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Being Baby

Somewhere far, far away is a place where only a certain gal would go, the sort who gets excited about a watermelon, would love to do a lift in a lake and who still swoons when Patrick Swayze immortalises the line 'Nobody puts Baby in the corner'

I was 11 when I first watched Dirty Dancing. It was 1987 and 11-year-olds were pretty innocent then. I recall wanting to be Penny, Patrick Swizzle's glam, blonde dance partner, but after twigging that she was 'in trouble', I switched my wannabe allegiance to Baby, although 'that' scene in Johnny's shack did seem rather saucy.

Little did I know that 20 years later, I'd be re-living Baby's every move, along with four fellow DD freaks, at the very hotel where it was filmed. Set amid 2,600 acres of the beautiful Appalachian mountains of Pembroke, Virginia, about five hours south of Washington DC, it was by pure coincidence that it became the chosen location for what would be a huge, iconic movie, after one of its producers happened to stumble up on it.

Now, several times a year, it hosts themed Dirty Dancing weekends. All are welcome, but it helps if you like, no, LOVE, the film (it's played on a loop in the lobby all weekend). The hotel has an intensely likeable feel. It's not fancy, but it's cosy and comfortable with friendly staff and their irresistible relaxed Virginia drawl. Don't ask for ranch dressing, ask for raaaaaanch.

Hit the floor

Friday night's dancing takes place in the cheesily named Activities Barn. It was a little like arriving as an evening wedding guest where you don't know anyone, and there's only one solution: knock back the G&Ts and get on the dance floor with made-up mambo and faux foxtrot. And once Rick the DJ started spinning those discs, the rhythm was gonna get you, regardless.

While the Activities Barn didn't quite resemble the film's gritty dance shack where sexy couples got raw and raunchy, the hotel and surroundings recall the movie to perfection. The Saturday tour, led by manager Buzz who was there during filming, is for hard-core fanatics only. Bring your cotton dress and frumpy blue cardy and you too could run across the lawn to the Main House, pose by the Staff Quarters sign (watermelons, sadly, not provided) and crouch on the kitchen floor where Baby finds Penny crying and has to shake off creepy Neil Kellerman to get help.

In the breakfast room, site of many scenes with the Houseman family, cad waiter Robbie and Max Kellerman, I got to re-enact my favourite line telling anyone and everyone to 'put your pickle on everybody's plate college boy and leave the hard stuff to me.'

One of the most iconic spots is the tranquil, lakeside gazebo, location for Penny's merengue lesson and that tearful father-daughter conversation. Close by is the Houseman's cabin. Film geeks will love the fact that the door is the exact same one where Daddy Houseman shunned Johnny when he tried to thank the doc for his help with Penny. If it all gets too much, take advantage of the many walking and cycling trails which offer sublime views of the Virginia countryside.

The vista from atop Bald Knob (yes, giggle away) mountain is particularly pretty. The Wilderness Conservancy, who maintain the parkland, also run guided walks. Back at the hotel, there's a heated, outdoor pool, hot tub, lakeside beach and all manner of Kellerman-style activities from volleyball to giant checkers. We chose bunny-hopping across the lawn.

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