Anyone who knows will tell you, “Once a Rockette, always a Rockette.” The Radio City Rockettes celebrated 100 years in March 2025. There is no better time to recognize a 90-year-old Rockette dancer who is still in the groove. Meet Patsy Elliott, who graduated from high school in 1953 and became a Rockette dancer. Joining a line dancing class, Patsy is still active at First Colonial Inn Assisted Living Facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Patsy began her dance lessons at the age of five under instructor Billy Tryall in Salisbury. She excelled and went to New York after high school. We aren’t sure how long Patsy stayed with The Rockettes. The practices and performance schedules were said to be grueling.
She went on to develop a comedy dance act, and she performed the nightclub circuit in New York. She signed on to the Gary Moore Show in 1966 for one episode. To say that Patsy made her mark on New York would be an accurate assessment.
The Rockettes had strict standards for dancers. In 1953, the Rockette dancers’ height requirements were between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 10.5 inches tall. Because of the intricate dance routines, the women had to be proficient in jazz, ballet, tap, and modern dance. Don’t forget the famous high kicks, which were also a requirement.
You can see by looking at Patsy’s lanky body and long legs that she was perfect as a Rockette dancer. Her enthusiasm during this line dancing class is enough to make you smile. She is igniting the entire room. It’s likely she could share some wonderful stories that would fill in the history of The Rockettes during her era…