Influence
The characters of Baby and Johnny were actually influenced by the life of the writer Eleanor Bergstein. Just like Baby, Bergstein came from a liberal family who often visited Catskills resorts during the 60’s. Bergstein’s father was also a doctor. Moreover, her nickname was “Baby” until she was 22 ~and~ her real first name was inspired by a famous woman with ties to Eleanor Roosevelt. Just like Johnny, Bergstein was a brilliant “dirty dancer” who learned how to groove at house parties and later would become an Arthur Murray instructor.
Influence
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