Robert Irwin made his long-awaited Dancing with the Stars debut, and it turned out to be more than worth the wait. The 21-year-old son of the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, set the stage alight with a jive performance that quickly went viral, earning him the kind of praise usually reserved for seasoned performers.
Irwin opened his routine in classic fashion, dressed in his signature khaki and leaping from the bonnet of a Land Rover as kookaburra calls echoed through the arena. With Uluru projected behind him, the wildlife conservationist launched into a high-energy number alongside professional partner Witney Carson, dancing to Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild. The performance included daring stunts, with Irwin even vaulting over Carson’s head before landing a flawless tumble that left the audience roaring.
The judges were equally impressed. Derek Hough, who won the competition a decade earlier with Irwin’s sister Bindi, called the number “probably the best first dance I’ve ever seen on this show”. Bruno Tonioli echoed the sentiment, describing it as “absolutely brilliant”.
Irwin’s family was front and centre in the audience. After the final beat, he rushed to hug Bindi, who famously won the US series in 2015. Terri Irwin, Chandler Powell and young Grace were also in attendance, with Robert sharing that Grace’s excitement in her Cinderella dress gave him the “highest praise” he could hope for.
Despite Carrie Ann Inaba’s absence due to illness, Irwin and Carson tied for the top score of the night, receiving 15 out of 20 points. His debut placed him alongside Whitney Leavitt of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Other notable contestants this season include Corey Feldman, Baron Davis and Elaine Hendrix.
For Irwin, the moment was deeply personal. On Instagram, he admitted he had started rehearsals with “not the slightest idea of how to dance”. Yet, with Carson’s guidance, he pulled off what he called “the best night ever”, adding that he was fulfilling a childhood dream inspired by watching Bindi’s own DWTS journey.
As week one closed, Irwin promised fans that “Team IrWINit” would keep bringing “passion and positivity into the ballroom”. With such a start, viewers are already predicting he could be a frontrunner.
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