Peppy attendants holding huge plastic candy canes directed everyone into lines.
Before long, I had made it inside, found my seat, and settled in to watch.
Nifty technical touches only added to the charmflying confetti, fluttering streamers, even a flock of fairy drones.
Oftentimes, hopefuls often have to try out multiple times before they make the cut.
And the work does not stop once the curtain descends for the last time in early January.
Yep, thats right, dancers have to reaudition every single year.
SELF:As rookie Rockettes, what was the audition process like?
Tamia Strickland:Open-call auditions were in April, and theres a three-day-long audition process.
Andthentheres another invite-only audition in August, which I also did.
[Basically,] it was a summer-long process to be here.
Strickland:I auditioned twice, so this past audition was my second time.
Strickland:When I got the phone call, I was speechless.
I was like, Uh, hi?
Oh, yes, I would love to.
And I immediately called my mom.
She started bawling, and I just remember feeling like, Oh, I did it!
All that hard work paid off, and I accomplished something.
Stepping on stage for the first time, I was like, Wow.
It was a dream come true, and I started tearing up a little bit in my reindeer costume.
Hannah Hawkins:Yeah, getting the call is pretty magical.
I remember that I was shaking.
I was with my husband in a drive-through line at a coffee shop.
Hes getting handed his coffee through the window, and Im over there freaking out!
MacKenzie Howse:And theres actually a separate audition for us as [veteran] Rockettes.
Its a one-day process for us.
Return isnt guaranteed, so it keeps us at the top of our game.
I feel more confident every year that I go into it.
SELF:What is the best piece of advice youve gotten from a veteran Rockette?
So just to be reminded that I did it and to keep pushing and showcasing myself was very helpful.
Paige McRae:We definitely train like athletesnot just dancers, but athletes.
Hawkins:You also definitely have to show up for the season ready.
You cant use the seasonas Ive learnedto reach that point.
You got to train before.
SELF:Whats your preshow routine like?
Im trying to wake up my body, so I do lots of activewarm-ups, like lunges.
McRae:Lots of times, the athletic-training team will tape us to support our feet.
Ill also warm up my legs in a hot bath.
Howse:I always check that Im getting nutrition before I get to the building.
And we always eat in between shows as well, just to keep the carbs up.
SELF:What about your postshow regimen?
McRae:Our athletic-training team always has anice bathprepped.
Using that cold temperature helps expedite the recovery time since we do have to turn around quickly.
Howse:Recoveryis so important.
If not, then we just get sore, and those eye-high kicks arent as easy.
McRae:You definitely feel thefatiguein your body.
Youre nice and sweaty, you lose some of that perfect makeup.
But theres always a little bit of an adrenaline rush.
SELF:Whats the mostfunroutine or dance number?
McRae:I would say personally for me, our Sleigh Ride numberthe opening number.
That, for me, is one of the most exhilarating moments.
And I think I still have those chills in me, ever since that first show.
Howse:I actually really enjoy our Here Comes Santa Claus number.
Strickland:I enjoy New York at Christmas.
Thats been a fun one.
Were on a moving bus onstage, which is really cool.
Im like, Oh, wow.
Hawkins:And sometimes those changes are really fast.
Were all so zoned in.
The adrenaline of it is kind of fun and crazy.
What is it like rehearsing and performing with them?
Shes a two-year-old sheep, and shes wonderful, an incredible castmate.
SELF:Tell me a little about your relationship with your fellow Rockettes.
Do you feel like friends, coworkers, or somewhere in between?
McRae:Id say family.
Whenever youre [starting out as] a Rockette, someone says to you, Look around the room.
And it really does become that way.
We truly become sisters.
It was such a warm, friendly environment.
McRae:Its the best feeling.
Hawkins:I think the history behind it is so incredible.
Theres been generations of women, generations of crew [members], of audience members.
And to be able to be a part of a legacy like that is just so inspiring.
Strickland:I remember I grew up watching the Macys Thanksgiving Parade with my family every Thanksgiving.
So even five years later, that feeling never goes away for me.
These interviews have been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
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