- A Century of Spectacle: The iconic Radio City Rockettes are celebrating their 100th anniversary, marking a century as a beloved New York City holiday tradition.
- Christmas Spectacular Centennial: The milestone is being honored with the annual Christmas Spectacular, a show blending timeless routines with modern technological marvels like drones and immersive sound.
- Historic High Kicks: Originating in 1925 as the “Missouri Rockets,” the troupe has evolved into a powerhouse of precision dance, famous for its synchronized high kicks and the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.”
- “Athletes Dripping in Diamonds”: The demanding 90-minute show requires immense athleticism, with each of the 80 dancers performing over 200 kicks per performance.
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High-kicking Radio City Rockettes mark 100 years with Christmas Spectacular
NEW YORK (AP) — A high-kicking staple of the New York City holiday season is marking a century of wowing crowds: The iconic Radio City Rockettes are turning 100.
The famed dance troupe is celebrating the anniversary with its annual Christmas Spectacular, a festive performance of synchronized dance routines that includes the troupe’s signature precision kick line. The show retains its fan-favorite “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” where costumed dancers march in perfect formation before their famous domino-like collapse.
A Century-Long Journey to Stardom
The Rockettes represent a throwback to old-time New York, when Broadway was dominated by extravagant spectacles. Their journey began not in New York, but in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1925 as a 16-member troupe called the “Missouri Rockets.”
They were brought to New York by theater impresario S.L. “Roxy” Rothafel, who renamed them first the “Roxyettes” and finally the “Rockettes” when the act moved to the newly built Radio City Music Hall in 1932. Since then, they have become an American institution, performing for troops during World War II, headlining the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and appearing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show and the Tony Awards.
“There is something about the Rockettes being the main event that is sentimental, riveting and iconic,” says Lauren Gaul, a former Rockette and now chair of the commercial dance program at Pace University. “Most times as dancers we are the background… We rarely get to headline.”
Tradition Meets Modern Marvels
While the Christmas Spectacular honors tradition, it is anything but dated. Julie Branam, the show’s longtime director, says the production is a blend of the classic and the contemporary. Choreography for numbers like the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” has remained largely unchanged, and some costume designs have stood the test of time.
However, modern touches have been added over the years, including digital projections, drones, holographic animations, and even a real double-decker bus. This year’s show, expected to draw over a million viewers, will feature a new immersive sound system similar to the one used at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Athletes Dripping in Diamonds
One of the biggest changes over the decades has been the increased technical skill of the dancers. This has allowed for faster kicks and more complex choreography. According to Branam, the dancers execute over 200 kicks during each 90-minute, intermission-free show.
“What’s truly amazing is that we are all exceptional dancers but we are also athletes,” says Taylor Shimko, an assistant dance captain in her 16th season. “We say that we’re athletes dripping in diamonds. Every part of this is hard work, but it’s all about making it appear as though it’s easy.”
For new and veteran dancers alike, being part of this 100-year legacy is a profound honor. “It becomes a piece of your identity, this job,” says Danelle Morgan, a dance captain in her 20th year. “It’s something that’s really special.”
Image Referance: https://apnews.com/article/rockettes-radio-city-new-york-christmas-5e647c737001e866bf9272ea2c20ba30