It was one of the most emotional nights in Dancing with the Stars history. Bindi Irwin, partnered with Derek Hough, performed a Freestyle dance during the Season 21 finale that quickly became more than just choreography — it became a heartfelt tribute to her late father, Steve Irwin.
Set to Leona Lewis’s Footprints in the Sand, the routine was already breathtaking in its execution, blending grace, strength, and raw emotion. But as the final notes played and the dance reached its close, Derek revealed a surprise that Bindi hadn’t expected: a photograph projected behind them of young Bindi with her dad, “The Crocodile Hunter.”
The moment hit like a wave. Bindi, visibly overcome, broke down in tears on stage. She wasn’t alone — judges and audience members alike were seen wiping their eyes, moved deeply by the tribute. What had begun as a performance ended as a moment of remembrance, one that connected beyond the ballroom.
The judges praised both the dance and its heart. Carrie Ann Inaba called it “brilliant,” Julianne Hough said Bindi’s season had “left an imprint on everyone’s hearts,” and Bruno Tonioli described it as “the power of dance in its most pure and effective form.” Their perfect 30 reflected not just flawless technique, but the emotional weight carried in every step.
For Bindi, only 17 at the time, the dance was more than competition — it was a way to honor her father’s memory on a stage that reached millions. Her tears told the story of a daughter who has carried her father’s legacy with her every step of the journey.
The powerful Freestyle capped off an incredible night for the young conservationist, who also earned a perfect score earlier in the finale with a high-energy Quickstep. Heading into the final night of the competition, she stood as a frontrunner, not only for her technical brilliance but for the authenticity she brought to every performance.
The tribute reminded viewers of the heart at the center of Bindi’s journey on Dancing with the Stars. She wasn’t just competing for a Mirrorball Trophy — she was dancing for her family, for her father’s memory, and for the joy he instilled in her life.
In a season filled with talent, it was this emotional moment that stood above the rest, proving that dance at its best is not just about movement, but about storytelling, love, and legacy.
