Watching the annual Macy’s Dia de Gracias parada, I was enthralled by the preciseness and Diva-ness of the one and only Radio City Rockettes. The red coated ballerinas kicked, smiled and posed thier lovely bums in front of Macy’s @ Herald Square…but where in the world did they come from?
The over seventy-five year old precision dancing troupe was conceived by a choreographer from St. Louis, Missouri named Russell Markert. In el ano 1925, Markert took his adoration for the John Tiller Girls of the Ziegfeld Follies and enhanced them based on his personal belief that “if the girls were taller and had longer legs and could do really complicated tap routines and eye-high kicks…they’d knock your socks off!” That year the Missouri Rockets were born and began captivating St. Louian audiences with their in sync dance routines just like Markert once dreamed.
Soon after their well embraced Missouri conception, skilled artistic Manhattanite, Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel negotiated with the dance troupe’s papi in bringing the girls down to the “hustle and bustle” of la Gran Manzana. Markert’s desire for the girls to become household names and the envy of all entertainment seekers of the times erged the New York City debut of the Roxyettes.
The collaboration of Markert, Rothafel and the 16 all female member, “quintessental American chorus line” was impressionable. The Roxyettes dazzled the stage of the Rothafel owned Roxy Theatre, sharing programs with top acts of the era; The Flying Wallenendas, Ray Bolger and dance impresario, Martha Graham.
When Rothafel said ”Adios!” to the Roxy Theatre due to dinero issues in 1932 he took Markert and the glamourous, lovely-legged ladies with him to open Radio City Music Hall. On Diciembre 27, 1932 the Missouri based, Missouri Rockets got their final re-birth and the presently popular Radio City Rockettes were born.
Desde 1932 over three thousand mujeres have danced as world renowned Rockettes. The once all white, 16 member chorus line has grown into a present day internationally faced, 36 member kick line admired by millions worldwide. Hoy, a Rockettes’ stats are still based on Markert’s 1925 formula with slight modernizations. Las chicas still have to be between 5’6” and 5’10 and have fabuloso skills in tap, jazz, ballet and modern dance. The girls also need to have vibrant and welcoming personalities, for various members of the troupe travel and are representatives for numerous media outlets. In 1987, Rockettes’ casting was finally deemed “colorblind” (pretty late in the game if tu ask me), allowing ethnic girls to take part of the Diva-ness.
Las Rockettes of course are mostly known for “America’s #1 live theatrical event”, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Since 1933 the ladies have helped spread Christmas cheer by tapping alongside Santa here in NYC and in various other big city productions of the over 2.1 million annually seen holiday spectacle.
Yo have had the pleasure to personally know two Rockettes within my theatrical involvements and Markert’s concept is still present. Both ladies are blessed with amazing dance abilities and piernas to die for along with having a high regard of their artistic expression.
Un gran BRAVO to Markert’s sueno, it came true and is still prosperous…Feliz Navidad!
Tags: Christmas, John Tiller Girls, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Martha Graham, Missouri, New York City, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Radio City Music Hall, Radio City Rockettes, Russell Markert, Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel, St. Louis, Ziegfeld Follies
