
I was flipping channels yesterday & happened upon Dirty Dancing. It had just started (maybe 5 mins in) & so for the first time in a loooong time, I watched the whole movie. Considering it came out in 1987 or thereabouts, I have to say it's held up pretty well.
One thing that struck me -- I don't think I've watched the whole movie since I started teaching dance classes. I could soooo relate to Johnny's frustration as he was trying to get Baby up to speed for the performance. Without a doubt, at some point or another while teaching, I've said 90+% of the same things he said. And have had the same sense of frustration when it doesn't happen, at least with some of my more advanced students or when trying to get the dance team ready for a performance.
And with having to go almost back to square one with re-learning lifts recently after having not doing them for a year and a half or so, I was not only relating to that scene, but also laughing at their attempts. Been there, done that, and am in some ways repeating that same learning curve.

The other thing I'd sorta forgotten was how well Patrick Swayze can move! Given his background, it's not surprising -- his mother was a well known choreographer/dance teacher, so he grew up dancing. He had also trained with a major ballet company (Joffrey, I think, but am not sure anymore) & had been on Broadway prior to turning to film. Until Dirty Dancing came out, however, most people had no idea he could dance....anyway, watching him move in this movie, his dance technique & training was very evident. His footwork was crisp & his whole body moved with a complete integration/fluidity that an "actor who has learned some choreography" lacks.
The one bad but highly amusing thing that hit me as I was watching, though: at various times, I had images of the Saturday Night Live "Chippendale audition" skit with him and Chris Farley playing in my head. I could have done without that!
2 comments:
i keep waiting for you to post some sweet youtube footage of you doing your thing----at LEAST one of you and swayze in the water!
Sorry, Mindi. Patrick's agent made me sign a release form that said I would only show those photos/video privately before he and I went into the water.
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