<P> In the summer of 1963 , 17 - year - old Frances `` Baby '' Houseman ( Jennifer Grey ) is vacationing with her affluent family at Kellerman 's , a resort in the Catskill Mountains . Baby is the younger of two daughters , and plans to attend Mount Holyoke College to study economics in underdeveloped countries and then enter the Peace Corps . Her father , Jake ( Jerry Orbach ) , is the doctor and friend of Max Kellerman ( Jack Weston ) , the resort proprietor . Baby is befriended by Max 's grandson Neil ( Lonny Price ) . Baby develops a crush on the resort 's dance instructor , Johnny Castle ( Patrick Swayze ) . Johnny is the leader of the resort 's working - class entertainment staff . Baby encounters Johnny 's cousin Billy on a walk through the resort grounds , and helps him carry watermelons to the staff quarters . The staff hold secret after - hours parties in their quarters , and Baby is surprised by the `` dirty dancing '' they engage in . Intrigued , Baby receives a brief , impromptu dance lesson from Johnny . </P>
how old is baby in dirty dancing movie
17 - year - old