{"id":2209205,"date":"2025-12-22T23:05:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T23:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2209205"},"modified":"2025-12-22T23:05:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T23:05:14","slug":"exclusive-the-posts-exclusive-backstage-pass-to-the-rockettes-christmas-spectacular","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/exclusive-the-posts-exclusive-backstage-pass-to-the-rockettes-christmas-spectacular\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive | The Post&#8217;s exclusive backstage pass to the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2025%2F12%2Fnewspress-collage-hekdvrovf-1766443042033.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall%261766426109\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>It takes a Christmas village.<\/p>\n<p>Nothing says the holidays are here in New York City quite like the Radio City Rockettes. Today, more than 72 million people have witnessed the precision dance troupe, which <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/11\/07\/lifestyle\/rockettes-are-high-kicking-through-100th-anniversary-with-street-renaming-and-more-a-huge-honor\/\">celebrated its 100th anniversary<\/a> this year, perform in the Christmas Spectacular.<\/p>\n<p>To transport wide-eyed audience members to a 90-minute Christmas wonderland in the legendary Midtown theater, a ton of work goes on behind the scenes \u2014 beginning with a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/04\/25\/lifestyle\/inside-rockette-auditions-as-radio-citys-kickline-celebrates-100-years\/\">three-day dancer audition process<\/a> in April \u2014 and The Post was recently granted exclusive backstage access to document some of the magical moments normally hidden from the public.<\/p>\n<p>While adults and children alike watch the show\u2019s 16 musical numbers in awe from their seats, backstage, it\u2019s choreographed chaos for the precision dance troupe.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>There are 42 Rockettes (above) for each of the two Christmas Spectacular casts. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>An hour to 90 minutes <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@danicka.torres\/video\/7581110858445491470?q=day%20in%20the%20life%20of%20a%20rockette&amp;t=1766433516527\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">before showtime<\/a>, each of the Rockettes \u2014 two casts of 42 dancers each \u2014 can be found in their designated dressing room, applying their makeup (including their classic red lip, the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sephora.com\/product\/cream-lip-stain-liquid-lipstick-P281411\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick<\/a> in shade Always Red), styling their signature French twist hairdo, and warming up their muscles to perform over 200 eye-high kicks in nine different numbers.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>For each of their eight head-to-toe costume changes \u2014 including a different pair of hand-painted shoes to match each woman\u2019s skin tone for every number \u2014 one wardrobe person is assisting every three dancers in the quick-change booths located at the sides of the stage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The Rockettes have only 72 seconds to transition from soldiers to glamorous tourists (above) for the beloved \u201cNew York at Christmas\u201d sequence. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Once their final number wraps, the 42 dancers (above) take off their headpieces, costumes and get ready to head home to do it all over again the next day. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And there\u2019s no room for error because the madness of swapping out hats, fixing hair, touching up lips and stepping into brand-new costumes has to be completed within seconds.<\/p>\n<p>The fastest \u2014 and most impressive \u2014 is after the \u201cParade of the Wooden Soldiers\u201d number. <\/p>\n<p>Once the curtain goes down, each Rockette has 78 seconds to hop out of their soldier costumes, which consist of pants so stiff they can stand on their own, and three-foot-tall hats, to get ready for the beloved \u201cNew York at Christmas\u201d routine, which features a real, full-sized double-decker bus.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A Rockette dressed as a toy soldier is seen from the wings at Radio City Music Hall. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The costume for the \u201cParade of the Wooden Soldiers\u201d number (above), designed by Vincente Minnelli, is one of the most challenging to get on and off. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Later in the show, the magical \u201cDance of the Frost Fairies\u201d number, which was reintroduced four years ago and features fairy drones that fly above the audience, has six different costume styles in six different colors.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>Performing the Christmas Spectacular for two months straight, six to seven days a week, two to four times a day \u2014 there\u2019s no denying that taking on the role of a Rockette is physically demanding.<\/p>\n<p>Even the Rockettes themselves can be mesmerized by the fast pace they face every day following rigorous training six hours a day, six days a week, for six weeks <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/11\/07\/lifestyle\/rockettes-are-high-kicking-through-100th-anniversary-with-street-renaming-and-more-a-huge-honor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leading up to the November opening night<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I first started with the company back in 2012, I was just so excited to be a part of it. [Since then] I\u2019ve learned so much about the show itself and the inner workings of what it takes to put the show together,\u201d Mindy Moeller, a 14-year Rockette veteran, told The Post.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ve got 36 women in a line in each show, you\u2019ve got 84 women [in total], but you\u2019ve also got 200 members of crew and wardrobe backstage putting the show together.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Magical moments from backstage at Radio City Music Hall<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Rockettes (above) fix their hair and get ready to wow ticket-goers with the \u201cDance of the Fairies\u201d number. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cFrost Fairies\u201d wait to enter the stage. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The real, full-sized double-decker bus (above) featured in \u201cNew York at Christmas\u201d is always a hit with audience members. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Dancers wait backstage to perform the \u201cRag Dolls\u201d number. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Santa Claus \u2014 an always welcome visitor to the show \u2014 hugs one of the dancers backstage. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Dancers dressed as \u201cRag Dolls\u201d prepare to perform. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The \u201cRag Dolls\u201d hit the stage in candy cane-colored stockings \u2026 <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u2026 before later transitioning to a pair of flesh-toned tights. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Quick-change booths (above) are set up at the sides of the stages so the Rockettes don\u2019t have to travel far to change from one costume to the next. For every Christmas Spectacular show, each Rockette makes eight fast costume changes backstage. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>In addition to practicing their dance routines, the Rockettes practice their wardrobe changes so there aren\u2019t any surprises on show day. <span class=\"credit\">Tamara Beckwith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Radio City Rockettes by the numbers<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>1,000 colorful costumes<\/strong> are worn in the\u00a0Christmas Spectacular.<\/li>\n<li>More than <strong>500 pairs<\/strong> of shoes are worn Rockettes, the ensemble and Santa during each show. <\/li>\n<li>More than <strong>30,000 red dots<\/strong> are used per season for the \u201cParade of the Wooden Soldiers\u201d and \u201cRag Dolls\u201d performances.<\/li>\n<li>The double-decker bus for \u201cNew York at Christmas\u201d weighs <strong>eight tons<\/strong> and is <strong>30 feet long<\/strong>. <\/li>\n<li><strong>12 fairy drones<\/strong> fly over the audience during the \u201cDance of the Frost Fairies\u201d number.<\/li>\n<li><strong>48 Santas<\/strong> perform during \u201cHere Comes Santa Claus.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source celebrity.land \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It takes a Christmas village. Nothing says the holidays are here in New York City quite like the Radio City Rockettes. Today, more than 72 million people have witnessed the precision dance troupe, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, perform in the Christmas Spectacular. To transport wide-eyed audience members to a 90-minute Christmas wonderland [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2209206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25174],"tags":[22116,21937,21741,25404,25632,21818,25879,317612,312633,408226],"class_list":["post-2209205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gossip","tag-christmas","tag-dance","tag-entertainment","tag-exclusive","tag-holidays","tag-lifestyle","tag-metro","tag-midtown","tag-radio-city-music-hall","tag-rockettes"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Exclusive-The-Posts-exclusive-backstage-pass-to-the-Rockettes.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2209205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2209205"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2209205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2209207,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2209205\/revisions\/2209207"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2209206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2209205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2209205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2209205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}