Dirty Dancing scene analysis

The scene starts as Baby runs up to the rehearsal studio wearing a cardigan implying she is insecure about her body. However, as a shock effect to the audience, she is shown in the next shot wearing a crop top (bikini/bra) and shorts. This is a two shot with Johnny therefore Johnny has suggested this costume due to the intensity of training (as a trail of sweat is revealed down his back) or it is her trying to impress him. However, to overshadow Baby's appearance, Penny's costume seems more professional and attractive showing Baby's want to progress to their level.
The CU of her feet in white plinsoles show this amateur level as she turns. The white also displays her innocence of character at this point in the film. Johnny is also shown wearing a white tank top possibly suggesting innocence but as we find out later, he isn't therefore reveals their companionship early on which is needed for this kind of dance. However, these shots are filmed in the dance studio and stage which means production can have more control of the lighting to create a more intimate level between the characters.
The cut from the plinsoles to heels therefore shows the progress Baby is enduring but also what clumsy mistakes she's making along the way creating a relatable comical effect on the audience.
The pan up from Johnny with two pairs of black tights and heels doing the similar movements creates a guessing game for the audience as to who's Baby before the pan reveals the answer showing her want to reach Penny's level therefore to reflect her movements and possibly/most likely seem attractive to Johnny onlooking which is further supported by her using lipstick on the bridge. She is still wearing a white top in this scene but as the shot cuts back to the studio we see that the majority of the top is gone and a CU of her wearing black knickers and tights with Johnny's hand occasionally on her bare hips presenting sexual tension between the two characters. The progression has paid of as both of them look more relaxed and happier as they look directly into each other's eyes, something Baby has struggled to avoid during the sequence.

The following shots show Johnny trying to stroke her armpit and downwards to then hold her hand into a spin. The audience however don't see this aim until the last shot but it's clearly a dance move Johnny wants Baby to learn as he gets annoyed as she bursts into laughter, quite relatedly at his touch which is probably tickly creating further comical effect during the sequence as Johnny tries to do it seriously as Baby fails to keep a straight face. The last two tries are interesting as the 3rd she stops laughing but both their eyes follow the hand making the shot seem more sexual and intense than probably intended whereas the last one seems perfect and more romantic as she makes eye contact with him before the camera follows the hand helping us as an spectator understand the purpose of the move. This panning downwards shot additionally creates intimacy between the characters and spectators making the spectators question whats going to happen next between Baby and Johnny.



$213 954 274 worldwide gross (IMDB source)