Ten years in the past, Bindi Irwin was topped champion of Dancing With the Stars alongside accomplice Derek Hough. Now, her youthful brother, Robert Irwin, is gearing as much as hit the ballroom for his personal shot on the Mirrorball trophy.
Robert was the primary solid member confirmed for Season 34 of the dance competitors present, and he’s already obtained some invaluable recommendation from his huge sis.
“The factor she actually harassed is simply be your self and make it your personal,” Robert instructed TV Insider. “I’m going into this with such pleasure and admiration for what Bindi did on the present, and I’m not attempting in any solution to match what she did. She is simply probably the most unimaginable human being and simply lit up the dance flooring so, so extremely nicely. She was simply superb. I simply wish to carry a little bit of that Irwin spirit again into the ballroom.”
Robert revealed that Bindi urged him to “apply your self” and “give it 100%” whereas attempting to “sit again and revel in each second.” He added, “In order that’s what I’m going to do. I wish to give it my all however actually try to experience it and revel in each second as a result of it’s one thing that may be a one-of-a-kind expertise, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.”
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Curiously sufficient, Bindi’s former dance accomplice, Hough, is now a choose on the present, however Robert doesn’t assume he’ll play favorites, regardless of their historical past. “With regards to dancing, as a choose, I feel you’ve gotta have an unbiased opinion. He actually is such an in depth eye in the case of dancing. That’s what I’ve taken away,” the conservationist shares. “He is absolutely the skilled. He’s the utmost skilled. He watches each element with such perception.”
Robert praised Hough’s capability to “not solely choose and critique the dance,” but additionally give recommendation. “I feel in the case of judging, he’s going to be the choose,” he concluded. “He’s going to do that job, precisely what he’s speculated to do, however I undoubtedly will definitely be excited to tackle board any recommendation that he’s acquired all through the present, which he’s very, very, superb with, with all of the dancers.”
Scroll down for extra from our chat with Robert!
How did getting solid on the present come about?
Robert Irwin: It’s all the time been one thing I wished to do. It’s all the time been a dream. The best way it happened, it was fairly humorous. It was a fairly fast sure from me. I actually, actually wished to do that for a really very long time. The celebs simply aligned, every part labored out completely, and it simply feels prefer it’s meant to be, and now’s the time. I’m so comfortable that it acquired introduced so early as a result of I’m not good at protecting a secret. I attempt actually laborious, however I’m so comfortable I don’t should try to hold it locked down for too lengthy. I’m so excited, and now I simply wish to get into it. I used to be prepared when the announcement was made final month. I’m like, ‘Put me in there, let’s go!’ It’s going to be enjoyable. It’s going to be one thing very, very new, however that’s what life’s all about.
Do you’ve got any dance expertise?
I feel I in all probability have the least dancing expertise of possibly anybody who’s ever accomplished this present. I’ve so little rhythm, it’s scary. Possibly I shouldn’t be saying this! It’s undoubtedly not one thing I’ve ever accomplished, however that is the enjoyable factor. I don’t know. I’ve by no means accomplished this earlier than. It may go wherever. I may go, ‘I acquired this!’ Or it may very well be a extremely huge uphill battle for my dance accomplice.
You would stroll in on the primary day and be like, ‘I knew how one can dance this entire time!? Who knew?’
That’s what I’m manifesting, however, once more, my sister stated the identical factor. She’d by no means accomplished something like ballroom dancing after which she got here in and needed to put the excessive heels on and she or he by no means accomplished that earlier than and she or he simply fell flat on her face, however she stated you simply have to actually attain inside your self, keep utilized, keep centered, and also you’ve acquired one of the best of one of the best which might be round you, guiding you each step of the best way. You’ve simply gotta lean into that, belief the method, and work laborious. It’s about working laborious and actually attempting to get pleasure from each second. In order that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t thoughts what occurs, however I’m going to present it 110%, for positive.
Disney/Eric McCandless
What dance model do you assume you’ll be good at, and what are you most nervous about studying?
One which I’m actually excited for is a Jive. I actually wish to do a Jive. Each time I see anybody try this, I simply go, ‘That simply looks like my vibe.’ It’s actually energetic, it’s enjoyable, it’s unpredictable, and I really like that. I bear in mind watching Bindi doing, like, Argentine Tango and going, ‘That appears SO difficult.’ I didn’t even know a human being may transfer like that. It’s simply unimaginable. It’s all going to be a studying curve, it’s all going to be totally different, however a Jive, I’d like to do. That appears enjoyable. I really like music. I’m musical, so I really like the thought of the beats and the timing, and from what I can collect, that’s form of what you’ve gotta be in tune with.
What are you most nervous and enthusiastic about for the present?
Good query. That is an fascinating query to reply. Whenever you ask what I’m most nervous about and what I’m most enthusiastic about, these two issues actually go hand-in-hand. What I’m most enthusiastic about is how nervous I’m about all of it. That’s actually what will get me excited as a result of it’s an adrenaline rush. It’s placing your self exterior of your consolation zone, and it’s gonna make you actually nervous, and it’s gonna provide you with that adrenaline rush.
However that’s additionally one of the best a part of this expertise, it’s the truth that it’s so totally different, the truth that an viewers all through the nation will get to look at folks from each totally different stroll of life and get to find a brand new facet to them, get to see them weak, and to see them actually, as a fish out of water.
I feel, for me, I can’t wait to actually try to showcase what I’m all about. My message. The message that’s behind every part that I do, in such a brand new means. I hopefully wish to encourage folks in their very own lives to typically, each on occasion, get out of your consolation zone. Attempt one thing new. Attempt one thing that makes you a bit bit nervous, even, and to actually apply your self and to hit every part at one hundred pc. Dancing With the Stars is a present which means quite a bit to me and it has for a very long time. As a fan of the present and my sister, watching her try this, it’s been a part of my life for nicely over a decade and it simply looks like an actual sense of coming residence and an actual sense of gratitude. It looks like an actual privilege that I get to return into the ballroom on the opposite facet of all of it as a contestant and to simply come into this expertise with a totally clean canvas, an open thoughts, no expertise, however quite a lot of ardour.
Dancing With the Stars, Season 34 Premiere, Tuesday, September 16, 8/7c, ABC
For a deep-dive into all issues Dancing With the Stars, from unique interviews to retrospectives and must-see pictures, choose up a duplicate of TV Information Journal’s Dancing With the Stars particular problem, accessible for buy on-line at DWTS.tvgm2025.com/ and on newsstands August 29.