THE FANS' LOVE STORY: How The Movie 'DIRTY DANCING' Captured The Hearts Of Millions!

by Tabashnik, Sue

  Emily Bailey lives with her husband, Warren and son in Chesterfield, Virginia. Emily is standing on the porch of the Houseman Cottage (now-a-days known as the Virginia Cottage) looking out at Mountain Lake. “My wife is truly a gift from God that I don’t appreciate near enough. So for our four year anniversary, I was trying to do something really special. While reading Virginia Wine Lover magazine, I found out that Dirty Dancing, her all-time favorite movie, was filmed at Mountain Lake Hotel in Pembroke, VA. I further found out that our anniversary fell on one of the Dirty Dancing weekends. I told her to pack up for a weekend getaway and we drove our motorcycles the 4.5 hour trip. We pulled up in front of the hotel, and when she realized where we were, she was beside herself. It was an anniversary to remember!”

  Five

  INTERVIEWS OF THE FANS

  ELLY ALI

  Age 17. Lives in Melbourne, Australia.

  July 2008 (e-mail interview).

  Has seen Dirty Dancing over 500 times.

  What year did you first see Dirty Dancing? How old were you?

  Did someone tell you about the movie or did you just happen to hear about it? Did you initially watch it by yourself or with someone else?

  I first ever saw Dirty Dancing in the year 2005. I was fourteen years old. I had heard about Dirty Dancing through my parents. They would talk about how popular it was back in their time in the ’80s. My mum told me she went to see it at the movies when she was a teenager, and she said she really loved it. She said it was one of those movies that you would love to watch over and over again because of its great music, dancing, and acting. My dad had also told me a lot about it and how popular it was in the ’80s, especially the music which is still played and heard by many people today—including myself. So one day I went out shopping and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on my very own copy of Dirty Dancing. I initially watched Dirty Dancing with my dad. It was a Saturday night, and we put it on, and we had the time of our life watching it.

  Why do you like Dirty Dancing so much?

  I love Dirty Dancing so much because it’s a movie that has so much meaning, and it has great actors and dancers and music in it. I especially love how Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey can work together in such a natural, sexy, and trusting way. I have always been a big fan of Patrick Swayze, ever since I was a little girl, and I have always loved to sing and dance. When I watched Dirty Dancing, the whole movie blew me away, and it made me realize that I can get out there and do what I love and what I have a big passion for, and not let anyone or anything stop me. I have learned never to be put in a corner and stand up for what I truly believe in, no matter what it costs me.

  How has Dirty Dancing impacted you personally?

  You mentioned on the questionnaire that:

  I can relate to the movie in so many ways, such as being seventeen and breaking away and individuating in your own unique way. Me and Jennifer Grey are alike, and I really look up to her in a way that she has given me the strength and power to stand up for myself and stand up for what I truly believe in, no matter if it’s to dance or to fall in love. I really thank her for that. Patrick is a dream come true. They could not have picked better actors to suit this film. Those two have a great chemistry which nobody can take away from them. It will live on forever because nobody puts Baby and Johnny in a corner.

  Anything else you want to say about the above?

  No, that covers it.

  I think that you mentioned that you want to be a singer and dancer.

  How has Dirty Dancing influenced you in that regard, and are you actively pursuing a career as a singer/dancer?

  Dirty Dancing has influenced me to get out there and have confidence, pride, and passion to do what I love to do best, and don’t let anything get in my way or don’t let anything stop me from living my dreams and finding happiness. I am currently looking into finding the right place for me—a dance studio, singing lessons.

  I want to follow my heart. After all, Dirty Dancing is exactly why I started to dance in the first place. It’s my passion and long-term commitment.

  Are there other ways the movie has impacted you?

  Yes, there are other ways the movie has impacted me and they are: stand up for what you believe in no matter what it costs you. Don’t let anyone put you in a corner. Things are not as perfect as they seem—trust, honesty. Believe in yourself and don’t let others weigh you down and make you feel like you are worthless or treat you like you are nothing.

  In addition to Dirty Dancing, how many movies have you seen multiple times? If there are other movies that you have seen multiple times, is Patrick in them?

  I have seen multiple movies which definitely feature Patrick Swayze in them. They are: One Last Dance (at least twenty times), Ghost & Road House (watch both all of the time), The Outsiders, Red Dawn, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and Father Hood. I own all of Patrick’s movies and love all of them. One Last Dance is the most touching film I have ever seen.

  Have you ever met Patrick Swayze or anyone else from the cast? If so, what was it like?

  No, I have never met Patrick Swayze or anyone else from the cast. I wish I could say yes, but that would be lying. I would love one day to meet Patrick Swayze and I never say never because things happen when you least expect them to. It would be a dream come true if I ever met Patrick Swayze or cast from the film.

  Will you continue to watch Dirty Dancing?

  Yes, I will indeed continue to watch Dirty Dancing. No matter how many times I have already seen it over the previous years, I will always love Dirty Dancing, and I still to this day continue to watch it. I have even learned all the dance routines. I know the script from start to finish, and I constantly listen to the soundtrack over and over again, especially “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life,” “She’s Like The Wind,” “Hungry Eyes,” “Cry to Me,” “Be My Baby,” “Yes,” “Overload,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me,” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.” I love all the tracks, but they are my top nine that I repeat over and over.

