6 Things We Bet You Didn't Know About Dirty Dancing

We celebrated the nation’s birthday yesterday, and DS is about to turn 15 (more on that in our September issue), but there’s another big birthday happening this year: Dirty Dancing was released 25 years ago this summer!

To honor everyone’s favorite ’80s-tastic dance film about the ’60s, I’ve compiled a bunch of fun Dirty Dancing facts. Did you know that…

…Val Kilmer was initially offered the role of Johnny, and Sarah Jessica Parker auditioned for the role of Baby?

…many members of the cast have serious dance and theater cred? Kelly Bishop (Marjorie Houseman) originated the role of Sheila in A Chorus Line; Jerry Orbach (Dr. Jake Houseman) started out in Broadway musicals; Jennifer Grey (Frances “Baby” Houseman) is the daughter of Tony- and Oscar-winner Joel Grey; and Patrick Swayze (Johnny Castle) studied at the Joffrey Ballet School and was a replacement Danny Zuko in Grease on Broadway.

…Swayze co-wrote and performed the song “She’s Like The Wind”?

…choreographer extraordinaire Doriana Sanchez danced in the film? (Look for her “Letter to My Teenage Self” in our September issue!)

…Swayze really didn’t like the line “Nobody puts Baby in the corner”? The director, Emile Ardolino, had to sweet-talk him into saying it.

…rehearsals for the movie always devolved into giant dance parties involving almost every cast member, non-dancers included?

And because it’s just necessary, I’ll leave you with Johnny and Baby having the “time of their lives.” Happy 25th, Dirty Dancing!