by softly drifting snowflakes and the glimmer of gold lights reflecting off the ice rink below, Julianne and Derek will perform a holiday story told entirely through dance.
The title?
“Under the Mistletoe.”
Producers are calling it “romance, rhythm, and pure Christmas spirit — all captured in one unforgettable moment.” And for good reason.
💃🕺 A Sibling Duo Who Dance Like They Share One Heartbeat
Julianne and Derek Hough have long been known as one of the world’s most beloved dance duos — two artists whose chemistry, precision, and shared history give their performances a rare emotional depth. They’ve dazzled fans on Broadway, on world tours, on Dancing With the Stars, and on countless professional stages. But there is something uniquely powerful about seeing them perform against the backdrop of America’s most iconic Christmas celebration.
For this year’s performance, the siblings aren’t merely dancing.
They’re telling a story.
A story about love.
A story about connection.
A story about the moments that make the holidays truly magical.
👗 A Winter White Dream & Emerald-Green Elegance
When Julianne steps onto the Rockefeller Center stage, she’ll be dressed in a flowing winter-white satin gown — a custom piece designed to capture the soft glow of the holiday lights. The gown moves like snowfall: light, elegant, and impossibly romantic.
Derek will join her in a sleek emerald-green tuxedo, a subtle nod to the evergreen giant behind them. With velvet detailing, a classic black bow tie, and a tailored silhouette that recalls the glamour of old Hollywood, Derek’s look perfectly complements the story they are about to tell.
The moment they take their first step, the audience will immediately know:
This isn’t just holiday entertainment.
This is a cinematic experience.
❄️ A Love Story Told Through Movement
“Under the Mistletoe” is choreographed as a three-act dance sequence, each section revealing a new chapter of the story. But instead of using actors to portray lovers, Julianne and Derek are approaching the narrative differently.
They are dancing as two souls searching for connection, representing the universal longing we feel during the holiday season — that desire to be close to someone, to feel seen, to feel known.
The choreography blends:
- Classic ballroom elegance
- Contemporary emotional storytelling
- Cinematic staging
- Soft-lit magic worthy of a Christmas fairytale
There are gentle lifts, sweeping waltz turns, and moments where the dancers pause, just breathing in the quiet. The performance is designed to feel like time itself slows — like the world stops in the middle of December just long enough for two hearts to recognize each other beneath the mistletoe.
💬 “It’s about those moments that make your heart pause.” — Derek Hough
During rehearsals, Derek opened up about the meaning behind the performance.
“Christmas isn’t just about gifts,” Derek shared. “It’s about those moments that make your heart pause — and this dance is one of them.”
His voice carried a sense of sincerity that silenced the room. For Derek, the dance isn’t just a performance — it’s a message. A reminder that even in the busiest, coldest time of year, love has a way of stepping into the spotlight.
Julianne’s take was even more poetic.
“We wanted to create something that feels like love in motion,” she said softly.
“Like time standing still under the mistletoe.”
Those words perfectly capture the energy of the performance — a blend of nostalgia, romance, and tenderness that feels like the heartbeat of Christmas itself.
🎵 A Live Orchestra, Soft Snowfall & A Story Set to Music
To bring their vision to life, Julianne and Derek will be accompanied by a full live orchestra, performing a medley arranged specifically for their dance.
The music blends:
- The warmth of classic holiday strings
- The intimacy of soft piano
- The playful twinkle of Christmas bells
- A sweeping orchestral swell that lifts the final moments into pure magic
As the music builds, so will the snowfall — timed with precision so that by the final lift, Julianne and Derek will appear wrapped in a shimmering curtain of white.
Producers say the staging has been engineered to make the moment feel like a dream come alive.
“Every camera angle, every snow effect, every note — it all works together,” one insider revealed. “This is the one performance we know people will watch again and again.”
🎤 A Moment Thousands Will Witness — And Millions Will Remember
Rockefeller Center in December is already a place where holiday magic feels almost tangible. But add Julianne and Derek Hough — two of the most charismatic and emotionally expressive dancers of their generation — and the result is a moment destined to become a piece of Christmas history.
Audience members lucky enough to attend in person will see the dancers gliding across a specially constructed stage positioned directly in front of the tree, surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights.
Television viewers will get an even more cinematic experience, with sweeping aerial shots, slow-motion captures, and close-ups that reveal the emotion on the dancers’ faces.
From the first step to the final bow, the performance is built to make viewers feel something — not just watch something.
✨ A Celebration of Togetherness
More than anything, “Under the Mistletoe” is a tribute to the spirit of togetherness.
It’s about the warmth we find in the people we love.
It’s about the quiet magic of the holidays.
And it’s about remembering that even in the coldest winter…
love still dances.
As the final notes play and the dancers share a soft, knowing smile, one truth will shine brighter than the star on the Rockefeller Christmas Tree:
In a world that moves too fast, Christmas reminds us to stop, breathe, and hold close the ones who make life worth dancing through.
This holiday season, Julianne and Derek Hough are giving the world a gift — a dance wrapped in elegance, emotion, and the timeless magic of Christmas.
And on that December night at Rockefeller Center, as snow falls and music swells, millions will be reminded of a simple, beautiful truth:
✨ Even in the coldest winter, love still dances. ❤️
