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Robert Irwin Comforts Contestant Over Parental Loss on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro

A candid pre-performance talk shows how the series frames dance as a tool for mourning and mentorship.

Overview

  • The July 20 episode of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro staged a week-two challenge asking dancers to translate a personal story into choreography.
  • Host Robert Irwin visited contestant Allen Genkin before Genkin’s routine and shared his own experience with parental grief to offer guidance and support.
  • Irwin and Genkin embraced on camera after an emotional exchange in which Irwin told Genkin, "I'll be right there with you."
  • Genkin performed a Rumba to Charlie Puth’s "See You Again" as a tribute to his mother, received strong praise from judges, and advanced to the next week.
  • Viewers flooded Genkin’s Instagram with supportive comments and the moment builds on Irwin’s earlier public conversations about grieving his father and the DWTS tradition of dedication dances.