Robert Irwin knows he’s got big shoes to fill on “Dancing With the Stars.”
While exclusively chatting with Page Six in the ballroom Tuesday night, the wildlife conservationist raved over the advice and support he’s received from his older sister, Bindi Irwin, who won the Season 21 mirrorball with pro partner Derek Hough.
“Bindi said, ‘Really lean into this and really savor every second,’” explained Robert, who is the son of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin and conservationist Terri Irwin. “She was here the whole time. She made it the whole three months. She won and said it went by in the blink of an eye.”
Robert, 21, went on to say that Bindi, 27, is “everything” to him, which is a big reason why he said “yes” to taking on the challenge of “DWTS” in the first place.
“Bindi is an inspiration to me in so many facets of life. Dancing is one of them, but in every facet. She’s just always been, almost like a second mom to me, you know?” he continued.
“My family being here to support [me and Witney], to be here on this journey, it means the world. It’s really cool.”
Although the “DWTS” cast is stacked with talent this season, many fans on social media have already called Robert a “frontrunner” who has a “great chance” at victory. Not to mention, he’s in good hands with his pro partner, Witney Carson, who took home the Season 19 mirrorball with Alfonso Ribeiro.
Robert said the advice he’s received from Bindi has really “echoed” what Carson has been sharing with him in rehearsals: “Just soak it all in.”
“Every moment, you won’t get back,” the choreographer, 31, explained. “All the nerves, that’s always going to come, but just remembering there’s a bigger purpose. It’s more than a dance competition. It’s how we make people feel.”
Still, Carson admitted to Page Six that the pressure is definitely on to hopefully get “another Irwin” a mirrorball. Her strategies for making that happen?
“I would just say, take it one week at a time. Just be in charge of what you can control,” she said. “I’ll do my very best, and he puts forth his very best effort every day. So we’re just going to continue to do that!”
During Tuesday’s “One-Hit Wonders Night,” Robert and Carson performed a tango to “Move Your Feet” by Junior Senior.
The duo received a total score of 22/30 from judges Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli — tying them for first place on the leaderboard with “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Whitney Leavitt and her pro partner, Mark Ballas.
The results came just one week after Hough told Robert that his premiere night performance — a jive to “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf — was the “best first dance” in the history of “DWTS.”
“I honestly don’t know what to say. The last two weeks, I have just been in a state of absolute shock,” the zookeeper said of receiving that type of feedback.
“I’m so grateful for the judges and for this whole process, but also, I’m just grateful to be living out what is the childhood dream … and to be on this journey with Witney, it’s the best.”
“Dancing With the Stars” returns next Tuesday for “TikTok Night” at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes airing on Hulu the following day.
