The Radio City Rockettes will be kicking up their heels at the Rosemont Theatre Nov. 20-Dec. 7.
For more than three-quarters of a century, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular has entertained audiences making their show a staple for many people's holiday celebrations.
Kristina Larson is a local Rockette who resides in Yorkville, Ill. She took off her dancing shoes to sit down for a minute with Windy City Times.
Windy City Times: So you are from here, correct?
Kristina Larson: I am from St. Charles, Ill. I just moved back to Yorkville, Ill., from LA. I have bounced around from California to New York and have finally come home to Illinois.
WCT: This will be your ninth season with the show?
KL: Correct. Seems like yesterday I was a just a rookie; I don't know what happened! [ Laughs ]
WCT: You must like it. You keep coming back for more.
KL: I truly love doing this show.
WCT: So what is your background? Did you go to school for dance?
KL: Well, I have been dancing since I was six. I just followed it my entire life. It was definitely a passion of mine. I got real serious with it around age 13. I started joining competitive dance groups. I realized after that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life and there was no way someone could change my mind. I did not go to college. I started working professionally right out of high school.
WCT: Do you do different kinds of dance? What prepared you for being a Rockette?
KL: I trained in all styles of dance: ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, anything I could get my hands on. I wanted to be as well rounded as possible.
As many of us know that have done the show for years, there's not a whole lot that you can do to prepare for the Rockettes style. Of course, ballet is the standard of all dance, but this has its own technique. There is something that you learn in the process of becoming a Rockette. It has its own style. It's amazing to be a part of such a historic style of precision dance.
WCT: What was the audition process like for you?
KL: It lasts two days and you have to be at least 18 years old to audition. They have a height requirement: You have to 5' 6 1/2" to 5' 10 1/2". When you come in, they measure you flat-footed to make sure that you fall in that height range. This is before you are even sent into the room.
Then the person auditioning has to do different types of dancing. Tap, some character dancing right out of the show, sing and then they make cuts throughout the day. The people they like are asked to come back. If a person is picked, they get a call or letter on down the road.
WCT: Did you audition here?
KL: I did, down at the Civic Opera House.
WCT: Explain how the "moving as one dancer" is done.
KL: One of the tricks of the trade is we "guide right." This means that you don't look right but use your peripheral vision to "guide right" to the person to the right of you. You just keep in line with them no matter where they go. That helps to keep us all in unison.
We are in rehearsals for close to a month for six days a week, seven hours a day, beating the choreography in until it becomes muscle memory.
WCT: It's a lot of trust to the person next to you also, right?
KL: Exactly. We become very tight without even thinking about it, because we spend so much time together.
WCT: How much stretching do you do?
KL: Everyone has her own warm-up regiment. Some people are just naturally flexible. I am not one of those people. I have my own warm-up process. I jog around to get the blood flowing. I give myself a good 45 minutes to an hour to warm up all the parts of the body.
WCT: What's the angle of the highest kick that you do?
KL: Our high kick is when we stop our toe at the height of our eye. It's actually harder than just kicking your leg up there. You have to use your muscle to control it and stop it when you want. Also, we have to give the illusion that we are kicking at the same height.
WCT: So tell me about all the dancing injuries …
KL: I have been lucky. Of course, with time and repetitive moves things are going to ache. Part of the job is taking care of yourself, do the Ibuprofen, the ice baths, etc.
I have personally had hip issues but nothing to write home about. We have an athletic trainer with us that helps us with whatever we need.
WCT: What can people expect when they come to see the show?
KL: This is 90-minute live show all about Christmas, and we bring it home at the end with a living Nativity scene which has been a part of the show since 1933. Some people come to see just that scene because it is so gorgeous. We have live camels, donkeys and sheep—which brings another level to the live aspect.
WCT: You have to watch your step!
KL: Yes. We have The Parade of Wooden Soldiers, which is an original number, along with newer parts of the show to keep it up to date. Such as a seven-and-a-half-minute tap number that counts down the 12 days of Christmas. It's a lot of fun, with "the nine ladies dancing," you can imagine what it's like.
WCT: I am picturing A Chorus Line meets Christmas.
KL: Yeah, kind of. A lot of people don't bring their children but it's made for them. There's something for everybody. We have male and female ensemble dancers along with Santa and his elves.
WCT: Is the Chicago show different from the New York version?
KL: Yes, it is different. We have similarities, such as the Nativity scene, which has been a part of all the shows. We have a couple of different numbers and so do they. Someone can see both shows and get something out of it.
WCT: You worked with Dolly Parton at Dollywood. My parents just went there last weekend! I am from Tennessee.
KL: Oh, yay! Dolly is a trip. She's so nice. I toured with a magic act called The Fercos Brothers. So I was at Dollywood for a few months, along with touring in China. It was lions and tigers and all that good stuff.
WCT: Sounds very Vegas.
KL: It was.
WCT: What do you do the rest of the year?
KL: Everyone has their own thing. Some teach dance or are in Broadway shows— [ and some are ] even stay-at-home moms. There are also many off-season events as Rockettes. We performed on Dancing With the Stars on one of their elimination nights. Also, I taught Ellen Degeneres how to kick when we were on her show. There is always something to do to keep up with Rocketteland.
WCT: So are you going to go for a 10th season?
KL: I hope so. If they hire me back, that would be amazing.
WCT: I am sure they will. Good luck with the show and keep on kicking!
Rosemont Theatre is located at 5400 N. River, Rosemont. Tickets are $55.00 $45.00 and $25.00 with special discounts of 30 to 50% off for kids under 12 at all performances. For more information visit www.christmas.radiocity.com or ticketmaster.com .
