Rockettes Bring in Another All-White Christmas
I want to be a Rockette.
There I said it.
OK, I really don’t, but what if I did.
They probably wouldn’t take me because A) I’m a dude B) I’m only 5’ 9” C) I’m not graceful.
It’s really that third one that kills the dream. However, I do have one thing clearly in my favor: I’m Caucasian.
With another Christmas in the books, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular once again entertained millions of American spectators. And of the 36 world-famous Rockettes, the majority were once again white.
For an elitist group that didn’t even allow African-Americans to qualify for the dance line until 1987, I find this pretty surprising.
Over Christmas break my wife was watching the Rockettes on TV. (Yes, I swear she put it on the telly!) I couldn’t help but notice that they were all white. The show takes place in New York City for God’s sake, one of the most – if not THE most – culturally diverse places in the universe.
By my count there was one African-American and one Asian on stage.
That is NOT representative of NYC or the attending audiences.
The Rockettes already limit their talent pool by only accepting woman who are between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 10 1/2 inches. Can only white woman sustain 400 high leg kicks per show? I doubt it.
For those of us who are not a 5’ 9” woman, there is still hope.
The Rockettes offer a Rockette-for-a-day fantasy camp at Radio City Music Hall in NY. For $108 you can prep for the April tryouts. There’s also a week-long boot camp in the summer. In fact, this is how approximately 30 Rockettes have been “discovered.”
Do you smell a reality show?
According to a New York Times article from 1987:
Civil-rights officials have denounced the lack of diversity in the Rockettes as an offensive anachronism, especially for such a visible symbol of a multiracial city.
Has anything really changed?
Maybe I’m colorblind. Maybe I happened to catch an all-white day. Someone tell me I’m wrong. I’d love nothing more.
ELIEZER ( LOUIS ) Kestenbaum was also arrested with the rabbi of spinka as being a part of the money laundering team. Kestenbaum is the president of the ODA …
Nancy said this on December 27, 2007 6:51 am
You know, this has always irked me too – while I’m tall enough and would fit all the other requirements, I somehow feel like my dark cocoa legs would stand out much too much for the “snow white” look that the Rockettes seem to be going for. Really annoying because I was born and raised in NY. Def. not an honest representation of the city.
Choco said this on October 10, 2009 4:47 am
In the Seattle area everyone asks why are all the dentists asian? Hmmm, maybe because they are the ones going to dental school, applying themselves, and making the grades to become a dentist! For the Rockettes, it’s not about being white or black—it’s about being an elite dancer. These girls were all practically born in tap and ballet shoes and have been raised in dance classes. Why don’t you go to a Rockette tryout and see how many african american and asian are trying out and making the intense dance requirements before criticizing and accusing everyone of being racist?
Beth said this on December 17, 2009 11:31 pm