Bright lights. Glamorous dresses. Stunning makeup. These are just a few things that make the Radio City Rockettes iconic. Every year since 1932, the Rockettes have put on an incredible show with their sky-high kicks. But how do they pull it off? What does it take to be a Rockette?
First off, here are the requirements to be a Rockette. You must be 5’6”-5’10” and at least 18 years old. You must be proficient in ballet, tap and jazz. Hundreds of women come from all over the country to New York City in hopes of auditioning. The catch is only a handful get picked. There is a total of 80 Rockettes per season, so 40 can be a morning cast and 40 can be an afternoon cast. There are also four swing dancers since only 36 Rockettes can fit on stage.
The whole audition process takes a full two d
ays, where the women learn a combination and are expected to perfect it. The directors don’t only look at your dancing ability, but also your performance passion and confidence. After running the choreography a few times, cuts are made time and time again until a few lucky girls are left standing. Then it’s time for rehearsals.
Rockettes rehearse usually from September- November, six days a week 10 a.m to 5pm. Rehearsals are basically non-stop until showtime, starting late November. They perform the Christmas Spectacular all throughout December, sometimes having up to four shows in one day. Each show is 90 minutes, without intermission and the Rockettes have 8 dance numbers to make it through. This means they only have about 78 seconds to change per number. Shoes, hats, earrings, and dresses go flying in the dressing rooms. After about 1,200 high kicks, the Rockettes are exhausted and it’s time to head home. Most admit they sit in an ice bath to reduce inflammation. All in all they do about 200 shows per season.
But what do they do off-season? Some go to school, others perform in other productions, or teach pilates and yoga classes. There’s also summer intensive camps to attend until the Christmas season approaches.
So there you have it. The Rockette life can be quite glamorous at times, but it’s definitely a lot more that putting on a smile and looking pretty. It takes hard work, precision, and an optimistic attitude to make it happen.