As New York's Radio City Music Hall prepares for its traditional holiday festivities, the iconic Radio City Rockettes gathered this week for auditions. CBS News New York reports that over a thousand dancers from across the U.S. and several other countries have arrived in the city, competing for a spot in the 100th anniversary season of the renowned kickline. This year’s auditions are part of a centennial celebration of precision dance that began in Missouri in 1925.
The origins of the group trace back to Russell Markert, who envisioned creating a "specialty dance troupe" that would eventually evolve into the precision act known today. The height requirements have changed over the years, from 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-6½, and are now set at 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10½, reflecting the troupe's evolution, as noted by The New York Post. The kickline, initially called the Missouri Rockets, has undergone several transformations, including a name change to the Roxyettes, before becoming the Rockettes. Over time, the troupe expanded, becoming a prominent symbol of festive performances across the nation.
The current audition process seeks not only performers for the big 2025 Christmas Spectacular but also candidates for development programs, such as the newly-launched Rockettes Preparatory, the goal of which is to scout and groom incoming talent, as per the same CBS News New York report. While many auditioning hopefuls share the same dream, only "a rare few" will secure a spot in the show, a challenging outcome for those who have been waiting since the early hours. For those called back for a second round, it provides an opportunity to continue in the process.
Julie Branam, the current director and choreographer, views the task of selecting new members for this renowned lineup as more than just filling positions; it's about preserving a legacy that spans a century and ensuring that every dancer, provided they meet the minimum age requirement of 18, has an equal opportunity. The New York Post noted Branam’s approach of addressing each dancer by name instead of by number, which reflects a personal touch in the selection process. Branam explained to the Post that the focus is not only on finding the right dancers but also on maintaining a tradition and standard that has been built over a century, ensuring the continued excellence of the performers who appear on the Radio City stage each holiday season.
The dancers who participate in this significant event include individuals like Ryleigh Geis from Louisiana and Michelle Osanya from Iowa, who, according to CBS News New York, expressed feeling “really special” to be part of it and found the experience “a lot of fun,” despite its intense and stressful moments. While the ground at Radio City may be cold come Christmas, for now, auditions are underway as dancers compete for a place in this long-standing New York City tradition, which has become closely linked to the holiday season.
