Glamorous, timeless, legendary– all words often used to describe the infamous Radio City Rockettes. Every little girl who dances and has seen the Radio City Rockettes perform has dreamed about becoming a Rockette at some point in her life. These beautiful women celebrating the holiday season on the enormous Radio City Music Hall stage have been mesmerizing audiences for decades, and I hope to one day step on the stage as a Rockette myself becoming a part of the long standing New York City tradition.
Two years ago, I heard from one of my dance teachers about the Rockette Summer Intensive which takes place in New York City in the rehearsal halls of Radio City Music Hall. Dancers ages 14 and up receive the experience of a lifetime as they dance alongside two Rockettes as their teachers, learning real Rockette choreography and living the life of a professional dancer with rehearsals from 9 to 5 for six days which culminate in a final show on the seventh day. I thought I would audition in Pittsburgh just to see if there was any way I would be accepted. After a few months I heard back that I was accepted into the program, and in July I flew to New York City to spend the week there.
I completely fell in love– with the choreography, precision, attention to every minute detail, and the joy and maturity that radiated from every Rockette that I saw perform or had as a teacher. I have been hooked since that one week, glued to my computer screen watching YouTube videos of their performances as often as I can. Last summer I auditioned again for the program, except in hopes that I would be accepted into the Invitational Week. The Invitational Week is the same basic layout but consists of much more difficult choreography and more intense rehearsals. I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a part of this special event, and to say that it was challenging is an understatement. I was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained with blisters covering my feet, every muscle in my body aching, and counts continually running through my mind. But, I loved every second of it. The hard work always pays off the moment you step on a stage and the lights hit you as you do what you love: dance.
Becoming a Rockette is a rigorous task, requiring a dancer to be in excellent physical shape as well as possess impeccable dance technique in ballet, jazz, and tap. Thousands of women audition to become a part of the famous dance precision company each year, and it is almost like winning the lottery if you are chosen. I plan on continuing my dance and physical training so that I can one day audition for the Radio City Rockettes. For an industrial engineering student attending Penn State this may seem like a far-fetched goal, but it is a special dream that I strive to achieve in my lifetime.