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YouTube Dirty Dancing couple donate baby pictures to Kingston maternity unit

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Kingston Hospital received the photographic artwork from the couple famous for re-enacting Dirty Dancing’s finale.

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By Katriona Ormiston

YouTube’s Dirty Dancing couple donated their photographic artwork to Kingston Hospital’s maternity unit after the birth of their first baby.

The maternity unit received the donation from YouTube hits James Derbyshire and wife and famous photographer Julia Boggio.

Lifestyle photographer Mrs Boggio gave birth to a baby girl in May in Kingston maternity ward.

“Every time we were sitting in reception we noticed the pictures which had been there for 20 years had a very hospital feel,” said Mr Derbyshire.

“Kingston Hospital are wonderful. They treated us magnificently for the nine months Julia was carrying our beautiful daughter.

“The midwives, nurses, and receptionists would all greet us.

“We had to do something to say thank you.”

The couple became famous re-enacting Dirty Dancing’s finale as their first dance as husband and wife.


The video went global clocking up close to nine million views.

They were invited by Oprah on to The Oprah Winfrey Show where the couple were surprised by Patrick Swazye, who danced with Mrs Boggio.

The nine huge canvases hang in reception and the couple are organising the donation of 20-30 additional pieces of art.

These will decorate the rest of the maternity wing in rooms and along corridors towards the end of this year.

Mr Derbyshire said they chose big vibrant images to reflect the excitement of pregnancy.

“The babies are gorgeous, and there are lots of pregnant mums,” he said “I have to confess there is a big picture of my daughter up there as well.”

Mrs Boggio won Merton Entrepreneur of the Year award three weeks ago for Julia Boggio Studios which she runs with her husband.

The families photographed all come from south-west London.

Mr Derbyshire said: “Wimbledon, Wandsworth, Southfields, Putney, Parsons Green, Fulham, Notting Hill, Chelsea; this whole area, is nappy valley.

“The statistic I’ve been told is that there are more babies born per square metre in south-west London than anywhere else in the rest of Europe.”

Mr Derbyshire said the parents approached for permission to use their baby’s images were delighted.

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