Bindi Irwin, daughter of famed wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin, won Season 21 of the famous television show, “Dancing with the Stars”, alongside her professional partner, Derek Hough. Ten years later, her younger brother, Robert Irwin, carried on the family legacy by winning Season 34 with his partner, Witney Carson. Both siblings became known for creating beautiful yet high-energy dances that honored their father, who passed away in 2006.
“Dancing With the Stars” is a legendary, world-famous television show that pairs celebrities with professional dancers who compete in weekly ballroom performances against each other. In the finale, finalists compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy, named after the former head judge, Len Goodman, who passed away in April 2023. Some well-known celebrities who have appeared on the show include Kim Kardashian, Charli D’Amelio, Pamela Anderson, Priscilla Pressley and Rashad Jennings. Each week, couples perform a new dance style tied to a central theme. At the end of each episode, the bottom couple is eliminated, with the occasional double-elimination, too – adding to the suspense.
Season 34 arguably featured some of the most talented and competitive celebrities in recent years: Olympian gymnast Jordan Chiles, social media influencer Alix Earle, media personalities Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck (both from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”), actress Danielle Fischel, Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui, American TV Personality Dylan Efron, actress Elaine Hendrix, singer and musician Scott Hoying, actor Corey Feldman, actor and comedian Andy Richter and, of course, Australian wildlife conservationist, Robert Irwin.
As the weeks progressed and couples were eliminated, the competition intensified. Week 10, dubbed “Prince Night,” featured performances to iconic Prince songs. The remaining couples included Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa and Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas–who were eliminated that night, sparking controversy among many viewers. Some fans argued that Leavitt had an unfair advantage because she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, which entailed studying dance.
I remember discussing the eliminations with my friends – fellow avid fans – and feeling that it was impossible to imagine anyone going home. My friend Alex Goldberg, who is a senior at Fieldston, remarked, “I think seeing someone [Irwin] who is so positive and genuine really touched the hearts of viewers,” when asked why she thought so many fans strongly resonated with Irwin. I couldn’t agree more; Irwin’s dancing was consistently paired with a sweet smile and enthusiastic compliments toward his castmates during post-performance interviews. Seeing someone so kind and loyal touched many fans, including myself. By Week 10, all of the remaining couples were so impressive that it seemed nearly impossible for the judges to choose between them.
The fabled judges of “Dancing with the Stars,” who also stir lots of debate with their scores for each dance, are a key part of the show experience. The original judges from Season 1 were Carri Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and head judge Len Goodman. Following Len Goodman’s death, former professional dancer Derek Hough joined as a permanent judge. In addition to the three regular judges, guest judges often accompany the panel. Season 34 featured spectacular guest judges such as “Wicked” director, Jon M. Chu on “Wicked Night” and rapper Flavor Flav on “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night.”
Beyond the guest judges, the standout of season 34 was the partnership between Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. Each week, they delivered performances filled with confidence, technical skill, chemistry, and a fiery presence.
On premiere night, titled “Personal Anthems,” Carson and Irwin performed a jive to “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf. The dance began with flashing lights and Irwin jumping off a jeep before Carson dramatically ripped off his outer shirt to reveal matching, shiny, colorful costumes. Although the show’s premise assumes that celebrities have little to no ballroom experience, Irwin appeared to be a natural from the start. His slides, tricks, footwork and jumps over Carson made their performances look easy and seamless.
With confetti shooting into the air and the crowd erupting into pandemonium, it was clear that the couple to beat was Irwin and Witney. However, they faced fierce competition from Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, as well as Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, who were deemed among the most strong and accomplished professionals on the show.
A notable aspect of the show and competition is that the competitors do not stay in the competition just because of good scores from judges. It is a combination of that and votes from watchers. Each episode, the hosts of Dancing with the Stars, Julianne Hough (yes, judge Derek Hough’s sister) and Alfonso Ribeiro, advertise how to vote for your favorite contestant. For example, to vote for Alix Earle, viewers would text “Alix” to 21523. Audiences can vote a maximum of 10 times per voting method. The different methods are via text or online at dwtsvote.abc.com.
Many contestants benefit from devoted fanbases who mobilize friends and family to vote. Some netizens speculated that Earle’s massive and loyal fanbase across social media–TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, where she publicized her “Dancing with the Stars” experience and how to vote for her.
Nonetheless, what ultimately set Irwin and Carson apart was not only their technical precision but also their emotional storytelling. Week 5, titled “Dedication Night,” required each celebrity to honor their dance to someone impactful in their lives and to incorporate them into the dance. Among all of the dances from Dedication Night, Robert Irwin’s dedication to his mother, Terri Irwin, stood out most. Robert and Witney danced a contemporary piece to a song titled “You’ll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins. The routine was heartfelt and deeply moving.
Another memorable dance that pulled many fans into Robert’s story was on the show’s 20th Birthday, where Irwin and Carson were assigned to dance a Foxtrot. The dance featured a surprise appearance of Robert’s sister, Bindi. The dance concluded with a video projection of a childhood footage featuring Robert, Bindi and Steve across the dance floor. Unaware that the tribute was planned, Robert understandably broke down in tears, kneeling to touch the dance floor; the emotional moment touched many viewers.
Irwin’s talent, authenticity and heartfelt story ultimately carried him to the finale, where he and Carson were crowned leading the champions of Season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars.” Throughout the season, fans and contestants alike praised Irwin for his cheerful and contagious attitude. Irwin, characteristically announced that he would put his prize money and “Dancing with the Stars” bonuses toward supporting his family’s conservation mission at the Australian Zoo, helping to pay off the debt that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Irwins proved once again that their legacy extends far beyond wildlife conservation, it also shines brightly under the ballroom lights.
