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DWTS' Robert Irwin Reveals Which Season 35 Star Already Reached Out to Him for Advice
Robert Irwin is en pointe with his Dancing With the Stars advice.
Indeed, the reigning season 34 champion—who won alongside pro partner Witney Carson—is using his experience to encourage the upcoming cast of season 35. And that includes Savannah Bananas baseball star Jackson Olson, who already asked for tips when they united for his casting announcement in May.
“He was like, ‘Dude, Robert, what do I do?’ And I'm like, ‘Mate, you're an athlete, you got that mindset,’” Irwin told E! News in an exclusive interview. “I was just like, ‘The most important thing is just let go and give yourself to the process.’”
The 22-year-old added, “If you can do that, if you can completely lean in, it'll change your life.”
In fact, Irwin—who is now hosting the Dancing With the Stars spinoff competition series The Next Pro—is encouraging all of the upcoming contestants to “lean in hard” to the all-consuming process.
“Whatever it is that's going on in your life, you have to realize this is going to be so different,” he explained. “It doesn't matter what you have done in your life, this is going to be an experience that will change everything. It will change the way you view so many things. You'll learn so much about yourself.”
Plus, the wildlife expert noted, “If you want to fully enjoy this experience and make it far, you've got to lean in and you've got to trust the process and trust your pro.”
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Irwin’s life-changing time on the show doesn’t just have him excited for the new season’s cast—it’s also fueling his passion for his role as host of The Next Pro, debuting on ABC July 13.
As he put it, in order to “reach through the television screen to really spread a message” as a contestant, you need an amazing pro partner “who is with you to guide you on that experience.”
“There is no way I would have gotten past week one without Witney Carson, the absolute GOAT that she is,” he shared. “So, to be part of The Next Pro, I felt like I got to see from my perspective as a host and as a contestant what I think would make a great pro, someone that I would want to teach me.”
Disney/Vince Valitutti
And from his view, getting to be alongside the 12 contestants vying for a spot as a pro on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars was “really special.”
“I felt like I got to go from the contestant [to] almost a bit of a mentor for them,” Irwin said. “It was really nice.”
Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro premieres on ABC July 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with episodes available the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Ahead of the show’s premiere, keep reading to meet the 12 contestants with hopes to become the show’s next pro.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Erik Linder
When the Swedish-born performer isn't busting a move in the dance studio, he's catching waves surfing in Los Angeles where he currently resides.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Natalie Jolley
Awards and titles? This pro's got plenty. Natalie is a proud eight-time U.S. national dance champion, a six-time U.K. champion, a four-time international champion and has won the World Smooth Championships four times.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Selena Hamilton
Selena has appeared alongside KATSEYE in GAP's iconic choreography-focused 2025 ad campaign and has also toured as a backup dancer for Doechii.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Tristen Sanders
The Georgia native specializes in hip hop in addition to ballroom.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Stephani Sosa
If this Latin powerhouse looks familiar, it's because her brother is none other than DWTS pro Ezra Sosa.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Briar Nolet
The Los Angeles-based dancer and model has found quite the social media fandom with over 800,000 Instagram users following her every footstep in the dance studio.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
AJ Pritchard
This Brit knows how to work it for the TV cameras. The older brother of Love Island alum Curtis Pritchard made it to the semi-finals on season seven of Britain's Got Talent before spending four seasons as a pro on Strictly Come Dancing. So, he’s no stranger to being judged by The Next Pro’s Shirley Ballas.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Adele Zaikman
This Israeli Ukrainian athlete currently resides in Los Angeles where she works as a performer and dance teacher.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Allen Genkin
Based in San Jose, Calif., he’s graced the DWTS dance floor before, winning the show's "Ballroom Battle" challenge in 2012.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Nina Mayster
Nina owns and runs her own Pennsylvania dance studio.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Benji Castro
This Miami artist made it to the top seven competing on So You Think You Can Dance? season 16.
Disney/Maarten De Boer
Jake Monreal
Another member in the DWTS extended family, he competed on Dancing With the Stars Juniors in 2018 before appearing on season 13 of So You Think You Can Dance?, where he placed seventh.
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