Derek Hough on Bindi Irwin: 'She's Excited For Every Moment'

Bindi Irwin stops to talk with a friend outside the Dancing With The Stars studios in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon (September 15).

The 17-year-old conservationist and pro partner, Derek Hough, earned a 24 for their Jive, tying for the top of the leaderboard with Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess.

“Bindi is awesome. I cannot say enough great things about her. She really reminds me of the magic of living life. It’s about the small things and the connections with people,” Derek wrote in his TVGuide blog. “She’s always so present and in the moment. And she’s teaching me to love all animals! I love animals, but she’s teaching me to love all of them, including ants.”

He added, “It’s also fun to watch her get frustrated. I think you saw a lot of that in the routine. The energy in the room felt amazing. She came off the floor and she had tears in her eyes. She was like, ‘That dance just changed my life.’ We take for granted so many different things and she really doesn’t. She’s so excited for every moment.”

25+ pics inside…