- Photos:
-
When you hear the word “Rockette” the immediate image of a line of perfectly-figured, made-up women high-kicking with pearly white smiles is what more then likely comes to mind. Not necessarily thoughts of a feminist movement where health fitness and women empowerment are the foundation. But after talking with Radio City Rockette veterans Jamie Lyn Windrow and Laura Casselman, they couldn’t be referred to as anything less.
“We’re not just dancers, it’s not just being in a dance company," said Windrow, a Rhode Island native, fitness trainer, dietician and tri-athlete who’s been a Rockette since 1997. "We’re doing community outreach…some of us are moms, some of us have masters degrees and business. So it’s much more then just a dance company. Its intelligent strong women.”
Windrow and Casselman will join their 24 fellow Rockettes, amongst a cast and crew of 175, to bring the Radio City Christmas Spectacular December 9 and 10 for four shows at Nationwide Arena. The company is out on a special 18-city arena tour transforming last year’s 75th anniversary show, which was only performed in New York City, into a much grander, completely new spectacular Spectacular.
The much larger reincarnation of the classic includes state of the art hydraulics and staging. Santa flying out over the audience, a Teflon “ice rink” and a rail system underneath the stage to help transport performers and huge sets are just a portion of the show’s features.
“We’re pushing the envelope technologically while keeping to our core values and still demanding respect,” said Casselman, originally of Myrtle Beach, who's in her fifth year as a Rockette and also helps run the small fitness empire New York Sports Clubs.
In order to keep with that tradition of fostering strong independent woman, the precision dance company features such programs as an alumni association and tuition assistance, which Windrow is using to attain her masters degree in clinical nutrition.
To prepare for the massive tour this year the Rockettes took on 15-17 hour work days and rigorous tech rehearsals to perfect those 300 famous kicks seen in the show.
And speaking of the kicks, is it as easy as it looks? Both Windrow and Casselman offer a resounding, “No.”
“We have hundreds of different types of kicks and the style is very different for each one, whether their toe to eye or heel to eye,” Casselman said. “There’s one specific kick where you kick to one side, turn your whole body with that leg in the air, bring it in, never put your foot down and it’s back up toe to eye. It takes so much abdominal strength.”
Check out Nationwide Arena’s Web site for your tickets to the show or head over to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular’s official Web site for more on The Rockettes.
