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I’ll never forget sitting in Radio City Music Hall for the first time, just a wide-eyed 8-year-old seeing the world-famous Christmas Spectacular. Sleigh bells jingled, the curtain lifted and the Rockettes appeared—perfectly in sync, their elegant kicks slicing through the air, sequin-covered costumes twinkling under the stage lights.
I didn’t know back then what it took to join one of the most elite dance troupes in the world, but one thing was certain: I wanted to be a Rockette.
When I was little, dance wasn’t on my radar. I was more into kung fu and soccer, but my mom encouraged me to try ballet. Something about the pirouettes stuck. From that moment on, I trained in tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop…you name it. Dancing became my passion, so moving from my home in New Jersey to study it at a conservatory in London was a no-brainer.
During my second year at university, I heard the Rockettes were holding an open audition. But with hundreds of dancers from around the world competing for just a few spots, I figured there was no way I could make the cut. The Rockettes are known for their precision technique (aka perfect synchronicity), and I’d never trained in that. But my mom pumped me up to give it a shot.
So imagine my shock when my number kept getting called at auditions. After an exhausting day of choreo, I was invited to the Rockettes Conservatory, a weeklong program to train with dancers on the line. I learned how to perfect the iconic parallel kick (every Rockette’s toe has to hit at eye level) and earned a second audition at the end of it.
Hearing the words, “Danicka, you’re going to be a Rockette,” was one of the best moments of my life. But turns out the hard part was just beginning. I started the grueling rehearsal process: six days a week, for six hours a day.
My body ached from the physical exertion. And because I had no background in precision technique, every piece of choreo felt foreign. I couldn’t help but compare myself to the incredible dancers around me and wonder if I’d made a huge mistake.
That is, until a more experienced Rockette noticed me struggling with the steps and offered to help. She reassured me that it’s OK if you don’t nail every move right off the bat.
Growing up as an only child, I had no idea what it was like to have siblings looking out for you. Suddenly, I felt as if I had 83 sisters. I started relying on them for help with everything from nailing tricky sequences to mastering the Rockettes’ signature French twist. Thanks to all that support, my confidence soared.
My first season as a Rockette was magical. Stepping onto the Great Stage for classic numbers like “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” (every Rockette has performed it since 1933!) has given dancing a whole new meaning. It’s surreal to think of the 100-year legacy I’m a part of.
I’m in my second season now, and I sometimes catch myself looking into the audience to see if other younger girls are watching with wonder—just like I did.
Back then, I just thought the Rockettes were cool and sparkly. But now, I realize that the magic isn’t in the kicks or the outfits. It’s in the sisterhood, the history and the chance to inspire the next generation of dancers. I hope those other 8-year-old girls leave The Christmas Spectacular believing that their dreams are possible, too.
