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Rockettes Tryouts Draw 500 High-Step Hopefuls

By Alan Neuhauser | May 1, 2013 7:52am | Updated on May 1, 2013 10:11am

MIDTOWN — Hundreds of holiday high-kick hopefuls donned neon singlets and headed to Radio City Music Hall Tuesday morning for the Rockettes' annual open auditions for the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular."

Linda Haberman, the show's director and choreographer, led groups of roughly 100 dancers each through choreographed routines in one of Radio City's backstage studios, then called on them three at a time to perform the pieces for a Radio City creative-team panel.

"They're here trying to live out their dream," spokeswoman Rachel Sachs said.

The demands were specific as a Christmas list: those auditioning not only needed to be proficient tap, jazz and ballet dancers, but they also could not be shorter than 5-foot-6 or taller than 5-foot-10 1/2.

Approximately 500 women tried out, together competing for what will likely be just 12 open spots on the kick-line, Sachs said.

Callbacks will be made through the rest of the week, but final selections will not be announced until August.