Out of all of the famous venues and entertainers in New York City, there might be no place more famous than Radio City Music Hall and no performer more iconic than the Radio City Rockettes. Most people are only familiar with the Rockettes from their annual performance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But the Rockettes are actually a full-time dance company that performs regularly at Radio City Music Hall, which has been their home since 1932. Unfortunately, the days of the Rockettes touring ended in 2015. However, the Rockettes and their famous kick lines will continue performing at Radio City Music Hall until the end of time. After all of these years, they remain one of the must-see shows for anyone visiting New York City.

Proud History

While the Radio City Rockettes have become synonymous with New York City and the venue where they perform, most people don’t realize that the dance company was actually founded in St. Louis back in 1925. The group was originally known as the Missouri Rockets and was modeled after a British dance troupe called the Tiller Girls. The original Rockettes were largely an American version of the Tiller Girls.

The two groups have been intrinsically linked throughout their history, with many similarities and connections between them. Of course, the difference is that while the Tiller Girls have seen their popularity experience peaks and valleys over the years, the Rockettes have maintained their place in the spotlight and continue to be one of the most iconic performers in American entertainment.

You Never Know Who’s on Stage

When audiences see the Radio City Rockettes in person, they have no way of knowing what future stars are on stage. The Rockettes have long been used as a launching pad to careers elsewhere in the entertainment industry. Going back to the early days, women like Lucille Bremer and Suzanne Kaaren became film stars after performing with the Rockettes. The same is true of Suzanne Rogers, who has spent nearly 50 years on the soap opera Days of Our Lives in the role of Maggie Horton. More recently, TV personalities like Amanda Kloots and Keltie Knight could have been spotted on stage with the Rockettes before making their way to television.