November 6th, 2009 by soul4dance

Paying respect to late actor Patrick Swayze, dancers in New York City honored him with a posthumous honour for his contribution to the industry. The star, who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year (Sept09), skilled as a ballet dancer before he began his career on Broadway with roles in hit musicals ‘Grease’ and ‘Chicago’.

His fancy footwork helped him to land his breakthrough film role in 1987 movie ‘Dirty Dancing’, reports The Daily Express. Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, was present at the annual fundraiser for Career Transition for Dancers— a aid organization which helps dancers whose careers have been cut short by injury.

She went to the stage to collect the Rolex Dance Award on Swayze’s behalf. And in a tearful acceptance speech, she said that her husband is now “dancing with the angels.”