{"id":6821,"date":"2025-11-13T08:00:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T08:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=6821"},"modified":"2025-11-13T08:00:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T08:00:28","slug":"the-ballroom-fell-silent-before-the-music-even-began-robert-irwin-21-stood-alone-in-the-spotlight-barefoot-dressed-in-his-fathers-signature-khaki-as-the-first-notes-of-the-haun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=6821","title":{"rendered":"The ballroom fell silent before the music even began. Robert Irwin, 21, stood alone in the spotlight \u2014 barefoot, dressed in his father\u2019s signature khaki. As the first notes of the hauntingly beautiful ballad \u201cSpirit of the Wild\u201d filled the air, the audience realized this wasn\u2019t just a dance. It was a conversation between a son and the father he lost before he could even say goodbye."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Robert Irwin\u00a0honored his late dad with a moving dance inspired by one his sister, Bindi, performed ten years ago.<\/h2>\n

Dancing With the Stars<\/em>\u00a0celebrated its 20th birthday on Tuesday night. The two-hour episode marked the show\u2019s 20-year run, featuring appearances by previous professional dancers, cast members, and champions. The seven remaining contestants each performed a dance inspired by an iconic freestyle routine from a past season.<\/p>\n

Six of the final seven also participated in a Relay Dance Challenge that paired celebrities with a returning champion. Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, last week\u2019s top-scoring team, received immunity and didn\u2019t have to participate in the Relay.<\/p>\n

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For the dance challenge, Alix Earle\u00a0teamed up with Season 33 winner\u00a0Joey Graziadei, Robert Irwin\u00a0was paried with Season 32 winner\u00a0Xochitl Gomez, Dylan Efron\u00a0shared the floor with Season 20 winner\u00a0Rumer Willis, Andy Ritcher\u00a0danced with Season 29 Winner\u00a0Kaitlyn Bristowe, Elaine Hendrix\u00a0teamed up with Season 24 Winner\u00a0Rashad Jennings, and Jordan Chiles\u00a0competed with Season 4 Winner\u00a0Apolo Anton Ohno.<\/p>\n

The night was\u00a0filled with emotional moments, including a powerful tribute to\u00a0Dancing With the Stars<\/em>\u00a0performers who have passed\u00a0away.<\/p>\n

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One of the most emotional moments of the night was Robert Irwin\u2019s touching tribute to his late father, \u201cCrocodile Hunter\u201d Steve Irwin.<\/h2>\n

Robert Irwin was only 2 years old when his father, wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin, was killed. Nine years after Steve\u2019s death, his daughter Bindi was a contestant on\u00a0Dancing With the Stars<\/em>, eventually being crowned the Season 21 winner.<\/p>\n

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Bindi\u2019s DWTS run was filled with tribute to her late dad, and her brother, Robert, channeled that for his dance Tuesday night. Robert and his professional partner, Witney Carson, revisited Bindi\u2019s Most Memorable Year dance with her partner, Derek Hough. The pair danced a powerful freestyle dance to Leona Lewis\u2019s \u201cFootprints In The Sand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahead of his dance Tuesday, Robert teased the performance, saying, \u201cfamily is everything to me, and I can\u2019t wait for this special night.\u201d He also shared a sweet throwback clip of his dad telling Bindi about Robert\u2019s birth.<\/p>\n