Since then, I’ve been endlessly curious: Who are these fabulously talented women?
How did they earn their spots?
What’s life really like as a Rockette?
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Last September, I had the chance to get some of these questions answered.
That’s not including the rest of the work they do to be stage-ready.
Being a Rockette requires some seriousstrengthand stamina.
After all, “Rockettes are athletes dripping in diamonds,” dancer Sarah Grooms toldThe Huffington Post.
Here’s how they do it, according to Rockettes past and present.
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“Many of us have been dreaming about this since childhood,” says Cichra.
“That serves as motivation when your body wants to give up.”
Each Rockette has her own fitness routine.
Other favorites: yoga, Pilates, running, boxing, and, yes, other types of dancing.
“Dance cardio classes are my favorite,” dancer Danelle Morgan said in the blog post.
Some of the women actually teach classes when they’re not Rockette-ing.
Of course, every dancer’s go-to is different.
I also always pack a banana in my bag as a snack."
To keep up their energy, eating enough throughout the day is crucial.
“We eat more than the average person,” Cichra told CBS News.
“Throughout the day I eat protein and carbs, and treats are important.”
Several dancers also rely on peanut butter sandwiches on whole-grain bread for a combination of healthy fat and carbs.
“When the curtain goes down, we have 90 minutes until the next show.
I go upstairs to a catered lunch, and usually have a turkey sandwich to get my carbs in.
Then I take a 20-minute nap,” Morgan toldThe New York Times.
She’s not the only Rockette known to squeeze in power naps between shows and meals.
I also do lots of hamstring and calf stretches for all those eye-high kicks," Holloway toldGlamour.
After the curtains close, it’s time for a cool-down.
After stretching, the Rockettes have a training room where many of them shiver through 10-minute ice baths.
Ultimately, it depends on the person.
“Once the show’s over, it’s important to take some time to recover.”
This also might mean sipping a shake or glass of chocolate milk in the ice bath, she says.
