Dancing With the Stars professional dancer Witney Carson and her partner Robert Irwin are forming an incredible sibling-like bond while they tackle their performances.
“We’re genuinely having such a fantastic time. It feels like we’ve grown into this brother-sister pair,” Irwin, 21, shared with Us Weekly following the episode aired on Tuesday, October 7.
Carson, 31, resonated with Irwin’s feelings, saying, “Absolutely! I feel very protective over him, especially as the DMs can sometimes get wild. I tend to get a bit defensive on his behalf.”
Since the season kick-off, Carson has taken on the role of matchmaker for Irwin, even cheekily mentioning how her DMs are overflowing with suitors hoping to win a date with the wildlife conservationist.
“He’s a fantastic partner and truly humble,” she praised to Us on Tuesday. “I have to keep him grounded at times, pushing him a little bit more, but honestly, he’s just as wonderful as you see on screen.”
The duo displayed their great rapport as they did a cha-cha to the song “Try Everything” from *Zootopia* during Disney Night. During the performance, Irwin revealed that he is lending his voice to a character in the sequel of the beloved animated film.
The couple achieved a total score of 22 out of 30 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, who encouraged Irwin to flaunt more of his physique.
“I think that might have been a remnant from last week, given that we didn’t put too much effort into the costume department,” Irwin humorously revealed to Us, alluding to the shirtless moment he shared during TikTok Night on September 30.
“We aimed to shift the vibe a bit while still maintaining that element of fun and fluidity, but with a different dance style,” he explained. “The cha-cha was quite a challenge, yet incredibly enjoyable, especially to celebrate a film like Zootopia. Once Shakira’s music starts, the hips just can’t help but move!”
Carson and Irwin successfully avoided elimination, ensuring they could perform again during the upcoming Dedication Night on October 14. (Hilaria Baldwin and pro Gleb Savchenko were eliminated from the show on Tuesday.)
“We’re planning a heartfelt dedication to my family and my mom, [Terri Irwin],” Robert shared with Extra on Tuesday. “I can’t wait for it!”
As the competition unfolds, Robert expressed that his late father, Steve Irwin, would have supported his dancing venture. (Steve passed away in 2006 at the age of 44 after a tragic encounter with a stingray while filming a wildlife documentary in the Great Barrier Reef.)
“After going through this experience, I’m sure he’d be thrilled,” Robert told Us in September. “I believe he would love being here, as it’s such an adrenaline rush, which is truly what he cherished.”
Dancing With the Stars is aired on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
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