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At Play with Julianne Hough

by Nicole Dorsey Straff

This two-time “Dancing With the Stars” champion left the hit show to pursue her singing career after winning the fourth and fifth seasons, all the while being the youngest professional dancer ever to compete. The trim 23-year-old crooner is busy recording her second album and filming her first major motion picture, co-starring one of her idols—Cher! (The musical, entitled Burlesque, is set for Thanksgiving 2010 release.) Julianne took a brief break for a quick Q & A with Organic Spa Magazine about acting, dancing, and how she stays in such amazing shape!

What inspired you to film your dance exercise DVDs, Cardio Ballroom and Dance Body Tone?

When I meet with my fans at shows, they want to know exactly how I stay in shape on the road, and I want to pass on healthy information. The DVDs represent the way I dance, sort of an insider’s scoop of Dancing with the Stars. I wanted to share what I know, but you don’t have to be a dancer to do my choreography, and you don’t even need a partner to finish these DVDs!

Do you spend hours on a treadmill or working with a personal trainer?

No, I don’t like going into a gym, but I spend hours dancing if I’m on tour. I love the outdoors but I tour so much and with all the weather changes, different cities, I need to dance to stay motivated. I was born in Utah, and I love exercising outside. My big hobby is snowboarding and being outside with my friends in winter. In spring and summer, I love wakeboarding and water sports.

What exactly do you eat to stay long, lean, and lithe?

Breakfast is a yogurt or a smoothie, some fruit maybe. I usually eat bigger at lunch. Almost every day for lunch, I crave a maple-baked salmon salad with grapes and walnuts and that’s my lunch staple, apple slices too. For dinner, I have some type of grilled fish and steamed veggies, brown rice.

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