It's summer, 1963. Baby, 17 year old and all idealistic innocence, is vacationing with her parents in the Catskills. While exploring the resort grounds late one evening, she is drawn to the staff quarters by stirring music. There she meets Johnny the hotel dance instructor, as experienced in life as Baby is naive. Mesmerized by the sexy beats and uninhibited movements of "dirty dancing," Baby soon becomes Johnny's prize pupil - in dance and in love.