Watch Bindi Irwin’s Emotional Tribute to Father Steve Irwin
Bindi Irwin earned Dancing with the Stars Season 21's first perfect ten during Week 4 with a beautiful Contemporary routine to honor her late father "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. The theme of the week was Most Memorable Year for the celebrities and undoubtedly the 17-year-old was forever changed in 2006 when her father was killed in a tragic accident with a stingray. Bindi was only 8 at the time and reliving the moment on the show proved to be an extremely emotional journey from beginning to end.
WATCH: Bindi Irwin Talks Remembers Her Late Father, "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin
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"What shaped me the most would probably be when my dad passed away. It's been nine years and I've never really dwelled on that point. I think I'm ready to tell that story," Bindi said in rehearsals with partner Derek Hough.
Practicing the dance proved to be a moving experience for Hough as well who wanted to cheorograph a routine to honor Bindi's dad in the best way possible. Hough's suggestion to have Bindi reach out and grab his finger in a childlike manner during the dance instantly conjured up a memory of she and her dad doing the same motion, instantly bringing the normally bubbly Bindi to tears.
"When Bindi lost a father, the whole world kind of did," Hough said. "We all feel like we knew him, which is why it was so devastating. That gets you thinking about just how precious life is," Hough said.
WATCH: Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough's moving Contemporary dance.
The result of the couple's rehearsals was a powerful Contemporary dance to the song "Every Breath You Take" by Aaron Krause featuring Liza Anne, which didn't leave a dry eye in the house. The judges praised Bindi for sharing her story in such a breathtaking way that would have made her father especially proud. The dance made the pair achieve the top spot on the leaderboard for the week of 28 points with the help of the first perfect ten of the season given to them by Bruno Tonioli.
WATCH: DWTS Most Memorable Year: Bindi Irwin, Nick Carter & More
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