Photos courtesy of MSG Entertainment
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Rockettes. And while this momentous occasion probably brings to mind Radio City and those famously in-sync high kicks, there’s so much more to this iconic dance troupe. For example, did you know the Rockettes actually began in the Midwest, not New York City? Or that they’re required to wear red lipstick? Read on for all the secrets and little-known facts about the Radio City Rockettes.
1. The Rockettes got their start in St. Louis in 1925.
The 1925 formation of the Rockettes is credited to the famed choreographer Russell Markert. Inspired by The Tiller Girls, a British precision dance troupe established in 1894, Markert wanted to achieve this same precision and uniformity among his dancers.
Though Markert was born in Jersey City and got his start on Broadway, he later lived and worked in St. Louis. His Missouri Rockets, a group of 16 dancers, were an instant hit…