It's
a homecoming at The Fabulous Fox as the Radio City Rockettes return
to their place of origin--St. Louis
Click here to read more about
the Radio City Rockettes
The Rockettes
first kicked to life in 1925 as the “Missouri Rockets” and made
their show business debut in St. Louis, the realization of a
long-time dream of their creator, Russell Markert. “I had seen the
John Tiller girls in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922,” Markert once
reminisced. “If I ever got a chance to get a group of American
girls who would be taller and have longer legs and could do really
complicated tap routines and eye-high kicks…they’d knock your socks
off!”
At Radio City’s
opening night, on December 27, 1932, they did just that. The
Rockettes, discovered and brought to New York by consummate showman
S.L. (Roxy) Rothafel who first dubbed them the “Roxyettes,” shared
the stage with 17 diverse acts, among them the Flying Wallendas, Ray
Bolger and Martha Graham. They were an instant sensation!
Markert had created the quintessential American chorus line – an
exciting precision dance troupe with great style. Starting with
just 16 women, the numbers grew over the years to what is now a
36-member Rockette kick line.
In 1933, Radio
City featured a new movie and a lavish stage production every week
starring the Rockettes. Russell Markert’s stringent requirements
never varied, and he continued to stage and choreograph productions
at the Music Hall until his retirement in 1971.
This concept of
the dance line was to achieve absolute precision. The audience saw
36 Rockettes perform intricate routines, but always moving as “one
dancer.” Everything – the height, the costumes and steps – was kept
completely identical. The illusion of uniform height is maintained
to this day by putting the tallest dancers in the center, and
gradually decreasing the height with the shortest women at either
end.
The Rockettes have not only served as ambassadors for Radio City Music
Hall, but also for the entire
nation. The Rockettes appear annually in the nationally televised
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as the NBC Rockefeller
Center Tree Lighting Ceremony, inspiring scores of young dancers
nationwide.
They have participated in many studio film premieres
held at Radio City including “Miracle on 34th Street,”
Disney’s “102 Dalmatians” and “The Lion King,” as well as the “Ice
Age” premier.
The dance troupe has also opened the Daytime Emmy
Awards, broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on ABC in addition
to numerous appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning
America, The Late Show with David Letterman,
Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Tonight Show with Jay
Leno. They are even the inspiration for their own Rockette
doll!
Of
course, the Radio City Rockettes are most famous for their annual
starring role in America’s #1 live theatrical event – The Radio
City Christmas Spectacular.
Since 1933, the Rockettes have
danced their way into the hearts of millions by spreading the
Christmas spirit to people of all ages.
For millions of families,
the holiday season is just not complete without seeing this beloved
classic production and experiencing the exciting and festive energy
that the Rockettes bring to the show.
The New York Times
corroborates the Rockettes’ talent and appeal by saying, “Best of
all, as always, are the miraculous Rockettes in their crisp
costumes, smiling and tapping their way flawlessly everywhere. . .”
The requirements today remain almost exactly as they were at the
dance troupe’s inception. Since 1932, more than 3,000 women have
danced as Rockettes.
Each year, in cities across America, hundreds
of young women audition to be members of the internationally known
troupe. Radio City Rockettes must be between 5’6” and 5’10 ½ and
demonstrate proficiency in tap, jazz, ballet and modern dance.
They
must also display a radiant energy that will shine across the
footlights to their audience.
The Radio
City Rockettes entered into the 21st century with a new,
fresh and contemporary flare, while exhibiting the same enthusiasm
and vigor that has become their signature trademark.
The Rockette
line today embraces the diversity of women everywhere. The more
than 200 women dance troupe embodies the modern-day woman – they are
intelligent, strong, ambitious, multi-talented, beautiful, stylish,
hip, fun, witty, fashionable, and not to mention they maintain the
most physically fit bodies in the business.
The Rockette line is made up of
obviously dancers, but also businesswomen, fashion designers,
students, actresses,
volunteer workers and young mothers – all who have learned to
perfect the art of balancing a dance career with their careers off
the stage. Endurance, perseverance and dedication have all
contributed to their success in life and they proudly serve as role
models for young women everywhere.
Since 1994,
the Rockettes have brought their legendary style of dance to 17
cities outside of New York. In each and every city, the beloved
dance troupe has been received with open arms and embraced by the
community.
In addition to entertaining audiences with their eye-
high kicks, the Rockettes enthusiastically give back to the
communities in every way possible.
In addition to
entertaining from the stage, the Rockettes are active members of the
local community through their involvement in charitable and outreach
programs while touring the country. Their
dedication to helping those less fortunate is tireless.
The
Rockettes commitment to community involvement extends to every city
they visit.
In Chicago, the Rockettes hosted a benefit performance
for the children of the CoACH Care Center, which provides children
with chronic,
high-maintenance special health care needs a continuum of care
beginning at the time of diagnosis.
While in Seattle, the Rockettes
worked closely with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on
several fundraising events including their annual “Gingerbread
Village which helped to raise thousands of dollars for a wonderful
cause.
The Rockettes promoted children’s literacy in Cleveland,
Milwaukee and Phoenix including reading stories to children and
running book drives at local libraries and children’s hospitals.
The Rockettes’ involvement with the Ronald McDonald House, a
“home-away-from-home,” for the families of seriously ill children,
brought smiles to hundreds of children in Tampa.
The Rockettes
have been great supporters of our troops in Detroit paying holiday
visits to the Selfridge National Air Guard Base and partnering with
the Marines in Minneapolis for their annual Toys for Tots toy
drive.
Most recently in Fort Lauderdale, the Rockettes proved that
beauty is only skin deep with their work for “Facing it Together,” a
not for profit organization dedicated to providing cosmetic surgery
for children and adults with facial differences.
As the St.
Petersburg Times in Florida observed, “Not only do the Rockettes
have great legs, they have wonderful hearts.”
The Rockettes
experience some of their most rewarding moments as dancers off
the stage. The ability to bring a smile to the face of a terminally
ill child is beyond measure.
The Rockettes recognize their capacity
to bring joy to others and look forward to becoming involved with
many more outstanding charity and outreach programs this holiday
season.
The Radio City Rockettes perform with a signature precision that
perpetually delights every new audience. Indeed, these “dancing
daughters” – as their founder, Russell Markert always referred to
them – have not only persevered for more than 75 years, but are
thriving now more than ever.
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