Black Wax Museum
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Spring to Dance
St. Louis Legend Honored
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The Fabulous Fox
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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 34^th 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 21^st 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.