The Rockettes

The Rockettes are known for their precision dance
"Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" at the Christmas Spectacular
A Rockette in Radio City Music Hall
Rockettes costumes

The Rockettes are a precision dance company. Founded in 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, since 1932, they have performed at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City. During the Christmas season, the Rockettes present five shows a day, seven days a week. Until 2015 they also had a touring company.[1] They performed at the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017.[2]

History

The group was founded in St. Louis by Russell Markert in 1925, originally performing as the "Missouri Rockets". The group was brought to New York City by Samuel Roxy Rothafel to perform at his Roxy Theatre and renamed the "Roxyettes". When Rothafel left the Roxy Theatre to open Radio City Music Hall, the dance troupe followed and later became known as the Rockettes. The group performed as part of opening night at Radio City Music Hall on December 27, 1932.[3] That same year, they performed in the first Christmas Spectacular performed at Radio City Music Hall and have performed in consecutive annual productions of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" since then.

The Rockettes have long been represented by the American Guild of Variety Artists. In 1967, they won a month-long strike for better working conditions,[4] which was led by AGVA salaried officer Penny Singleton.[5] In August 2002, contract negotiations for the troupe's veteran members resulted in a buyout by the owners of The Radio City Music Hall. Roughly a fourth of the veteran Rockettes were offered retirement options, while the remaining dancers were offered the opportunity to re-audition.[6]

The first East Asian Rockette, a Japan-born woman named Setsuko Maruhashi, was hired in 1985.[7] The Rockettes did not allow dark-skinned dancers into the dance line until 1987.[8] The justification for the policy against hiring African Americans was that they would distract from the consistent look of the dance group.[9] The first African American Rockette was Jennifer Jones; she made her debut in 1988.[10] In 2007, the Rockettes were inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.[11]

Controversies

The Madison Square Garden Company, which manages the troupe, agreed to have the Rockettes perform at the inauguration of Donald Trump.[12] According to a report in the New York Daily News, there was an initial "edict" to perform at the inaugural.[2] Immediately several Rockettes dissented,[13] including Rockette Phoebe Pearl[14] who complained that she was being forced to perform at the inaugural against her wishes. One Rockette felt reluctant to "perform for this monster", referring to president-elect Donald Trump, and another said she "wouldn't feel comfortable standing near a man like that in our costumes."[15] According to a contrasting report, performances were never "forced" and that it was a "fake news" story: according to a company report, "For a Rockette to be considered for an event, they must voluntarily sign up and are never told they have to perform at a particular event, including the inaugural," the company said in a statement. "It is always their choice. In fact, for the coming inauguration, we had more Rockettes request to participate than we have slots available." Another report suggested that dancers were allowed to "opt-out" if they thought that they would feel uncomfortable performing.[2]

Many on social media believed attendance was mandatory, including Julissa Sabino, a performer who is part of the union, who tweeted that the issue "breaks my heart" and urged supporters to "help these ladies." Autumn Withers, a former Rockette, supported a boycott, saying "take a knee, ladies!"[16][17] In December 2016, according to The Atlantic,[13] three of the thirteen full-time dancers had chosen to sit out the event. [18] The company danced to a medley of Irving Berlin songs at the Inaugural Ball on the evening of January 20. [19]

Notable former Rockettes

References

  1. ↑ "Rockettes touring company to shutter, kicking dancers out". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  2. 1 2 3 Joe Dziemianowicz, December 24, 2016, The New York Daily News, Rockettes can opt out of dance performance for Trump inauguration, Retrieved December 27, 2016
  3. ↑ "Radio City Music Hall Inaugural Program". Internet Broadway Database.
  4. ↑ "Accord is reached in Rockettes strike". New York Times. October 13, 1967.
  5. ↑ "Penny Singleton". Wiegand Foundation. June 26, 2000. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  6. ↑ Rockettes Get Three-Year Contract That Includes Buyouts for Some, Retrieved February 17, 2017
  7. ↑ "Radio City Music Hall Rockette Setsuko Maruhasi". Asiance. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  8. ↑ Cohen, Adam (September 28, 2003). "Rock of Ages (review of Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center by Daniel Okrent)". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  9. ↑ Johnston, Laurie; Anderson, Susan Heller (March 30, 1983). "New York Day by Day; A Shift at the Music Hall". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  10. ↑ "N.Y.'s Radio City Names First Black Rockette". Jet. January 18, 1988. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  11. ↑ St. Louis Walk of Fame. "St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees". stlouiswalkoffame.org. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  12. ↑ BBC News, Donald Trump inauguration to feature Rockettes and Mormon choir, Retrieved December 23, 2016, "...Several high-profile musicians including Elton John and Celine Dion have refused to perform at the event...."
  13. 1 2 Spencer Kornhaber, December 23, 2016, The Atlantic, Donald Trump Makes War on Celebrities, Retrieved December 27, 2016, "... Dolan announced that The Rockettes ... would perform for Trump. Immediately, individual dancers began to dissent....."
  14. ↑ Joe Tacopino, December 23, 2016, The New York Post, Rockette goes on Instagram rant over Trump Inauguration gig, Retrieved December 27, 2016
  15. ↑ Kaitlin Menza, December 27, 2016, Marie Claire, A Rockette Speaks Out: Amidst the media storm about the pressure to perform at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, one dancer breaks rank for an exclusive MarieClaire.com interview about the turmoil behind the scenes., Retrieved December 27, 2016
  16. ↑ Leonard Greene, December 22, 2016, The NY Daily News, Radio City's Rockettes, Mormon Tabernacle Choir slated to perform at Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, Retrieved December 23, 2016
  17. ↑ "Rockettes' owners say attendance at inauguration is a choice - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports". Wearewvproud.com. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  18. ↑ December 2016, Yohana Desta, Vanity Fair, Rockette Revelation Adds to Trump's Troubling Inauguration Woes, Retrieved December 29, 2016, "...Out of the 13 full-time, year-round Rockettes, three have already decided to sit out the event, .."
  19. ↑ "The Rockettes Take the Stage at Inaugural Ball Amidst Internal Conflict and Public Backlash". PEOPLE.com. 2017-01-21. Retrieved 2017-01-27.

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