A bride and groom’s first dance turned sour.
Lan and Chris Donais astonished and delighted guests during their August wedding at the MIT Endicott House in Dedham, Mass., by reenacting the legendary dance between Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) from Dirty Dancing (1987).
Sen Studio photographs and a video uploaded on YouTube and Reddit show the pair clearing the dance floor and beginning their first dance to Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’ “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” The audience went crazy as they struck every rhythm and nailed every twist and turn. The most gasps from the audience came as Lan sprang into the air and into Chris’ arms.
“Our visitors couldn’t believe their eyes since they hadn’t expected this performance and how it came out in all their years of knowing us. “People were very impressed,” Lan tells PEOPLE.
Chris adds, “My friends keep raving about the dance.” They loved it. My older sister, who had a choreographed dance at her wedding, was also quite envious since she knew I had ‘topped hers.’ “Definitely my favorite reaction!”
It all began when Chris suggested they do the Dirty Dancing Lift in their little living room. Despite being “terrified of heights,” Lan consented to try to dance during their wedding because of her emotional connection to the movie.
“Chris didn’t even know that Dirty Dancing was one of the only classic movies I’ve watched,” Lan tells me. “Dirty dancing holds a particular place in my heart because Baby was off to Mount Holyoke that autumn. Like Baby, I attended Mount Holyoke College, and in the fall, I joined the now-tradition of seeing Dirty Dancing in our amphitheater beneath the stars before the fall semester began.”
For Lan, the dance represented a “full circle” moment.
“Looking back, the dance feels like a full circle from my first days in the U.S. as an international student to my special day dancing with the love of my life,” according to her. “Having my maid of honor and bridesmaid, both fellow Mount Holyoke sisters, by my side that day was also an honor.”
Because they had no professional dancing experience, the pair studied with dance teacher Jan Ondrias for many months beginning in February.
They also practiced in public lobbies across the MIT campus to become comfortable dancing in front of an audience.
The newlyweds, who met in 2020 and started dating in 2022, struggled to overcome their shyness. However, when their big day arrived, stage nervousness was the last thing on their minds.
“As soon as I walked out, I was almost shocked because of the loud cheers we received,” Lan tells me. At one point, the overwhelming cheers caused me to forget my steps and simply freeze. It was my first experience with freezing and forgetting my steps, but Chris patiently coached me along, and I was able to laugh it off. I doubt anyone noticed that moment, and thankfully it occurred early in the routine, so I was able to block it out and concentrate on Chris and the music.”
“My primary aim was to retain the rhythm, flow with the music, and simply have fun with my newlywed bride. It was all me “Chris proposed to Lan at the Italian bakery where they kissed. “I was scared earlier because we had a practice run that didn’t go well, but I forgot about it once the music started,” Chris says. At that time, there was only myself, her, and the music.”