Before there was anything resembling social media; Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Blogger, Myspace, etc human beings had to find other means of expressing themselves. In this movie dancing was the choice and means of free and uninterrupted expression of one's emotions. Yet another timeless love story that appeals to all age groups no matter what century you grew up in.
It tells the story of a young sheltered hapless girl who falls in love and learns very quickly what responsibility is all about. It is a romantic drama set in the year 1963 about a young girl who falls in love with a dance instructor at a neighbouring camp.
She falls head over heels with him after just one sight of him doing what is termed as a "dirty dance" and makes it her duty to get close to Johnny. After sneaking around the resort and defying her family, Baby finally gets her opportunity to be close to Johnny and express the way she feels for him through dance.
One of the more resonating scenes in the movie was in the closing minutes of the movie when Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) and Baby (Jennifer Grey) finally get their solo performance and they dance to Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes timeless classic "I've had the time of my life".
Not only is the music in this movie powerful, I also think that people don't understand the power and the resonating effect that this particular dance scene has had on how dance and sexual attraction are now portrayed in movies. It has set the tone for what an attraction between two people should look like and how it should be expressed. The effects of the lift that they perform at the end of of their dance number has been highly referenced over the years. My favourite adaptation can be seen in the 2011 romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love" when the two characters use the lift from the 1987 classic to diffuse the sexual tension in the room .
I love this movie because it has set the bar for what a physical and sexual attraction should look like in a movie without being inappropriate. It makes falling in love seem fun and exciting and intriguing. Baby and Johnny express themselves through dance and when they do, they are filled with such passion and raw emotion that you cant help but watch. This movie is as sexual as it can get without the characters actually having sex.
There are very few movies that you can say have had a great impact on your life or stays with you for a very long time and I believe that Dirty Dancing is one of those classic but not so typical love stories that never gets old. Johnny and Baby's love has transcended time to still be relevant and have as great an impact to this day.
I would definitely recommend this movie as a Must See!
I've had the time of my life music video:
Dirty Dancing Tribute Lift
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