  What do you think about Dirty Dancing, the movie being made into the stage production, and do you plan to see the stage production?

  I think Dirty Dancing, the movie, would be a great stage production. I would definitely plan to go and see it on stage, but I will not feel as passionate about the play as I feel about the movie unless the actual cast from the film was to do the stage production.

  Do you think a sequel could be made?

  It’s hard to tell. I recently saw Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. I can’t say that I disliked the film but as soon as I saw that Patrick Swayze made a cameo appearance, I enjoyed it even more. It just cannot be compared to the first Dirty Dancing—a film that many people from all over the world saw, a film that everybody talked about, a film that became a phenomenon, and just could not be replaced or be compared to films in today’s generation that have story lines that are rare and seem almost impossible.

  Seeing Patrick in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights made me want to see the movie to see the scenes that he is in. He still remains the hotel dance instructor but this time in Havana, Cuba not at Kellerman’s. He still teaches ladies how to dance. He shows great interest and helps Katie overcome her fear towards her feelings of her connection towards her dance partner, Javier and how she moves. If I compare this to the 1987 Dirty Dancing, he helps Baby overcome her fear of the lift. He makes her find trust in him and they fall in love despite what her family thinks. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights however shows Katie does find that trust in Javier, and they fall in love even though her parents forbid her. I still don’t feel that connection towards this adaptation as I did for Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. They made this movie one that nobody could ever forget. I’m only seventeen years old, and I strongly feel that the way Patrick and Jennifer worked together with such great teamwork and sharing a soul level connection in this movie—nobody could ever fill that gap because if those two were not as great as they were, nobody can ever be better or think they were bett
er. They were just brilliant, and they made it so natural and they made it seem so real.

  I would definitely love to see the whole cast together again. It would be fantastic to see Baby and Johnny together aging after soooooooo many years, with a few surprises added in, such as Penny has a baby, Lisa and Billy are involved in a relationship, and everyone is happy and changed, but Dirty Dancing never faded—it’s still alive … just to see the two of them—Patrick and Jennifer—together again as they make such an amazing couple.

  Do you know anyone else around your age who watches Dirty Dancing?

  Yes, my best friend, other friends, and I have cousins who watch it but they are not as passionate and obsessed as I am about the film, and especially about Patrick Swayze.

  Is there anything else you want to say about Dirty Dancing?

  Dirty Dancing is by far my favorite movie and it reminds me of this time in my life, being seventeen and seeing life through my own eyes.

  I own two versions of the film. I have just the DVD (on its own) and I recently bought the 20th Anniversary Edition. I couldn’t help myself. I just had to buy it. I bought it because it features never before seen deleted scenes, alternate scenes and extended scenes, cast interviews, music videos, Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze (my favorite by far), multi-angle dance sequence, outtakes and screen tests, trivia track, and much more.

  I just can’t get enough of Dirty Dancing. I really appreciate Eleanor Bergstein, Emile Ardolino, Kenny Ortega and everybody else who made the movie possible. Wonderful, Fantastic, Brilliant, and Entertaining. It has been an exhilarating experience.

  Additional Demographic Information

  Marital status: Single

  Occupation/Profession: Student, singer, dancer, administration worker

  Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member: No

  HELENA DAMIGOU

  AGE 24. Lives in Athens, Greece.

  December 2008 (e-mail interview).

  Has seen Dirty Dancing 51–100 times.

  What year did you first see Dirty Dancing? And how old were you?

  It was the year of 1996. I was about twelve years old. I remember it as if it were yesterday. My parents had plans for the night and were going out with some friends. I was supposed to stay home with my older brother and I made plans of my own. I would sit in front of the TV, eat my homemade popcorn and relax. The moment I turned on the TV, I saw a movie that was about to start and it instantly attracted me. I loved the song that it was playing in the beginning. I loved the characters, the plot, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. It seemed like something was keeping me on that couch, a feeling I had never felt before. From that day on, I fell in love with Dirty Dancing.

  Why do you like Dirty Dancing so much?

  Dirty Dancing, in my opinion, is the ultimate love story—a story about two people that the chances of them ever meeting were very few. But they did meet, fell in love against all odds and protected that love with their hearts and souls. Became better persons along the way and realized that love is worth giving, as well as losing everything. I had seen many movies that talked about love stories, great passions, unspeakable romances but this movie has heart. It has rhythm, it has spirit. It moves you in a way few things do in this life. But the best thing about this movie is that you see this love as it grows, as it flourishes, and you become a part of it—you feel like you are part of it.

  How has Dirty Dancing impacted you personally?

