Rockettes prepare to bring Christmas Spectacular to area
Written by Phil Cerroni
By Jess Paniszczyn
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes, will bring the holiday spirit to Dallas/Fort Worth audiences like never before. In this multi-faceted production, the Rockettes will dance their way through new scenes, an array of costumes and dramatic lighting effects
“We are thrilled to return to Dallas/Fort Worth at the Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie with an all new edition of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular,” said Don Simpson, executive vice president of productions, MSG Entertainment. “With new technological enhancements and show-stopping performance elements, the 2012 production offers a truly immersive experience like nothing Dallas/Fort Worth audiences have ever seen before. Returning audiences will be amazed by the transformation of the Christmas Spectacular, and new fans will not want to miss this show.”
Two Rockettes, Addie Elsbecker and Laura Danelski traveled to the DFW area last week to help announce the upcoming show.
“I am especially happy to be in Texas, because this is my home state. I am so excited to be performing for all my family and friends,” said Elsbecker, who is from Dallas.
“We were here in 2009, and we are coming back with a new show for everyone to enjoy. This year we will have a 50 foot LED screen that is new. There is a double decker-bus that the Rockettes ride on. The show takes you through Times Square and it really feels like you are in New York City.”
Young dancers need to learn as much as they can in their dance lessons if they hope to one day become Rockettes, according to Danelski.
“To become a Rockette, dancers must be proficient in tap, jazz and ballet. So for all those little girls who are out there dancing, just stay in your classes and take as many forms of dance as you can,” Danelski said. “Young ladies must be at least 18 years old to audition for the Rockettes, and they have to be between 5’6” and 5’10.5” tall. We put our taller women in the center and the shorter ones on the ends, which creates the illusion that we are all one height.
“The greatest thing about being a Rockette is dancing with these amazing women. In the Radio City Music Spectacular, there is no one single star. All of the Rockettes are equal, and we work together as a team to create the show. Where you are standing on stage is based solely on how tall you are, so we really bond over the three months that we work together. We are inches from each other on stages, and we are in the dressing rooms together. So I can honestly say that the women who are in this show are like my family.”
“Being a Rockette, you build relationships for a life time,” Elsbecker added. “You will see a Rockette a year after working together, and it is just like you have never missed a beat.”
The Christmas Spectacular will run at the Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie from Nov. 23 – Dec. 8.
