IF I WERE A LITTLE YOUNGER. If my legs were longer. If my waist were waspy. If my eyelashes shot out to there. What would I do? One hint: I’d join a certain sisterhood, that society that admits so few and whose hand-picked members work as hard as any group on earth. And I’d just be doing what millions of warm-blooded women pine to do. You can bet your tap shoes I’d do this. Yes, I’d try out for the Rockettes. Imagine how excited I was to see them following The Sister Project on Twitter recently. We sisterhoods stick together.
As I said last week, I see sisterhoods everywhere, and never so much as when the holidays roll in, and the Rockettes line up, kick high, dress up as toy soldiers, fall down on cue, and make me laugh out loud with joy. And apparently two-million other people feel the same way, since that is how many will see these women live this year, doing their holiday thing, as these hardest-working precision dancers perform their Christmas Spectacular at the famed Radio City Music Hall, in Manhattan, for five shows a day, seven days a week. Only mothers can claim that kind of workload. And our shoes aren’t as cool, are they?
Founded in St Louis, Missouri, in 1925, and performing as the “Missouri Rockets,” the original group traveled to New York to perform at the Roxy Theatre, was renamed The Roxyettes, moved to the famed Radio City, and changed their name again. And whether we glimpse them on television as we’re stuffing the Thanksgiving turkey, or see them live (there is also a national tour), each year they kick open and dance their way through the season of gratitude and family joy. And while I know that emotional maturity requires that we put aside our childish ways when we become adults, I suspect that somewhere alive in every woman is a little funny secret dream or two that she shelved for any number of good reasons. One of mine has always been to dance with the Rockettes.
And while I never have, why I really do love them is for their dedication to educating young aspiring dancers to pursue their dreams by giving them the skills they need to do so. Two ways they do this is through what are known as The Rockette Experience and The Rockette Summer Intensive, which offer dancers the fairly astonishing chance to train with real live current Rockettes and learn their unique precision dance technique.
A sisterhood for all seasons. We salute you, Rockettes. Tap on, sisters.
(Vintage images above from Roberta Zlokower via Roberta on the Arts.)
No related posts.
First time here? Here's the idea: 
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Their Christmas Spectacular show at Radio City Music Hall was one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Hey, Tammy. Welcome back to TSP. That show does live up to its name, doesn’t it? So glad you agree. Hoping your holidays are heel-kickingly happy. Come back soon.
Hello,
I recently found that my Great Aunt, Clara Boza, born in 1902, joined the Rockettes when she was a young woman. My 13 year old daughter is now a brilliant dancer at the fine arts school in our town. It is amazing to see the talent passed through the blood line. I love this Sisterhood page! I will be sharing it with my sister, who also danced as a girl! Isn’t genealogy amazing? Beautiful site!
Hello, Susan. And welcome to TSP. Yes, that gene for dancing seems to be alive and well in your bloodline. How marvelous to consider. Thanks for the kind words. We are loving having you here and hope you–and your sister–will come back soon for more.
doing research for more vintage photos on my mother in law who was a Rockette during the 30′s. I have several newspaper clippings of Rockettes for PR purposes from that time with her pictured. She passed away just shy of 91 years of age but never gave up on the dramatic and entertaining persona that we all loved. What a life for a young woman! Exciting! I can surely see the virtue of this sisterhood!