Robert Irwin and Witney Carson are sharing secrets behind their Dancing With the Stars rehearsals.
“I don’t feel like I’m a drill sergeant, but we definitely work really hard,” Carson, 31, shared on the Wednesday, October 15, episode of “The Viall Files” podcast. “We laugh a lot, but we definitely get stuff done. You have to. You only have four hours a day. You have to learn an entire new dance by Tuesday.”
With such limited time, Irwin, 21, joked that he gets creative in making the most of those four special hours.
“I always try to show up as early as I can to try and stretch but you don’t have the room,” he explained. “There’s someone in there rehearsing and then the room sort of becomes available. You’re kind of limited to time.”
When host Nick Viall asked if there’s any wiggle room — even on the downlow — to rehearse longer than four hours, both parties said no.
“We’re not allowed any extra time,” Carson explained.
The revelation will likely impress Dancing With the Stars fans, who watch celebrity contestants go from amateur dancers to performers earning high scores from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli in just a few short weeks.
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson Disney/Eric McCandless
While Irwin is quick to praise his professional dance partner as a “goer,” he feels like he has to start from “square one” every Wednesday after he advances into the next round of competition.
“Obviously, every Tuesday is the show and every Wednesday feels like the first week all over again,” he explained. “It’s a new style. We start back from scratch and it’s humbling. I always tell Whitney, ‘It’s like teaching a stick how to dance.’ There’s no rhythm at all but we just work so hard and we’re just an awesome team. I’m very, very grateful for you Witney.”
On Tuesday, October 14, Irwin and Carson moved many of the judges to tears during Dedication Night.
While delivering a contemporary dance to “You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins, the pair paid tribute to Robert’s mom, Terri Irwin. The performance earned an impressive score of 35 out of 40.
“It has been an emotional week in rehearsals. I’ve been thinking a lot about my [mom] and her strength, I’ve been reminiscing on the times we’ve spent as a family and how she has kept my dad part of my life,” Robert wrote via Instagram on October 12. “This dance is for my mum, it’s for anyone who’s lost someone… and it’s for all the strong mothers of the world who deserve our recognition and appreciation ❤️.”
As Robert continues to impress his partner and the judges, the conservationist is also winning over the fans.
Robert Irwin has no doubt his late father, Steve Irwin, would be a major fan of Dancing With the Stars. “After doing this experience, I reckon I think he’d be stoked,” Robert, 21, exclusively shared with Us Weekly after the Tuesday, September 16, premiere. “I reckon he would love it in here. This is like […]
Fortunately, he has Carson to help him stay focused — even with the outside noise.
“I feel very protective over him, especially when the DMs get a little crazy,” she previously told Us. “I get a little protective.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
Prove your DWTS fandom with Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv! Compete against other fans and Us editors in the Bracketology DWTS fantasy league this season to predict which pairs will make it to the finale for season 34. Get access to exclusive content, stats and a chance to win prizes. Join the league for free today!
