Rockette Testing

It may have been raining on Tuesday, it may have been springtime in Los Angeles, but Rockette hopefuls were dreaming of a white Christmas in New York.

About 75 tanned dancers shimmied and tapped at Screenland Studios II as a pianist pounded out holiday tunes. Their gear ranged from bellybutton rings to black athletic shoes, their training from jazz to hip-hop to tap.

But all shared the desire to don the green velvet elf costume of the famed precision dance team’s best-known routine.

For the first time since 1983, the high-kicking dancers will bring their snowy cheer to the land of palm trees and beaches--40 December performances at Universal Amphitheater. Other regional “Christmas Spectacular” productions by the Radio City Rockettes are scheduled for Branson, Mo., Myrtle Beach, S.C., Chicago and Detroit.

An earlier attempt at marketing one of Manhattan’s holiday staples here in Los Angeles failed, according to producer Howard Kolin, when traditional fare was abandoned for a more tropical, Southern Californian theme that disappointed fans. This time around, he said, the Rockettes will hold fast to tried-and-true numbers such as “Christmas in New York.”

For aspiring performers Tuesday, the first test of the day was a tape measure attached to the wall.

Just like the fable of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, dancers can neither be too short nor too tall: 5 feet, 5 1/2 inches to 5 feet 9. The strict height requirement is key to preserving the illusion of precision, ensuring seemingly parallel moves as each dancer kicks to her own eye level.

“If they’re not the right height, we tell them they can try out, but it’s unlikely they’ll be cast,” said stage manager Mimi Apfel, who had to stand on her toes to reach taller prospects. “It’s amazing how many people don’t know how tall they are.”

Short women take a deep breath to add a smidgen, while tall women slouch and bend their knees, Apfel said.

At the other end of the height spectrum, six adults under 4 1/2 feet appear in the show as baby bears and Santa’s elves.

Before the audition, dancers stretched their legs, limbering into splits or sitting yoga style amid bulging gym bags and coats.

Heather Campbell, a Santa Clarita 22-year-old who first watched the Rockettes on TV during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, decided to try out after seeing an ad in a trade magazine.

“I’m just here to have fun. If you worry too much, then you blow it,” said Campbell, whose dance teacher was a Rockette.

Some dancers go through special routines on audition days for good luck. “I speak Vietnamese in my head, asking God to get me through this and tell him that I place my trust in him,” said Anne Nguyen, 27, of Pacific Palisades. “It centers and grounds me.”

Around 10:30 a.m., the first group of 35 women trooped onto the scuffed wooden floor. They learned a short series of jazz steps that left them standing on their toes with arms upraised. Soon the dancers were covered with a sheen of sweat.

Even when hoofers mistakenly stepped left instead of right, or opened instead of closed their arms, they kept going. First approaching the routine with brow furrowed and mouth set, dancers started smiling as they became more familiar with the routine.

But it takes more than a megawatt smile to be a Rockette.

“It’s not cute and sexy--it’s very strong,” choreographer Lisa Haberman told the group. “Pick up your feet, lots of energy.”

During the audition, the group split into three smaller ones, and then down to trios that performed in front of a panel of judges. Another group of 35 waited in the lobby for their turn.

Results were meted out quickly, as soon as each group finished its jazz portion of the audition. Rockette officials read off the names of those who would advance to the next round, tap dancing.

Joelle Martinec, 23, of Sherman Oaks, made the first cut and was keeping her fingers crossed. She planned on relaxing and catching up with dance buddies while waiting for the next round. “I’ll pray, and try to remember tap steps,” she said, shuffling her feet.

About half the dancers made the first cut, and then half of those made the second one. Those finalists will come back today, auditioning to new steps and recalling those learned Tuesday. The dancers chosen will begin rehearsing in October.

Dancers who did not advance were still satisfied by the experience.

“It’s always good to try out, because you never know,” said Nichole Walker, 25, of Walnut. “You always learn from an audition. If you feel that you did a good job, that’s what counts.”