Page 1 of Dance Dirty With Me

Dirty Dancing is one of my all time favourite movies. It was released when I was fourteen. Being rated a fifteen at the time, in order to see it in the theatres, I would have to lie about my age - of course I did.

It became an important part of my teenage years, I know it forwards, backwards and upside down and can recite every word.

The thought of adding it to my Dance Lovers Collection was a daunting one, could I do it justice? Then I watched the 2017 remake as a musical film and realised that the bar was now set so low it wouldn’t matter. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it, don’t, not without quantities of wine and an emotional support buddy. I went in cold and I’m still suffering.

I spent a long time working out different plots that were inspired by the story, but to me none of them worked. I knew every look and sigh of Baby’s, the nuance of every scene, it’s what I grew up with and what I wanted to read.

So this is a faithful retelling of the story, pretty much untouched, except with a few tweaks. I’ve set it in the UK as that is most familiar to me - I promise I will attempt a US book soon. I live fairly close to the Butlins resort which was the first ever in the UK so I have used that as the basis for Poplins. Then as well as changing Baby’s gender, I changed the gender of Max’s grandson, to granddaughter so it made sense. All other characters remain the same or were created for this retelling. Of course, I’ve also given them the HEA they deserve.

This version is set in 1968, it was a time when sex between men had been legalised the previous year but only if over 21. 1967 was also an important year as it legalised the termination of pregnancies, but in 1968 there were still strict rules and it was difficult to be granted permission.

I’m sure not everyone will like my retelling, which is fine, they are free to write their own. I look forward to reading it.

Content Warnings:Homophobic language, pregnancy of side character and termination.

This book intended for adult readers. It contains scenes of sexually explicit material between male characters. If this is not for you then please do not read my books.

“Are we nearly there yet?” My sister Lisa’s voice pulls me from my dozing. I’d fallen asleep against the window of the car, so I stretch my neck to iron out the kinks and wipe the heel of my hand across my mouth in case I drooled.

“Not long now,” dad calls behind him and steers the Ford Cortina down another narrow lane.

Feeling cramped in the back seat, I unfold my arms and knock a box, probably full of makeup, off the seat.

“Baby!” she shouts at me, and starts to gather it together. ‘Mum, he’s being mean.”

“I’m not. It was an accident,” I reply heatedly. It was an accident but I’m not going to apologise. I have no idea why she needs to travel with so much stuff anyway. And she’s the one who’s usually mean to me, which is her prerogative being three years older than me. I’m the baby of the family, which is how I got my nickname, but I don’t mind. It’s always mademe feel a bit special as it’s hard being the younger brother to someone like my sister.

“Can you see the sea yet?” My mum pipes up and our bickering is now forgotten. I share a look with Lisa, remembering the holidays we used to have when we were kids and looking for the sea was an excitement.

“Mum, we’re not five anymore,” scoffs Lisa.

“No, you’re not.” Mum’s voice holds a touch of sadness. “You’re all grown up, and it’s our last time together before Baby goes to university.”

She’s right, we haven’t had a family holiday for at least ten years. Dad’s been busy becoming one of the best consulting doctors in Sheffield, so apart from a few days spent hiking in the Peak District, this is the longest time he’s taken off recently, and I think it’s mostly because of Mum’s constant nagging. Three weeks at the Poplins resort on the East Coast isn’t my idea of fun, but Dad received an invite from one of his patients, the owner of the resort, so... I only hope I can make it into Skegness, which I’ve heard has a good mod community. I’m not really one of them, but their music’s cool, and anything has got to be better than three weeks stuck in a holiday camp with my parents and older sister who only worries about her appearance.

“We wouldn’t see the sea unless we drove into it,” I point out peevishly. There’s nothing to see at all, just miles of flat roads, fields, and hedges. “It feels like we’re driving into the middle of nowhere.”

“It looks idyllic,” Dad says wistfully, and I feel a small twinge of guilt. He’s probably looking forward to some down time as he’s been working hard lately. I lean forward and squeeze his shoulder, and he pats my hand and gives me a small smilein the rear-view mirror. He’s always been my mentor and rock. He does deserve this break.

The large white rectangular buildings of the holiday camp loom into view, framing a small ornamental lake with fountains. Beyond them I can see hundreds of cabins, a large swimming pool, sports courts, and a funfair.

Dad pulls up outside the central building, which is labelled reception. Above that is written the slogan—sunshine whatever the weather.

I climb out of the car and gaze around. The place is milling with people, holiday makers, and I assume staff as they all seem to be wearing similar blazers—different colours, but they all have a P emblazoned on the pocket.

“Jake!” We all swivel to see a large man in a suit walking towards us. He shakes my father’s hand, then places an arm around his shoulders, and with the other he gestures to the camp.

“I’d have to give this all up if it wasn’t for you.”

“You’re looking well, Max,” my father replies and they fall into talking. I move to get our cases out of the boot of the car and see a man, maybe a couple of years older than me and wearing a dark green blazer, already there.

“Billy, put them in cabin A12,” Max calls out to him.

“Right-ho, sir,” Billy answers, and picking up a couple of cases he asks us to follow him. I pick up the other cases and fall into step with him.

There’s a loud crackle and then a voice comes out of nowhere.

Campers, are you ready for fun? There’s croquet on the south lawn, water polo in the pool, and don’t forget our dance class in the Empress ballroom starting in thirty minutes.

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