Location: United States
Member Since: Jan. 27, 2012

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Sue Tabashnik

Biography

Sue Tabashnik's newest book Patsy Swayze Every Day, A Chance to Dance published in July 2022. This book is a celebration of this icon and trailblazer who was a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and mentor in the performing arts world for decades. It is the only place where you will find a detailed account of Patsy's life and achievements via 29 interviews and 64 photos (most color and rarely seen). The relationship between Patsy and her beloved son, Patrick is detailed, and also their places in performing arts history.

Sue Tabashnik's book PATRICK SWAYZE The Dreamer became available in August 2017. This book focuses on how Patrick Swayze's dreams for himself and others sustained him and guided him to live a zest-filled and hopeful life even while dealing with great adversity. Honor and celebrate Patrick while reading about his career, his connection with his family, and his involvement with advocacy for dance, cancer advances, and conservation. Learn what his professional colleagues and fans have to say about him. Finally, get a look at what I think Patrick would say to us now.

Sue also published two unique Dirty Dancing tribute
books, The Fans' Love Story: How the Movie DIRTY DANCING
Captured the Hearts of Millions! (July 2010) and The Fans' Love Story
ENCORE: How the Movie DIRTY DANCING Captured the Hearts
of Millions! (December 2013). She became a fan of Patrick Swayze
in 1988. She was an active member of the Official Patrick Swayze
International Fan Club from 2000-2010, which included writing
numerous articles for the club magazine. She had the good fortune
to meet Patrick Swayze several times at movie screenings and benefit
events from 2002-2004, which led her to become an even bigger fan.
Sue has worked as a master's level social worker since 1977. She has
lived most of her life in the Detroit area.

Author website: www.likedirtydancing.com

In memory of my grandmother, Leah Tabashnik, and Patrick Swayze:
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of my first three books will be
donated to the Patrick Swayze Pancreas Cancer Research Fund
at the Stanford Cancer Institute.

Smashwords Interview

What do your fans mean to you?
The fans of Patrick Swayze and Dirty Dancing mean everything to me, as I think all of us fans share some type of positive, humanistic, energy connection that is special to find in this day and age. I really believe that Patrick Swayze was such a unique, talented, wonderful man who continues to influence so many people all over the world. I know that his entertainment work and the way he lived his life; ie his spirit and character, continue to be such an inspiration to me. I was very lucky to have met him four times.
You clearly like and admire Patrick Swayze as well as the movie Dirty Dancing. How do you separate Patrick Swayze from his character in Dirty Dancing?
First of all, there are many similarities between Patrick and the character of Johnny in Dirty Dancing. Patrick told Barbara Walters, in that ever-so-famous television interview in 1988, that he really related to the character of Johnny in terms of fighting to like himself and to believe in himself. I do think that Patrick had a life-long battle in believing that he was good enough. Obviously, both Patrick and Johnny had dance in their souls and were just naturally so gifted and talented. I think that both Patrick and Johnny were tremendously loyal and sensitive people. Finally, Patrick played a hero as Johnny in Dirty Dancing and in real life remains a hero to many, many folks around the world.

Additionally, regarding separating out Patrick from his portrayal of Johnny, I think that Patrick was more worldly, more educated, more spiritual, and more talented than Johnny; especially notable was that Patrick was a classically trained ballet dancer and a singer/songwriter. Patrick commented that he had to hold back his dancing skills in Dirty Dancing. Patrick also had a more solid family background and a huge connection with nature and animals.

When I think of the incredibly wide range of roles that Patrick played so brilliantly in his career in the movies and television, it just blows me away. He was so versatile and believable as Sam in Ghost, Vida in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, Bodhi in Point Break, Jack in Three Wishes, and on and on. So even though I think he struggled with self-worth sometimes, I think he did connect with the truth within himself (which he spoke of many times) and seemed physically fearless.

Speaking of courage, I have to, of course, discuss his brave, strong battle against pancreatic cancer. I mean filming a full television series in the midst of such a horrible illness, giving that inspirational speech at Stand Up to Cancer, and conducting himself with dignity and grace and still being passionate about life during his illness, just made Patrick even more of a hero to me.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Sue Tabashnik online

Website: http://www.likedirtydancing.com
Twitter: @stabashnik
Facebook: Facebook profile
Blog: http://www.likedirtydancing.blogspot.com

Where to buy in print

http://www.likedirtydancing.com

Books

The Fan's Love Story Encore by
Price: $5.95 USD. Words: 41,640. Language: English. Published: February 10, 2014. Categories: Nonfiction » Entertainment » Entertainment industry, Nonfiction » Entertainment » Biography
Just can’t get enough of Dirty Dancing? Want to pay homage to the movie and to Patrick Swayze? Want to feel the power of love and relive the magic of Dirty Dancing? Get behind-the-scenes information that you won’t find anywhere else. 
Rub elbows with Dirty Dancing producers, stars, singers, songwriters, and filmmakers as you enjoy stories and photos related to the movie.

Sue Tabashnik's tag cloud

catskills    dancing    dirty dancing    jennifer grey    love    movies entertainment    patrick swayze    romance    the 60s