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2 Aussie girls are Radio City Rockettes in the 2016 Christmas Spectacular

On the eve of Thanksgiving here in the USA, it seems only appropriate to talk about a cultural institution of a show that has played since 1933 and is an integral part of the fabric of the holiday season in New York - The Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes.

On the eve of Thanksgiving here in the USA, it seems only appropriate to talk about a cultural institution of a show that has played since 1933 and is an integral part of the fabric of the holiday season in New York – The Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes.

I had the opportunity to preview the show, which runs until 2nd January 2017, with an added bonus of meeting a Rockette who is from Australia.

I saw this show when I first arrived in the USA 13 years ago, so I was curious to see if I would still be enlightened and entertained as I was back then.

When a show has been in production for more than 83 years it is interesting to see how the show progresses incorporating new technology and story lines.

One of they key changes since the inception of the show it has gone from a 30-minute show to 90 minutes.

The digital 3D era has been incorporated with 3D glasses so you can be part of Santa’s journey across the globe to New York. Another new highlight of the show is the magnificent GPS snow flakes that hover over the audience.

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There are still two original numbers in the show – the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and the “Living Nativity”, which includes 3 camels, a donkey and sheep.

The Rockettes are of course the stars with a total of 80 Rockettes in the troop, (although there are only 36 on stage at any one time).

There is one Rockette that has been part of the company for more than 15 years but more importantly, there are two Australian Rockettes, Sophie Holloway from Sydney and Jackie Aitken from Brisbane.

I had a chance to talk to Jackie to find out how does a girl from Brisbane end up in a truly ‘Spectacular Christmas’ show.

Jackie first saw the show when she was 15 visiting New York for the holidays, and now at 28 she is about to complete her third season.

This vibrant effervescent Rockette is not only gifted with talent but has the stamina to boot. In the lead up to the season they train for 6 weeks, 6 hours a day for 6 days a week.

During the season they will complete 16 shows a week, which is a total of 128 costume changes. That, in my opinion is exhausting, let alone doing all that kicking.

Jackie tells me her American dance colleagues have been learning Aussie slang names and some are perfecting a great Australian accent. (Building bridges between cultures even in the entertainment world.)

To feel the magic of Christmas, get a true taste of the holiday season in New York, and see why ‘fan families’ return year after year and generation after generation, this show is a must to attend.

Tickets can be booked directly at Rockettes.com or through Broadway Inbound.

Have you ever been to the Radio City Rockettes?