The atmosphere at the Wales Millennium Centre will be highly charged tonight (Thursday( as the curtain rises on the first performance of the globally acclaimed musical Dirty Dancing.

Actor-dancer Gareth Bailey, who has played the leading role of Johnny Castle all over the UK and as far afield as Hong Kong and South Africa, will enjoy discovering how a new audience responds to the action on stage – not least the customary shrieks from the girls as he strips off his top! - but, performing at the Welsh venue has a special meaning for him.

Gareth has strong links with this area of Wales. Although born in southeast London, he has fond memories of childhood holidays in and around Abergavenny, in particular picnics and long walks on the Sugar Loaf, Skirrid and Blorenge mountains and along the River Usk.

His grandmother Mary Taylor, who lives in Llangenny, is former chair of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, his aunt Glenis Watkins and her family own Wernddu Golf Club.

The two-week run in Cardiff will enable many of his relatives to see the show for the first time – and he's thrilled at the prospect.

Gareth has been with the cast of Dirty Dancing for three and a half years. He says it has been 'an incredible journey'.

As a teenager he competed with the British Junior team at gymnastics then, because he was growing so quickly, switched his attentions to rugby – playing for Bromley RFC.

Luckily he managed to avoid the kind of rugby injuries that might have altered his looks! In fact he says most injuries he has suffered have been as a dancer – an interest that started when he was 16.

Gareth went on to train in musical theatre at the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts, with classes split between dance, singing and acting.

He says he took inspiration for his current role from the cult film version of Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze.

"I loved the film – we watched it every Christmas. Obviously you can't recreate cinematic close-ups on stage but you can take inspiration from that incredible energy in the performances.

"In my first year, when I was playing Robbie and understudying the lead, I did a lot of fitness training."

As a dancer-actor there are few more demanding roles than that of Johnny Castle the dance instructor who teaches young Baby some lessons in life – and having to go topless meant he concentrated on acquiring a lean body.

"I had a professional trainer who helped me do a three-month body transformation. It taught me about discipline leading to success.

"I went down from 93kgs to 83kg then built up muscle to get back to 88kg – about 9-10 per cent body fat.

"In the depth of training I was on a rigid diet – eating porridge for breakfast and during the day four chicken breasts, two tins of tuna, steaks, 15 scrambled egg whites and two protein drinks.

"Nowadays I'm more relaxed about it but I try to keep a balance. I go to the gym twice a week and make the effort to 'eat clean' at least a few days in the week."

The stage version of Dirty Dancing blends seamlessly with the movie soundtrack of the 1960s – including countless hit songs like Hungry Eyes, Hey Baby, and Do You Love Me? and the heart stopping (I've Had) The Time Of My Life.

The audience tends to join in at every opportunity – shouting out dialogue, singing along with the hit numbers, oohing and aahing when Johnny takes off his shirt and generally getting in party mood.

"Fridays we have a late night show which can get quite rowdy – but I love every minute of it.

"The audiences definitely have a higher percentage of women because Dirty Dancing is probably the most iconic 'chick flick' of all time.

"The theatre though has an atmosphere the movie can't create. There's a fantastic feelgood factor about it.

"Many women have to drag along their reluctant husbands and boyfriends but it's great to find them walking out saying it was a cracking show.

"I get lots of messages on Twitter from guys saying 'I take my hat off to you. I thought I'd hate it but it was great!'

"Lots of young people contact me via my Facebook page too, asking for advice about a career in musical theatre. If I can help and inspire them for a career in the performing arts I will. I'm quite passionate about that."

Gareth joined the company in a supporting role and covering the lead in 2010. He then toured the UK as Johnny Castle for a year before carrying on with the role on the international tour which took him to Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa.

"South Africa has great venues – they're working really hard there on building a theatre culture and the theatres are nice and modern."

He returned to London's West End production, spending eight months as an ensemble member and covering the role of Johnny, before signing up for the lead again for the current national tour just under a year ago.

The show, which also features Gareth's partner, former Cats leading dancer Lizzi Franklin, has arrived in Cardiff for a two-week run directly from Edinburgh.

Gareth says his initial audition for the show was a nerve-wracking affair.

"My agent called me to say the auditions were the next morning. I didn't sleep very well that night and asked if I could audition another day but she said it had to be that Friday because whoever they picked would be on stage on Monday.

"So I caught a train to Charing Cross and reached the studios in Covent Garden just in time.

"I knew from the start that the part of Johnny Castle would suit me perfectly and I pursued that from day one.

"I played Robbie then understudied the lead and it was just a matter of persistence. I went on as understudy on a number of occasions because the nature of dancing is that you tend to pick up injuries.

"It's been an incredible journey. There have been a lot of ups and downs along the way and I've really grown as a person.

"We do eight shows a week and there's a huge demand in playing the lead. You have to really respect the part.

"My favourite moment in the show is the beginning of 'Time of My Life'. It's a massive moment that the whole audience has been waiting for. My favourite song would have to be Otis Redding's 'Love Man'."

Away from the stage Gareth's main interest is in photography – in particular portraits and fashion. He is also interested in self-development and public speaking.

The national tour of Dirty Dancing continues until October. There is no news yet of what will happen after that.

Such are the vagaries of a stage career that Gareth knows he might find himself back in the 'pool' at the audition studios.

"I love singing and hope I'll be able to pursue that," he said.

But, for the moment, it's pretty obvious he's having 'the time of his life'!

• Dirty Dancing is live on stage at the Wales Millennium Centre until March 28.

For booking information visit http://www.wmc.org.uk">www.wmc.org.uk