How Bindi Irwin plans to honor her later father Steve Irwin, by dancing

Like Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow, Bindi Irwin—daughter of the late wildlife expert and naturalist, Steve Irwin—has made it her priority to carry on her father’s legacy and to make him proud. Since her father’s death in 2006, when she was just 8-years-old, the teen has stayed involved with the Australia Zoo, which was founded by her grandparents in 1970 and popularized through her dad’s exploits, including no small amount of crocodile wrestling.

Now, the 17-year-old plans on taking her family’s history of fancy footwork to the dance floor as she competes in season 21 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. With show regular Derek Hough as her partner, the teen hopes to take the gold.

“At home at Australia Zoo with our conservation work, it’s all about teamwork,” the younger Irwin told ET. “You have to have that passion and dedication in your soul, and you have to let that out to be able to do a great job. I feel like it’s similar here. We’re working as a team. We’re trying to achieve greatness together.”

Starting this Monday, Bindi will take that concentration on teamwork to the show’s season premiere, where she’ll dance the Jive. If she make it further down the road, there may even be some hardcore rock involved.

“Dad’s favorite music was AC/DC. He loved it so much!” said Bindi. “Any of that kind of rock he loved.”

But even if she doesn’t make it, Bindi says she’ll be more than happy to return to her work on conservation efforts at the Australia Zoo. After all, it’s something that brings her closer to her dad.

“Thinking about home today,” Bindi wrote in an Instagram post shared on September 5, Father’s Day in Australia. “My heart forever lives @AustraliaZoo, just like Dad’s always did.”  

Check out Bindi’s sweet moves when she makes her DWTS debut this Monday, September 14 at 8 PM ET/PT.

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Image via Instagram