Cheryl Burke Talks 'Dancing's' Tribute To Patrick Swayze: 'I Almost Broke Into Tears'

Cheryl Burke and Tony Dovolani recreate the Johnny and Baby 'Dirty Dancing' number as part of a 'Dancing With the Stars' tribute to Patrick Swayze, Sept. 23, 2009 ABCAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- "Dancing With the Stars" paid an emotional tribute to late actor Patrick Swayze on Wednesday night and even the professionals who recreated some of the late actor's most memorable performances were moved.

"It was an honor to be able to pay tribute to Patrick Swayze," professional Cheryl Burke told Access Hollywood's "DWTS" guest correspondent La Toya Jackson following last night's elimination show, which saw Ashley Hamilton and Macy Gray's departure.

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Cheryl danced the Baby part from "Dirty Dancing" with fellow pro Tony Dovolani doing Patrick Swayze's Johnny moves. Their performance to "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" from the film left more than just the audience choked up.

"It actually... I almost broke into tears towards the end," she revealed of her emotions during the number. "I had to hold it in 'cause I had to do this big lift at the end and I was literally, I think like when I came down... my eyes started to water. It just really touched my heart."

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Patrick was an early supporter of "Dancing With the Stars" and although her path never crossed with the actor's, Cheryl said he left a big impression.

"Patrick Swayze, I never met him, but you know, he was such a great man and such a great influence," she said.

And Cheryl's partner, Tom DeLay, who made it through to dance another week, was floored by Cheryl's "Dirty Dancing" tribute.

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"It was spectacular," he said. "She's good at every time she dances and she's so precious, but when she did that jump and that lift it was just, it was, it was brought tears to everybody's eyes."

Patrick, who was 57, died on September 14 after a long battle with cancer.

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