In the final scene of 1987’s Dirty Dancing, Baby (Jennifer Grey) transforms before viewers’ eyes from a watermelon-carrying, spaghetti-armed girl to a confident and assured woman. Set to “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life,” the most memorable image from what has often been called the most goose-bump-inducing dance scene in movie history occurs when Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) triumphantly hoists Baby high over his head in a dramatic lift. The film made a star out of Swayze, a classically-trained dancer, and apparently taught Grey some lasting steps as well. (The actress recently won the 11th season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.)
Top 10 Movie Dance Scenes
Dance involves movement across space and time—something that the cinema does very well. TIME presents the most memorable dance scenes in film history.
‘No One Puts Baby in the Corner’ in Dirty Dancing
Full List
In Step
- A Wet, Soft Shoe in Singin’ in the Rain
- The Ballet Scene in The Red Shoes
- The Twist in Pulp Fiction
- Fred and Ginger in Top Hat
- ‘No One Puts Baby in the Corner’ in Dirty Dancing
- On the Floor in Saturday Night Fever
- ‘Jet Song’ in West Side Story
- The Madison in Band of Outsiders
- The Prison Dance in Jailhouse Rock
- ‘The Dance of the Hours’ in Fantasia