  The reason that makes people watch movies has a deeper meaning than just plain old entertainment. It’s a way to escape from our daily problems, a way to experience emotions or situations that every day life rarely gives you the chance to. Every person finds something in the kind of movies he likes that is missing from his own life, or that he would like to have lived. Dirty Dancing is the kind of movie I like because it gives me the opportunity to witness a love so strong and so overwhelming—like the one I have always dreamt of having. It’s really the realization of the fairytale with the prince on his white horse that comes and takes me away and we live happily ever after, only in a more “up-to-date” kind of way. Many people, including myself, have lost faith in these kinds of romances and love stories because they seem so unreal, almost like fairytales. But this movie really makes me believe that there is still hope for every person in this world to find the love of their life, and no matter what the obstacles are, to have the chance to let themselves get carried away. It’s really a lighthouse of hope that is shimmering in our hearts and that is keeping our faith in love strong and everlasting.

  In addition to Dirty Dancing, what are names of movies that you have seen multiple times, and is Patrick in them?

  The movies I have seen multiple times are: Ghost, with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore; Frankie and Johnny, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino; Pretty Woman, with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere; Steel Magnolias, with Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts; What Dreams May Come, with Robin Williams, Annabella Sciorra, and Cuba Gooding Jr.; The Lake House, with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, and last but not least Beyond Borders, with Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen. Actually, I can go on and on because I love movies, but these are the ones I have seen so many times I lost count. I have seen other movies with Patrick, but I haven’t seen them with the same frequency as Dirty Dancing.

  Have you ever met Patrick or anyone from the cast? If so, what was it like?

  No, I haven’t had the honor to meet any one of them.

  Will you continue to watch Dirty Dancing?

  Of course, I will continue to watch Dirty Dancing because it keeps that feeling alive and it’s also a lovely movie to see over and over again.

  What do you think about Dirty Dancing, the movie being made into a stage production, and do you plan on seeing it?

  I honestly don’t know how it would be like if the movie were to be made in the stage production because of the lack of sceneries that are really a big part of the movie and very important in the plot. I would surely go and see it because it’s still a challenge to anyone who would have taken the risk to make DD a stage production, and it would be something interesting to see.

  Do you think a good sequel to the movie could be made?

  There is a sequel to the movie as I have seen in the video stores, called “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.” I haven’t seen it yet but I believe, without criticism, that there can only be one Dirty Dancing with that passion, that music, those actors, that greatness this movie brings out. I don’t think that anyone, no matter how hard he would try, could duplicate this movie.

  Do you think Dirty Dancing is popular in Greece?

  DD is very popular in Greece, even though I had my doubts at first as far as how many people would know about this movie here. But after I had discussed it with a bunch of friends and relatives, I discovered that not only they knew about it and had seen it, but they also like it very much.

  Anything else you want to say about Dirty Dancing?

  Words are never enough when I want to express my feelings about this once-in-a-lifetime movie. The only thing I can add is that the memory of this epic love story keeps me warm in the heart and draws a smile on my face when I go to bed at night … it’s really my favorite fairytale …

  Additional Demographic Information

  Marital status: Single

  Education level: University

  Occupation: Insurance advisor

  Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member: No

  CLARE GREGAN

  Age 26. Lives in Preston, England.

  January 2008 & November 2008 (e-mail interviews).

  Has seen Dirty Dancing over 500 times.

  Why do you like Dirty Dancing so much?

  I feel the film is inspiring, a feel-good film with a great love story to tell. I think the music, dancing, and most of all the actors who played the parts were well suited. It always leaves you with a smile on your face, a warm heart, and a hope we’ll all meet o
ur Johnny Castle one day!

  How has Dirty Dancing impacted you?

  I think the film shows you that we are all different people from different backgrounds. However, at the same time, we can all learn something from one another and more so you learn from the film that sometimes you think you know someone or have an idea of the sort of person they are, when in reality you don’t know that person at all. People can sometimes make themselves come across as something they are not in order to protect themselves. I think it teaches and makes you realize never to judge people without knowing them.

  Also, see answer to question: Have you ever met Patrick or anyone from the cast?

  In addition to Dirty Dancing, what movies have you seen multiple times? And is Patrick in them?

  ICON 10–15 times

  GHOST 80–100 times

  KEEPING MUM 30 times

  TO WONG FOO 15–20 times

  (Patrick is in all of the above movies.)

  Have you ever met Patrick or anyone else from the cast?

  When I was a six year old girl at home one rainy weekend, my mother’s friend came round with a video for them to watch. I was told it was a little too old for me to watch but being the nosey six year old I was at the time, I didn’t give up and sat and watched the film with them. It was that rainy Saturday that I fell in lust with the one and only … Mr. Swayze! After that day and up until this day, I think I have seen the film nearer to 600 times and I’m now 26. I know the whole script—word for word! Dare I admit it! So from that Saturday, I was always found sitting watching Dirty Dancing and I made a promise to my dad that “When I’m a big girl, I’m going to America to find and hunt Patrick down!” That promise I always made sure everyone, including my dad, heard on a day-to-day basis.

  My dad used to come home with the huge posters of him from the music store … Crazy things that mean so much when you are growing up and have an idol! Since then, I have seen every film that Patrick has filmed, joined the fan club, and most importantly that dream that the little six year old girl had those years ago came true in 2006 when I met the man who I grew up adoring and admiring.