THE FANS' LOVE STORY: How The Movie 'DIRTY DANCING' Captured The Hearts Of Millions! (12 page)

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

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 our 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?

(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.

It started on August 5
^th
Saturday 2006. I was going to London with my mother and stepfather to watch the West End production of
Guys and Dolls
that Patrick was starring in. I’d seen the advertisement on his website and knew that was my chance of making that little girl’s dream come true. So, I booked the ticket and we set off from Preston Lancashire to London. As soon as he came on stage, I was totally amazed, shocked, couldn’t believe he was there a few feet away from me. The show was amazing but that wasn’t enough. After the show, we raced round to the stage door where we waited for an hour and there he was standing right in front of me talking to the crowd, all to be over too soon, and I never got my chance to say a few words to him face-to-face. Heading back to Lancashire, I was still in shock that I’d seen the man I had idolized for the last nineteen years, but I still wasn’t satisfied. So, I went back, with my friend. I drove all the way back—the 300 miles, got there early to the stage door to wait for Patrick to arrive, but he was held up in a traffic jam on the way to the theatre. I was informed by his bodyguard that he would be rushing back to go on stage, so we had to go and take our places inside, but he would get Patrick to sign my program for me.

Inside we watched the show and came out early before it finished, to get back to the stage door to get my front row position to see Patrick—when he came out to chat to the crowd, as he did after every production. Once again, I was talking to the bodyguard. He was very friendly and agreed to get my book signed by the man himself.

Patrick again came out to talk to the crowd and I was standing at the front. I waved my hand in his direction and he came over and shook my hand. He spoke to me—asked my name. Amazing! I had done it. Patrick then went back through the gates and people were starting to leave. I stood there with my friend upset that the bodyguard had not done as he’d said and gotten my program signed. So upset and deciding where to go next, his bodyguard came over to me, and said he needed a word with me. I was so very worried as to what maybe I had done wrong. I stepped forward to be taken through the electric gates to the stage door. As they opened—standing right in front of me was Patrick Swayze—looking right back at me, Clare Gregan, the girl with a dream from nineteen years ago . . . So you see, dreams really do come true.

That is just an insight into my story. I went on to date Patrick’s bodyguard, met Patrick, and spent time and shared several more occasions with himself and his lovely wife, Lisa and cast and crew of the production.

I wanted to tell my story. As silly as it is probably to some people, that was my dream, and I had made a promise that one day I would meet my idol . . . Although it didn’t take me to America that time to hunt him down (guess he saved me a flight fare), I got there in the end, and that was the best three months of my life.

It all started back one rainy Saturday afternoon with a six year old girl. And now my four year old little boy is amazed by the film. He knows all of the words to “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life” and is planning on following in Patrick’s footsteps. The film means so much to some people.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing my dream with you . . .

Will you continue to watch
Dirty Dancing
?

With my little boy now taking over my obsession with the film, having me do the last dance routine with him in my front room, I think I’ll be watching the film for some years to come yet!

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

Honestly, I think it was more money making than anything . . . I also feel that you cannot make such a fantastic film into a stage production and get from it so much like you do from the film. Therefore, I would not choose to go and watch the live performance.

Do you think a sequel could be made?

I think the film should remain as a one and only. People have their own view as to how Johnny and Baby went on from “The Last Dance.” The film was a heartfelt and general feel-good factor. I think a second would only ruin the memory of
Dirty Dancing
. Sequels are never good and with such a special film that put Patrick on the front line internationally, I think it would be disrespectful, and with only a slight few of the original cast alive, I just couldn’t see it working.

Additional Demographic Information

Marital status:
With partner

Education:
Graduated from Wellfield High, England, July 1998

Occupation/profession:
Personnel Administrator

Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member:
Joined in 2005

Age 30. Lives in Resita, Romania.

March 2008 (e-mail interview).

Has seen
Dirty Dancing
2–15 times.

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

First time I was sixteen years old. Now I have thirty years.

Why do you like
Dirty Dancing
so much?

I love the music, the actors . . . [since] the first time, I like Patrick and I think he is just great, a big actor.

How has
Dirty Dancing
impacted you personally?

When I first see this movie, my dream was to learn to dance.

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

Another film that moves me is
Titanic.

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

No, and I regret this.

Will you continue to watch
Dirty Dancing
?

Yes, I love this movie and when I am feeling lonely, I just love to stay in bed and enjoy this wonderful film.

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

I think this is a great idea. Yes, I hope to see this stage production.

Do you think
Dirty Dancing
is popular with many people in Romania?

Yes, it is very popular, especially between females of 20–50 years.

Additional Demographic Information

Education:
College

Occupation/profession:
Middle management

Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member:
No

Age 32. Lives in Amberg, Germany.

April 2008 (e-mail interview).

Has seen
Dirty Dancing
101–500 times.

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

1988. Twelve years old.

Why do you like
Dirty Dancing
so much?

. . . With the film everything [goes together]. The music, dances, actor[s], history.

How has
Dirty Dancing
impacted you personally? On the questionnaire, you checked off, “has given hope that love exists and people will do the right thing,” and “has provided relief in a difficult time. “Anything else you would like to say about this?

Applies exactly to me.