The Rockettes’ Unwavering Dedication: Inside Their Training and Glamour for the Christmas Spectacular

The holiday season at Radio City Music Hall in New York City is synonymous with the dazzling spectacle of the Radio City Rockettes and their iconic Christmas Spectacular. These extraordinary performers embody a unique blend of athleticism, artistry, and unparalleled precision. From executing their world-famous kick line with flawless synchronization to perfecting every detail of their iconic stage presence, the Rockettes are expected to maintain peak physical and aesthetic condition throughout an incredibly demanding schedule. As Christmas approaches, their performance calendar intensifies, often featuring upwards of 25 shows per week. This rigorous routine demands an immense level of discipline, resilience, and meticulous preparation. How do these remarkable women ready their bodies and minds for such an intense commitment? To uncover the secrets behind their enduring magic, we sat down exclusively with two seasoned Rockettes, Amarisa LeBar, 21, and Nina Linhart, 24, both in their third year with the legendary team, to delve into their comprehensive routines leading up to showtime.

For a Radio City Rockette, a show day routine is meticulously planned and executed, a testament to their unwavering dedication and precision. Amarisa LeBar, a seasoned performer in her third year with the team, shares insights into her preparation for the evening cast of the Christmas Spectacular. Her day typically begins around 10:00 a.m., allowing for a nourishing breakfast and cherished moments with her family at home in New Jersey before she commutes into the bustling heart of New York City by train. Once she arrives at the iconic Radio City Music Hall, the transformation truly begins. Amarisa prioritizes securing her hair first, a crucial step to ensure it remains impeccably styled and tight throughout the physically demanding performance, resisting the effects of vigorous dance and countless costume changes. Following this, she meticulously applies her stage makeup, a process that contributes significantly to the Rockettes’ iconic and instantly recognizable aesthetic. The physical warm-up is equally crucial, involving a blend of cardiovascular exercises and targeted stretching to prepare her muscles and joints for the rigorous choreography and high-energy numbers. The final, indelible touch before she steps onto the grand stage is the application of the Rockettes’ signature bold red lipstick, a vibrant symbol of their glamour, confidence, and readiness to captivate thousands of adoring fans.

The art of looking effortlessly glamorous on stage is a carefully orchestrated process, and for the Rockettes, every minute counts. Nina Linhart elaborates on the precise timing required to achieve their signature look. She makes it a point to arrive at Radio City Music Hall an hour and a half before showtime. This generous window is essential, allowing her sufficient time not only for crucial pre-show fueling but also for the intricate hair and makeup application, and a thorough physical warm-up. Out of this allotted time, the hair and makeup routine alone commands approximately one hour. This dedicated period underscores the complexity and attention to detail involved in crafting their flawless stage appearance, ensuring every Rockette presents a unified and dazzling image from the first curtain call to the final bow.

Maintaining pristine skin under the demands of heavy stage makeup, bright lights, and intense physical exertion is a daily challenge the Rockettes embrace with a strict beauty regimen. Amarisa outlines her essential skincare routine, designed to keep her complexion radiant throughout the strenuous holiday season. Every day, before applying her makeup, she relies on Neogen’s Green Tea Face Scrubbers. These gentle exfoliators are vital for eliminating dry skin, a common issue during the colder winter months and under constant makeup. Following exfoliation, she uses Fresh’s Rose Moisturizing Lotion, a product chosen for its ability to deeply replenish and hydrate her skin, providing a protective barrier against dryness and irritation. At the end of a long day of performances, when all the lights dim, Amarisa makes sure to thoroughly cleanse her face using Neutrogena’s Make Up Removing Wipes. These wipes are effective in dissolving all traces of heavy stage makeup and the iconic red lipstick, ensuring her skin can breathe and recover overnight, ready for another day of dazzling performances.

Nina Linhart, also acutely aware of the toll that multiple daily performances and layers of stage makeup can take on her skin, adheres to an equally regimented and comprehensive beauty routine throughout the season. She emphasizes the paramount importance of extra special skin care, especially considering the constant sweating during shows, the various hats—including one that covers her forehead—and even the Santa beard worn during certain numbers, all of which can contribute to clogged pores and irritation. Nina begins her cleansing process with Neutrogena’s Oil Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub, ensuring a deep clean to prevent breakouts. This is followed by toning with Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion number 3, which helps to refine her skin texture and remove any lingering impurities. For targeted treatment, she then applies Neutrogena’s Acne Eliminating Spot Gel to address any unwanted breakout areas that may emerge. To maintain an even and healthy skin tone, Clinique’s Smart Custom Repair Serum is her next step, offering a blend of restorative benefits. She concludes her routine by moisturizing thoroughly with Clinique’s Superdefense Daily Defense Moisturizer, providing essential hydration and protection. This meticulous routine is performed twice a day: once in the morning, or specifically before her first show of the day, and then again after all performances, before she heads to bed. For makeup removal, she trusts Almay Eye Makeup Oil Free Remover Pads for her delicate eye area and Clean and Clear Night Relaxing All-In-One Cleansing Wipes for her face, ensuring every trace of makeup is gone, allowing her skin to fully rejuvenate.

Fueling their bodies appropriately is non-negotiable for the Rockettes, whose performances demand peak physical energy and endurance. Amarisa details her strategic approach to nutrition and hydration, vital for sustaining her through a grueling show day. To kickstart her day and ensure she has a solid foundation of energy, she always begins with a breakfast sandwich. She has found this particular meal makes her feel best and provides the necessary sustained energy before a show. Hydration is equally critical, and Amarisa prioritizes it by drinking approximately two bottles of Gatorade before each performance. This ensures her body is supplied with essential electrolytes, crucial for muscle function and preventing fatigue. During the show itself, she employs what she playfully calls “water choreography,” a disciplined hydration strategy where she drinks a specific amount of water after each number. This consistent intake ensures she remains optimally hydrated while performing under intense physical strain and stage lights. After the curtain falls and the performance concludes, her hydration regimen continues, with an additional two to three bottles of Gatorade to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes, aiding in recovery and preparing her for the next demanding show.

The Rockettes’ physical preparation is a year-round commitment, though their workout regimen shifts significantly between the off-season and the intensely busy performance period. Nina Linhart sheds light on this dynamic approach to fitness. Before the holiday season officially begins, her focus is on rigorous pre-season training. She commits to daily gym workouts, prioritizing cardio exercises to build the exceptional stamina required for the multiple high-energy numbers in the Christmas Spectacular. Alongside cardio, she incorporates various strength exercises to ensure her body is robust and capable of handling the physical demands of dance. Additionally, attending regular dance classes is crucial for maintaining and refining her technique, ensuring every kick, turn, and precision movement is perfect. Nina emphasizes the paramount importance of being at their absolute best on day one of rehearsal, a testament to the high standards of the Rockettes. However, once the season is in full swing and performances begin, her workout philosophy changes dramatically. The 90 minutes of the Christmas Spectacular itself become their primary workout, a testament to the show’s incredible physical intensity. With up to 16 shows a week, any “day off” during the season is strictly dedicated to essential rest and recovery. Instead of traditional workouts, Nina focuses on therapeutic practices like stretching and rolling out her muscles. These techniques are vital for alleviating the soreness and tension that accumulate from constant performance, helping her body to recuperate and prepare for the relentless schedule of the week ahead. This strategic balance of intense preparation and mindful recovery is key to the Rockettes’ sustained excellence and longevity in their demanding career.