It’s the Rockettes’ way. Fans of the famed Radio City Music Hall dance troupe will get a high kick out of New York City’s big tribute as they mark the Rockettes’ 100th anniversary.
On Friday morning, The Post can exclusively report, the Big Apple renamed the stretch in front of the venue “Rockettes Way,” installing a sleek black-and-white sign with bright, gold lettering and a special anniversary logo at the corner of 50th Street and Sixth Avenue.
It’s a timely celebration of the troupe’s centennial, coming right after kicking off the 2025 season of the beloved “Christmas Spectacular” on Thursday night.
City rules regarding street signs are notoriously strict, but when the Rockettes’ owner, MSG Entertainment, contacted the NYC Department of Transportation to request a special-edition sign, the DOT said “yes” faster than you can say “Christmas Spectacular.”
A crew at the DOT Sign Shop in Maspeth, Queens, hustled to create the custom sign within three days, just in time for Friday’s unveiling outside the legendary Midtown theater. They even produced a limited-edition batch of 25 “Rockettes Way” street signs, available for purchase at $100 each from NYC’s CityStore.com.
For fans and dancers alike, it couldn’t get more festive than that.
“The Rockettes have shown year after year that they’re not only a staple in our culture, but a necessity that can bring people together. It’s that love and joy that [the] Rockettes inspire, not just in New York City or across the country, but really across the world,” said Mindy Moeller, a 14-year Rockette veteran, in an interview with The Post.
### From Missouri to the Big Apple
Long before the leggy dance troupe rocketed to fame as a Big Apple staple and global phenomenon, they were a small group known halfway across the country in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1925, choreographer Russell Markert was asked by the owners of the Missouri Theater to create a “specialty dance troupe” to perform before or after movie screenings. After holding auditions, he formed a group of talented dancers and named them the “Missouri Rockets” by October of that year.
Interestingly, the word “rocket” had nothing to do with dance. Markert simply liked how precise the word sounded, fitting for a group famous for their wildly impressive precision dance moves.
After quickly becoming a hit in the Midwest, the Missouri Rockets embarked on a nationwide tour. During a stop in New York City, the dazzling dancers caught the attention of Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel, owner of the new Roxy Theatre.
By 1930, Rothafel moved the Missouri Rockets to NYC, doubled their size, and renamed them the “Roxyettes.” Two years later, the precision dance company was enlisted to perform at the newly opened Radio City Music Hall.
The following year, 1933, the dancers performed their first “Christmas Spectacular.” However, “Roxyettes” didn’t easily roll off the tongue, so in 1934, the group’s name was changed one final time to the legendary “Rockettes.”
And the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
“How many dance companies in America can say that they have been around for 100 years? I mean, it’s not many. I can tell you that,” Moeller enthused. “Celebrating this year is really a huge honor because it proves that the Rockettes have withstood the test of time, through the triumphs and the tribulations of American history.”
### A Legacy Seen and Heard by Millions
To date, more than 72 million people have seen the Rockettes perform their eye-high kicks in the “Christmas Spectacular.”
For those lucky enough to snag tickets this year, they’ll be treated to a few exciting new features. Five minutes before the curtain opens, audience members will watch a short tribute video highlighting the Rockettes’ 100-year legacy, featuring both former and current dancers reflecting on their journeys.
Once the show begins, audiences will notice a huge difference in enhanced acoustics thanks to the Sphere immersive sound system—named after MSG’s massive, eye-catching venue in Las Vegas.
### Celebrations Beyond Radio City
The 100th anniversary festivities extend beyond the historic walls of Radio City Music Hall.
Manhattan landmarks Serendipity Three (225 E. 60th St. and 157 W. 47th St.) and Magnolia Bakery at Rockefeller Center (1240 Sixth Ave.) are offering Rockettes-themed treats such as frozen drinks and a special red velvet cupcake during the “Spectacular” run, which continues through January 5, 2026.
The Empire State Building and the Museum of Broadway are also paying tribute with displays showcasing archival photos and decades-old costumes created by renowned designers Bob Mackie, Gregg Barnes, Emilio Sosa, and Pete Menefee—each of whom has “touched the Rockettes legacy in their own way,” Jessica Tuttle, executive vice president of productions for MSG Entertainment, told The Post.
Of course, no mention of Rockettes costumes would be complete without the iconic “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.” Designed and choreographed in 1932 by Vincente Minnelli—yes, Liza Minnelli’s father and Judy Garland’s husband—the costume remains mostly unchanged, aside from modern fabric updates to improve comfort.
“So every woman who has been a Rockette that has danced at Radio City Music Hall has worn that costume and danced that dance,” added Tuttle.
### Evolving While Staying Iconic
While many traditions remain, including the Rockettes’ iconic French twist hairstyle and signature red lip, the troupe has evolved and grown over the last century.
A hundred years ago, the famous kickline had only 16 dancers. Today, each of the two “Christmas Spectacular” casts includes 42 Rockettes.
Height requirements have also shifted dramatically: originally, Rockettes had to be between 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-6½. Today, dancers must be between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10½.
Maintaining relevance in the social media-obsessed digital age is no small feat, but the Rockettes have done so with a strong presence online.
All year round, the leggy dance troupe engages with trending TikTok challenges, performs alongside celebrities like Ciara, and appears at events such as Citi Field for Mets’ Women’s Night with Hoda Kotb.
“It’s not something you can just sit back on and hope it happens. We realize how important this brand is to so many people around the world, and there are a lot of people who may never actually see us in person,” said Tuttle.
“With the public’s entire interaction being either the Thanksgiving Day parade or our social media channels, they have this amazing connection with us. I think that’s the uniqueness of the Rockettes.”
### Honoring a Century of Sisterhood
Known for their powerful sisterhood, the Rockettes launched the Rockettes Legacy earlier this year to honor the thousands of women who have been part of the famous kickline and to foster lifelong connections among former dancers.
“The past 100 years of women have been amazing, and they’re better together. They’re all unique—with different skin tones and body types,” said Tuttle. “But when they come together, they make this unbelievably spectacular thing to see.”
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As the Rockettes celebrate a century of spectacular performances, their legacy continues to inspire audiences around the world—echoing with every high kick and every joyful step on “Rockettes Way.”
https://nypost.com/2025/11/07/lifestyle/rockettes-are-high-kicking-through-100th-anniversary-with-street-renaming-and-more-a-huge-honor/