<P> Originally a low - budget film by a new studio, Vestron Pictures, Dirty Dancing became a massive box office hit . As of 2009, it has earned over $214 million worldwide . It was the first film to sell more than a million copies on home video, and the Dirty Dancing soundtrack created by Jimmy Ienner generated two multi-platinum albums and multiple singles, including "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", which won both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a Grammy Award for best duet . The film's popularity led to a 2004 prequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, as well as a stage version which has had sellout performances in Australia, Europe, and North America . </P> <P> A Dirty Dancing remake was released in 2017 . </P> <P> In the summer of 1963, 17 - year - old Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) is vacationing with her affluent family at Kellerman's, a resort in the Catskill Mountains . Baby is the younger of two daughters, and plans to attend Mount Holyoke College to study economics in underdeveloped countries and then enter the Peace Corps . Her father, Jake (Jerry Orbach), is the doctor and friend of Max Kellerman (Jack Weston), the resort proprietor . Baby is befriended by Max's grandson Neil (Lonny Price). Baby develops a crush on the resort's dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Johnny is the leader of the resort's working - class entertainment staff . Baby encounters Johnny's cousin Billy on a walk through the resort grounds, and helps him carry watermelons to the staff quarters . The staff hold secret after - hours parties in their quarters, and Baby is surprised by the "dirty dancing" they engage in . Intrigued, Baby receives a brief, impromptu dance lesson from Johnny . </P> <P> After Baby discovers that Johnny's dance partner, Penny Johnson (Cynthia Rhodes), is pregnant by Robbie Gould (Max Cantor), a womanizing waiter who is also dating and cheating on Baby's older sister, Lisa (Jane Brucker) and several other female guests, she borrows money from her father to pay for an illegal abortion for Penny . Jake agrees to give the money to Baby even though she says she can't tell him what it's for . Penny eventually accepts the money, but says there is another issue . Johnny and Penny perform a weekly dance at the Sheldrake, another nearby resort . Penny will miss her performance if she goes for the abortion, and they will forfeit their salary for the season . Billy suggests that Baby fill in for her . Johnny scoffs at this, which overcomes Baby's initial resistance . Billy and Penny insist that Johnny can teach anyone to dance . Johnny begins to teach Baby the mambo, and the two spend several awkward practice sessions together . Baby gradually begins to improve, and a romantic attraction grows between them . </P>

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