Patrick Swayze - Dance Tribute For Tragic Swayze

Dancers in New York City paid tribute to late actor PATRICK SWAYZE on Monday night (02Nov09) - awarding him a posthumous honour for his contribution to the industry.

The star, who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year (Sept09), trained as a ballet dancer before he began his career on Broadway with roles in hit musicals Grease and Chicago. His fancy footwork helped land him his breakthrough film role in 1987 movie Dirty Dancing.

Swayze's widow, Lisa Niemi, attended the annual fundraiser for Career Transition for Dancers, a charity which helps dancers whose careers have been cut short by injury.

She took to the stage to collect the Rolex Dance Award, and in a tearful acceptance speech she told the crowd her husband is now "dancing with the angels."

Swayze died from pancreatic cancer in September (09) at the age of 57.