Bindi Irwin is sharing an emotional tribute following her brother Robert Irwin’s moving “Dancing With the Stars” performance dedicated to their late father, Steve Irwin. The wildlife conservationist and former DWTS champion, 27, poured her heart out on Instagram after watching her younger brother, 21, perform an emotional foxtrot with partner Witney Carson during the show’s 20th anniversary episode on November 11. The dance honored their father’s memory in a way that left the entire ballroom and their family in tears.
Bindi Thanks Witney & Derek For Their Immense Support
“Incredibly honoured that Robert and Witney danced to ‘Footprints In The Sand,’ a song that I dedicated to Dad 10 years ago during my time on Dancing With the Stars,” Bindi, 27, wrote on Instagram after the show’s November 11 episode.
Disney“This dance healed part of my heart, and I hoped it would do the same for Robert.”
She continued, “Enormous gratitude to Derek and Witney for giving us both the indescribable gift of dancing through grief and finding so much love and peace. And Robert, I know with all my heart that Dad is beaming with pride because of the wonderful man you are today.”
The Emotional ‘DWTS’ Moment That Brought Fans to Tears
During the 20th anniversary episode, Bindi made a surprise appearance in Robert’s heartfelt foxtrot with partner Witney Carson. Their dance was set to Leona Lewis’ “Footprints in the Sand” — the same song Bindi performed to in her 2015 freestyle with Derek Hough when she won Season 21.
At the end of the performance, Robert and Witney separated before Bindi walked onto the floor to take her brother’s hand, finishing the routine together. As the music faded, Robert dropped to the floor in tears as Bindi and Witney wrapped him in a hug.
DisneyThe camera then panned to a touching video of the siblings in their late father’s arms, with their mom, Terri Irwin, looking on. The dance earned a perfect score of 40 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, Derek Hough, and guest judge Tom Bergeron.
Robert Irwin Reflects on His ‘Healing’ Tribute
After the emotional performance, Robert shared his gratitude and pride on Instagram.
“This dance was emotional, beautifu,l and so deeply meaningful,” he wrote on November 11. “I carry Dad’s legacy with me in everything I do, and it was a privilege to dedicate our foxtrot to him.”
Disney“Thank you @bindisueirwin for inspiring us with your freestyle to this song,” he added. “And thank you @witneycarson for once again choreographing such a beautiful story through dance and for creating a space for me to convey raw emotions that I’ve never gotten to share before.”
He ended his post with a nod to his father’s legacy: “I’m a proud Wildlife Warrior, and I’ll always carry on my dad’s mission. I’m so grateful that I can do that in the ballroom.”
A Family That Dances Together
DisneyWhile the performance was one of the night’s biggest highlights, it also became a full-circle moment for the Irwin family. In the weeks leading up to the live show, Bindi and her daughter, Grace, joined Robert during rehearsals. On November 7, Bindi shared a heart-melting photo of her 3-year-old dressed in a sparkly green dress as she visited the studio.
“Celebrating 20 years of @dancingwiththestars. So incredibly special to bring Grace to the rehearsal studio,” Bindi captioned the post. “Her favourite part? ‘Dance class’ with Witney and Uncle Robert. My heart.”
The Irwin family, including Terri, Bindi, Chandler Powell, and little Grace, has been spending time in the United States to support Robert throughout his journey on Dancing With the Stars. For them, this season has been about more than competition. As Bindi shared, dancing together has helped the family heal, reconnect, and honor their father’s enduring spirit.
