Dance
Dirty Dancing scene that left audience ‘out of breath’ is still as powerful 30 years later
This scene is truly timeless.
Maria Pangilinan
05.17.23

People who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s will surely know and love the movie “Dirty Dancing,” starring the late Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Even today, many people are familiar with the film and of course, its memorable dance scenes.

The cult classic movie came out in 1987 and has become one of the most beloved romantic movies since then. It also enjoyed commercial success and was one of year’s highest-grossing films.

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YouTube Sabi Eva

The movie is set in 1963 and tells the story of a privileged 17-year-old Baby, played by Grey, who is sent to a sleepy Catskills resort for the summer. It is her last summer before going to college, joining the Peace Corps, and becoming a doctor like her father.

However, she meets dance instructor Johnny Castle, played by Swayze, and is instantly attracted to him.

They eventually fall in love, but Baby’s father forbids her to see him. After a series of twists and turns that revolve around the young couple, Johnny makes Baby join him dancing at the end-of-season talent show.

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YouTube Sabi Eva

He tells the crowd that she has made him a better person, and the couple finally performs the dance they’ve been practicing all summer, including an incredible lift at the end.

At the end of the dance scene, Johnny and Baby reconcile while everyone around them joins them in dancing around the room.

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YouTube Sabi Eva

The song they dance to is “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warness.

Thanks to the movie, the song won numerous awards the year it came out, including an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Amazing!

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YouTube Sabi Eva

While the movie produced several timeless lines, like, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” and other memorable scenes, nothing beats its famous dancing scene at the end.

This final dance scene has stood the test of time and is still as powerful even more than 30 years after the movie came out. It’s become an iconic scene of pop culture.

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YouTube Sabi Eva

It also cemented Patrick Swayze as one of the best dancers of his generation of actors.

Interestingly, Grey shared that the big lift at the end of the scene was never rehearsed.

“I only did it the day I shot it. Never rehearsed it, never done it since,” she told The Guardian in an interview.

The movie had an unsuccessful spinoff in 2004 and a TV movie remake in 2017, but none of them matched the success of the original movie.

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YouTube Sabi Eva

Finally, there’s news that it will finally get a proper sequel, starring Jennifer Grey, this year. It will also be called Dirty Dancing and feature several original characters.

We can’t wait to see how it compares to the original!

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YouTube Sabi Eva

In the meantime, we’ll continue enjoying the iconic dance scene of the original movie. The energy of this scene is electrifying and we love how all the characters came together through dance in the end.

The movie has stood the test of time and we’re sure many people, both young and old, will continue to enjoy if for many more years.

Watch the dance scene that people around the world have loved for over 30 years below!

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YouTube Sabi Eva

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