“Dancing with the Stars” star Robert Irwin has been explaining how he’s keeping the legacy of his father, the beloved Steve Irwin, alive.
Robert, a zookeeper, conservationist, and television presenter, just like his dad, wowed audiences with his dance on the Tuesday, September 16, opening episode of season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars.” Judge Bruno Tonioli said it was “Great,” while his fellow adjudicator Derek Hough called it “Probably the best first dance I have ever seen on this show.”
Following on from his impressive dancing debut, which scored him 15 points out of 20 and placed him joint-top of the first week leaderboard, Robert has been speaking to E! News about his performance, and how he’s continuing Steve’s important work.
Robert Irwin ‘Needs a Nap’ After His 1st Dance on ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Interviewer Will Marfuggi sat down with Robert and his professional partner, Witney Carson, and he began by asking the Australian, 21, how he was feeling the day after his brilliant first dance on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Robert said, “The adrenaline is still coursing through me at this point.” He continued, “I’m just starting to come down off of it and, I’m like, I need a nap!”
Footage was then shown of Robert and Carson receiving their scores of 8 from Hough and 7 from Tonioli, and Marfuggi asked if the table-topping score was causing Robert to feel any pressure moving forward on the show.
Robert responded in typically positive fashion, saying, “I feel pressure, but I say this all the time, I didn’t coin the phrase, but pressure is a privilege.”
Further footage was then shown of a young Robert with his father, prompting Marfuggi to ask what Steve would think of the man Robert has turned into. Robert replied, “A lot of people often ask me, it must be tough, you know, every day you’re reminded of your dad. That must be hard. And I say, really, it’s not, it’s actually one of the greatest joys of my life.”
Robert then went into how he can keep Steve’s legacy alive.
Robert Spoke of Keeping His Dad’s ‘Sense of Passion and Enthusiasm’ Going
Robert told Marfuggi, “If I can keep his sense of passion and enthusiasm, and his work as an environmental advocate, if I can keep that alive and thriving into a new generation, I’ve done my job.”
He then found humor in the fact that he’s doing exactly that in a way he never thought possible on “Dancing with the Stars.” Robert added, “And I never expected in a million years that I’d be able to do that through dance. I don’t know what Dad would say if he were here, but I think he’d be pretty stoked.”
Marfuggi and Carson then collectively asked Robert, since they were on the topic of passing things down, if Steve had been a good dancer. Robert emphatically answered, “Mum said he had like the furtherst thing from any semblance of rhythm. It was unbelievable.”
Robert will be hoping to maintain his high standards on “Dancing with the Stars” into the second week. “One-Hit Wonders Night” takes place on September 23, when he and Carson will be performing a Tango to Junior Senior’s “Move Your Feet.” We wish them the best of luck.
