The Rockettes: Auditioning for the World's Most Famous Kickline (Documentary)

They’re America’s most quintessential dance group, delighting holiday audiences with high-kick precision for 90 years at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. But the high-kicking lineup of the Rockettes has never fully represented our country when it comes to diversity.
This year, the Rockettes set out to change that, launching a series of new efforts to include dancers of color in its audition process with the goal of diversifying its famous line. We spent months following the audition process - and the surprising results reflect America’s essential, ongoing work to infuse equity into every pillar of its identity, from the arts to the workplace, from the schoolroom to government.
As you follow the journeys of aspiring Rockettes, you’ll learn about the barriers that have faced America's dancers of color, how change is slowly happening, and why that change is essential for us all - from those in the business of dance, to the people in the audience, to a young child who dreams of one day stepping onto the stage.
This documentary was provided courtesy of The Journal News. bit.ly/3Wvfe0s
» Subscribe to USA TODAY: bit.ly/1xa3XAh
» Watch more on this and other topics from USA TODAY: bit.ly/3HLDfJm
» USA TODAY delivers current local and national news, sports, entertainment, finance, technology, and more through award-winning journalism, photos, videos and VR.
#Rockettes #Dance #NewYork

[@UnBoxLifeWithLori]

Even for the ones who don't make it - what a fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience! To say I auditioned for the world-famous Rockettes - cherish the memory, enjoy the moments :)

[@shmmmm-d2u]

Exactly I would love to experience it

[@nikolasscheeks]

It was good to hear about how the Rockettes make their conservatories financially accessible. It allows for the development of the best talent, not just dancers who can afford to take time off/all the equipment.

[@carriemummy]

Out of 84 dancers , there are only 18 new ones! It's really hard to get in! But it shows how much fun it is, that so many stay for years

[@MrPawPaw]

This was quite fascinating watching these women who put 100% into their passion. They all seem on top. Gz ladies and may the Lord watch over you.

[@1Lightdancer]

Bravo! What a delight the opportunity to attend the conservatory is for young dancers. I'm reading Fiona Davis' new novel about a young woman in the Rocketts in the mid 50s - 'The Spectacular' - and had to take a break to watch some dancing!

[@cognitogrrl]

1Lightdancer, I'll add "The Spectacular" to my reading list. Thank you!

[@avasgranb1]

Somehow this made me feel better about my own dancing! I knew every drill the instructors were teaching! As a former amateur dancer,I was so luck to grab goo teachers! My 67 year old self wants to dance with these babies! 😂

[@sandramcgill_glorytoGod]

Congratulations girls! Such a beautiful tradition!

[@ProfessorSnape22]

I was the camera man. Good job girls

[@nancyharper1360]

Without YOU, we'd be in the dark about this whole selection process, so THANK YOU for your expert camera skills! Well done!!! 👏👏👏

[@4musikable]

Wonderful documentary. Thank you.

[@jaclynzinck4241]

4:56 I hope 163 made it!! she's sooo good!

[@jaclynzinck4241]

6:33 if I was one of the judges I would have chosen 55 and 4 to stay, they're all great but those two in particular had great technique!

[@LuvTadnDixie]

They are all the exact height . . . how do they do that? Do they have custom made shoes/heels to adjust their height so they are all exactly the same? Or is there only one height, and one height only you can be in order to be a Rockette?

[@torysurette1010]

they actually aren't the same height! The height range is from 5'5- 5'10, the line up the girls by tallest in the middle of the line and as the line goes out the height of each dancer decreases. This creates an optical illusion that everyone is the same height!

[@cognitogrrl]

@@torysurette1010 No, it's 5 ft. 6 to 5 ft. 10 1/2. That's what they said on a previous Rockettes clip.

[@torysurette1010]

@@cognitogrrl they changed it so the minimum height is 5'5 it's on the rockette website

[@kirstenshindler7767]

Good luck Sasha!

[@zonadaniell4584]

The girls must make the effort to audition and be on their A game. These are very strategic dance moves and one isn't going to get a spot based on race, color, religion. In order to have a more diverse line so far as color or race, there must be more girls of color audition and pass. There are standards that every girl must meet, no matter color. Etc, to be selected. All potential auditionees are judged equally.. color doesn't matter..look at the whites who don't make it..I don't get why that is always a focus...it has nothing to do with that...

[@ridingtheroad185]

I'm looking for the Asian also....but as you said, you have to be able to actually do the dances/meet the standards.

[@tywillis741]

How does dance companies like Alvin Ailey and Dance Theatre of Harlem balance the need for representation with losing some of their best dancers of color?

[@1Lightdancer]

For this program, they invite guest teachers from the different companies

[@cherry_top]

I think that having Black dancers in these elite dance companies that are highly visible and well known in our culture makes more black kids/kids of color realize that they can be a dancer and that it is obtainable. Which hopefully encourages more talented kids to come and try. As a kid seeing Misty Copeland was what opened my eyes that ballet was something *I* could do.

[@vejensen103]

I thought this was an inside look at the audition process but it turned out to be more identity politics. Stop making everything about race. People are more than just their race but the media continues to try to divide us along these lines. Enough already 😡

[@claire2088]

pretty sure the moulin rouge would have the more famous kick line

[@beckylewis3482]

The taller women are in the middle. They have to be about 5' 6 1/2 to 11'. It just looks like they they are the same height.

[@lottie8970]

5:56 did anyone else notice what I noticed..

[@SurfNoir08]

Not the necklace 🫣🫣

[@So_Harufied]

Shouldn’t they just choose the best dancers no matter their skin tone?

[@jaclynzinck4241]

23:50

[@TheAmyHenryMethod]

Geez. The focus on someone’s color is really off putting. Just be the best dancer for the spot how about?!?

[@elizabethrizzo987]

Racially discrimination against superior white dancers to favor inferior people of "color" is an ACHIEVEMENT??

[@RollTideMama]

Making dance about race is the exact opposite of what dance is about. Shame on you. Gross.

[@karenpool1524]

understand about race but I tuned in to watch the Rockettes audition not get a lesson on race.

[@klingertam1]

Still such along way to go towards diversity as it should be.

[@grandmaoldschool7011]

It matters that she have long legs....

[@trekster7777]

So very sad that color of skin is made an issue. Just because you do not see "someone who looks like you" does not mean "racism". ANYONE can do what they love, not everyone is as talented, able or experienced enough to make a LIMITED in number group. Going into things like this with this attitude of "no one looks like me is the very essence of racism. You cannot have an attitude of racism and condemn it in others. Nor can you be a part of a group, a team going forward for the love of dance as you say because you want color to be the important part. How many of those shades of skin color and how many of each should their be???? What if there were some of those shades of color that did not audition???? Should the group then be condemned for it???? NO. This thinking that it "looks" - WHITE and I am not wanted is not "racism", it is your OWN feelings. Feelings are NOT TRUTH. If someone does not try or pursue a thing then you cannot accuse whatever group/profession/sport.......whatever of being "racist" as there were/are none of whatever skin color pursuing it. This thinking is what keeps true racism alive. Let the haters come.

[@roycox328]

Bs

[@MichelleAnderson24E]

What?

[@MichelleAnderson24E]

What?