Irish Lad
At 34, Patrick Swayze auditioned for the role of Johnny Castle. He was known for his roles in Grandview, U.S.A. and Red Dawn. Moreover, Swayze was a seasoned danced, thanks to his experience with the Joffrey Ballet. The producers loved him although his agent wasn’t keen on the idea. Once Swayze read the script and saw the multi-level character of Johnny, he took the part, much to his agent’s dismay. As a result, Johnny’s character when from Italian to Irish.
Irish Lad
Dance and Act
The director Emile Ardolino didn’t know much about directing a feature film but he knew one thing – he wanted actors who could dance AND act. Ardolino didn’t want to use the “stand-in” method which had been done with Flashdance in 1983. We guess he knew what he was talking about in the end!
Dance And Act
