Women at work
A career with legs:
Rockette on stage
By Ramonica Rice
CNN.com/career Associate Editor
(CNN) - "When you're working with such a large group, you really get into the unity of working with each other. The grace everyone sort of exudes spreads like a virus. Everyone tries to dance as one unit."
Bring 36 ladies together onstage to perform in unison with precision and elegance -- well that sounds like a tremendous feat. Right?
If you're one of the high-kicking Radio City Rockettes, dancing as part of a unit isn't just natural, it's your job.
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OK, so just how spectacular is the show? Take our well-choreographed little quiz and you'll be able to amaze your friends with feats -- not to say feet -- of "Christmas Spectacular" Rockette smartiness.
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QUICK VOTE
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Cheryl Hebert has been the mirror image of the Rockette to her left -- and the one to her right -- for the last seven years. As the sixth Rockette from the center of the prestigious dance troupe's famous kick line, Hebert has made a career of "eye-high" kicks, taps and struts during Radio City Music Hall's annual "Christmas Spectacular."
"It's always been a dream to dance professionally," says Hebert, who grew up in the town of High Point, North Carolina. "When I moved to New York, I was able to see how prominent The Rockettes were and I thought I fit that mold. It became a dream to become a Rockette."
Hebert, who's in her 20s, had the good fortune of making the legendary chorus line on her first audition. She met the stringent requirements, which date back to the early days of the kick line. The company requires that dancers be at least 18 years old; stand between 5 feet, five-and-a-half inches, and 5 feet, 10-and-a-half inches; be proficient in jazz, tap, ballet and modern dance; and be articulate for media-related events.
Nice legs are also a plus.
Although a hallmark of Rockettes performances is uniformity in their routines, Hebert says each dancer can distinguish her own individuality.
"I think there's a misconception that if you're dancing all the same and doing the same steps and every pinky is the same that you can't express yourself as an individual," she says.
"Being able to find out how to do that makes the routine very exciting, so that when you're watching one dancer perform, even if you're watching the whole group, you see their personality."
"You need to have a real big sense of yourself," says Howard Kolins, executive producer of the "Christmas Spectacular." "And sparkle. You really have to have that energy."
 Growing in stages
More than 2,000 women have danced in Hebert's shoes, figuratively, and experienced life as a Rockette since the troupe's inception in 1925. The man putting together the first lineup was impresario Russell Markert of St. Louis Missouri.
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'WOODEN SOLDIERS'
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The Rockettes perform "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers"
Make 'em march
(QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)
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Markert named the dancers The Missouri Rockets and referred to them as his "dancing daughters." A few years later, Roxy Rothafel, owner of the Roxy Theater in New York, acquired the troupe, increased its size to 36 and dubbed them the "Roxyettes". Shortly after, the group was called The Rockettes.
Since the debut of Radio City Music Hall's "great stage" in 1933, millions of families from all over the world have been entertained by The Rockettes' high kicks in the "Christmas Spectacular."
"It's an honor to be a Rockette and know that you're a part of a tradition that's lasted for 75 years," says Hebert. "It's rare in today's time that you have an institution like the Radio City Rockettes who are strong and still kicking."
Kolins says The Rockettes are a feature of American entertainment culture with an appeal that spans generations.
"You now have grandparents bringing their grandchildren," says Kolins about the show. "The Rockettes have always projected a sense of wholesomeness, sophistication, a healthy aura of femininity and what it means to be talented -- sexy like when you feel proud that your sister is dressed and going on a date. You say, 'Wow.'
"So much about The Rockettes makes people feel good," Kolins says, "makes people smile, like they're part of your family." They are a part of his family: Kolins is married to a Rockette who's currently on leave, taking care of their sons.
 Velcro and zippers
The Rockettes' fast changes -- from wooden soldiers to Santa's reindeer to svelte storefront mannequins -- are part of the draw pulling as many as 30,000 people in a day to Radio City, its main entrance on Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center.
She says their work schedule can be grueling during the eight-week run of the show -- this year, the "Spectacular" opened November 2 and runs to January 7, 2001. The Rockettes dance in up to five, 90-minute shows per day this year, kick roughly 300 times in a single routine, have eight costume changes per show, wear 10 to 13 different costume pieces -- and have 78 seconds to five minutes to suit up for each number.
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DIVERSITY IN THE KICK LINE
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The Rockettes' management says diversity is on the company's dance card, with more in store. Check it out.
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'WHITE CHRISTMAS'
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"A White Christmas in New York"
Let it snow
(QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)
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"Just as the show on stage is choreographed, so is the backstage," says Hebert. "You know where the traffic is and try to not get in the way of prop or set pieces rolling on and off the stage. You learn how to stay out of the way so the show can happen."
Hebert says she knows it's a stressful job, but she loves the intensity and tension-release of dancing.
"I happen to be a Christian and through prayer, I feel grounded and ready to perform. I always remember that there are 6,000 people in the audience and they've all paid $75 to $80 to see me dance. That keeps me motivated."
And because the "Christmas Spectacular" is live theater, expect a few occasional glitches.
"One time the third elevator in the back didn't come up. All the Rockettes were on it waiting for their entrance and it never came up," Hebert recalls. "When it finally came up, they were on to a different part of the show. We had to basically exit off the stage and everyone saw it."
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"Living Nativity" from this year's Radio City "Christmas Spectacular"
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Working with animals in the show-closing "Living Nativity" scene can be unpredictable, too.
"This is one of those moments where everyone's reflecting and you could have a camel start freaking out and having a bad attitude and doesn't want to sit down," says Hebert. "Or you might have a sheep that's climbing up the rocks. It's hilarious because they don't know."
Kolins says the show honors the heritage of old classics. One is "Parade of the Wooden Soldier," which was directed and designed in 1933 by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Vincente Minnelli ("Gigi," 1958). But some scenes are updated to reflect the latest advancements in technology. For instance, Santa reads some e-mail he received at "Santa.com." (The real Web site, Santa.com, is operated by HolidayChannel.com)
"We do it in a loving way," says Kolins.
 Rockette road trip
And for those who can't make the annual trek to New York for the holidays, Radio City has expanded its "Christmas Spectacular" to include a touring show seen five other cities, including Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Detroit; Chicago; Cincinnati; and Mexico City.
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'JING-A-LING'
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"Jing-A-Ling" is heard as Santa arrives in the "Christmas Spectacular"
Land the sleigh
(QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)
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When The Rockettes aren't strutting across Radio City's "great stage" during the holidays, they're working in other shows. One noted appearance is in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. In the summer, The Rockettes can be found blocking traffic in the middle of Manhattan for their annual "Christmas in August" performance to launch ticket sales for the holiday show.
Hebert, recently married, operates an exercise studio and takes graduate courses at Westminster Theological Seminary.
She says she plans to maintain her career focus in the arts. "I'm really interested in shaping culture through artistic integrity."
As for her current job as a Rockette, Hebert plans to return to the kick line.
"It's a great job. I have no reason not to come back to it. We'll see how long the eye-high kicks can stay sharp and beautiful."
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