They’re famous for their high kicks and synchronized choreography.
But when it comes to keeping their bodies fighting fit, The Radio City Rockettes like to change things up with a variety of intense workouts.
Speaking to People, a member of the dance troupe revealed that in the off-season, they don’t follow a specific program.
Striking a pose: The Radio City Rockettes have revealed the intense workout regimes they follow to stay toned and trim
Intense: The dance troupe rehearse six days a week, six hours a day and also perform multiple shows daily during the festive season
Feel the burn: Each performance burns 1,000 calories meaning on show days the dancers can burn up to 4,000 calories
Chowing down: The dancers fuel themselves with snacks and Powerade backstage
‘We kind of do our own different things, bar classes, spin classes, go to the gym, cardio — you name it, we do it,’ they revealed. In addition, some of the dancers also like to do boxing classes.
However, when they are performing, each member rehearses for several hours a day, meaning they don’t have the need or time for additional classes.
They perform eight dance numbers per show, up to four shows daily, 200 shows a season.
‘We rehearse for six days a week, six hours a day,’ shared one of the dancers. ‘So during rehearsal period we get very much in shape.’
The high kicks alone require extreme individual strength, as the dancers don’t hold each other up, instead the dancers just lightly brush the women beside them with outstretched arms. They call it ‘feeling the fabric’ and say this ensures they’re in line without pushing or leaning.
Revealing more details about their daily schedules to Associated Press, Veteran Rockettes Bailey Callahan of Melbourne, Florida, and Alissa LaVergne of Houston, Texas have also shared their most captivating backstage secrets.
One Rockette used a fitness tracker and discovered that she burned 1,000 calories every show, meaning on performance days, each Rockette burns up to 4,000 calories per day.
‘When we do four shows a day, that’s a lot of pizza that we get to eat,’ Callahan said.
When it comes to food, catering provides the dancers with a selection of proteins, veggies, salads, carbs, desserts, and bottles of the sports drink Powerade to keep their energy levels up.
Cake boss: The dancers scoff desserts and pizza backstage and also snack on chips and M&Ms
Health nuts: The dancers rely on vitamins, water, rest, and hand sanitizer to escape sickness
Mixing it up: During the off season, the Rockettes do barre classes, spin classes and boxing to stay in shape
Formation: Their signature move, the high kick, requires extreme strength
The dancers also like to stock up with additional snacks to keep hunger at bay.
In her dressing room, LaVergne says she like to keep chips, popcorn, yogurt and apples to hand, while Callahan’s go-to snack is a peanut butter and banana sandwich. She also has a stash of M&Ms.
But that doesn’t mean it’s all junk food and energy drinks – the dancers are also conscious of staying healthy throughout the season and rely on vitamins, water, rest, good nutrition, and hand sanitizer to escape sickness.
LaVergne says she opts for Emergen-C packets, while Callahan admits she is partial to electrolyte tablets.
Currently performing in the annual Christmas Spectacular show in New York City, The Rockettes go on stage up to four times a day during a schedule of back-to-back performances.
There are 80 Rockettes, split into two teams of 36 dancers and four standbys. The 36 women can fit shoulder-to-shoulder along the 66-foot stage.
This year, the show has updated its technology, and is offering audience members a ‘completely immersive’ experience.
The entire production has been enhanced with digital projections that the organizers says will ‘extend to all eight of Radio City Music Hall’s iconic proscenium arches that will make audiences feel like they are part of the show.