Patrick Swayze to receive Rolex Dance Award

Washington, (ANI): Cancer-stricken Patrick Swayze is to be honoured with a dance award. The star, who has been battling the deadly disease since the beginning of 2008, will receive the Rolex Dance Award at a gala in New York, reports Contactmusic.

Rolex Watch USA president Allen Brill says, "It is an honour to present the Rolex Dance Award to Patrick Swayze, one of the most recognisable American actors, dancers, and singer/songwriters of our time."

Swayze, a three-time Golden Globe nominated actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter is best-known as the romantic lead in Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and for the "North and South" TV-series. His first professional job was as a dancer for Disney on Parade.

In the 70's, the Texas native moved to New York to further his formal dance training. He studied with the Harkness Ballet Company, and then the Joffrey, before joining the Eliot Feld Ballet as a principal dancer. He later starred as Danny Zuko in the long-running Broadway production of Grease before his debut in films.