Rockettes at 100: Radio City Spectacular Turns a Century with Holiday High Kicks and Record-Breaking Shows

Hello, champions of spectacle and believers in Broadway magic—this is Elena West stepping onto the stage with a headline you can feel in your bones. A game-changing milestone bursts onto the scene as the Rockettes mark 100 years of dazzling entertainment with a culminating celebration at Radio City Music Hall in 2025. This is not just a birthday party for a dance troupe; it is a full-on cultural milestone that redefines the holiday tradition in New York City and beyond. So, let’s unpack the sparkliest chapter of this iconic troupe, because the numbers alone tell a story of perseverance, precision, and perpetual reinvention.

Starting with a classic origin tale that sounds almost cinematic, the Rockettes began in 1925 under the name “the Roxyettes.” Their early days unfolded in St. Louis, Missouri, where choreographer Russell Markert doled out a rigorous, high-energy formula inspired by the UK’s Tiller Girls. For seven years, these high-kicking performers brought razzle-dazzle to the Missouri Theatre, laying down the blueprint for a national obsession with synchronized precision and glittering pageantry. The pivot to the Big Apple arrived almost as a destined chapter when Radio City Music Hall advisory board member Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel invited the troupe to help inaugurate the grand venue in December 1932. The move to New York transformed a regional act into a national phenomenon, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the Rockettes are not simply rehearsing the classics; they are orchestrating a centennial celebration that promises to echo through generations of fans. The 100th-year edition kicks off on Thursday, November 6, with the holiday spectacular that has come to define the Christmas season for many families. From that moment, audiences can anticipate plays and performances that blend jazz, tap, and ballet into a cohesive, 90-minute production. The signature numbers endure, including the evergreen Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and the Living Nativity, but the show also embraces fresh elements. A Santa Claus scene introduced in 2024 adds another layer of festive nostalgia, all choreographed to Jerry Herman’s We Need a Little Christmas from Mame, as Playbill confirms. This blend of tradition and new material is a central pillar of the Rockettes’ enduring appeal: respect for heritage, paired with an openness to evolution.

Tickets for the 2025 Christmas Spectacular are in high demand, with more than 200 performances planned through January 4, 2026. The calendar reads like a winter symphony—multiple daily shows at varied times, including matinees and evening performances, ensuring accessibility for tourists and locals alike. Pricing ranges are highlighted with the lowest observed options around the $83–$85 mark, with premium seats climbing toward $285 depending on date and seating. Beyond the stage, the experience at Radio City will include onsite activations that celebrate a full century of history, with Santa in attendance to amplify the holiday magic. The scope extends beyond a single show to a yearly ritual of celebration, anticipation, and communal joy for families and fans who have grown up with the Rockettes as a staple of their holiday season.

What makes this centennial run especially compelling is the careful curation of content. Playbill’s reporting frames the production as a nine-number, 90-minute spectacle that honors both past triumphs and current innovations. The combination of “Parade of the Living Soldiers,” a nod to tradition, with new scenes keeps the show lively without sacrificing the familiar heartbeat that audiences crave. As ticket sales surge, the city prepares for a festive influx that underscores Radio City’s enduring role as a cultural epicenter for high‑caliber live performance.

The story isn’t just a celebration of 100 years of dance; it’s a narrative about the power of consistency, reinvention, and the timeless thrill of live spectacle. From the Missouri beginnings to the grand New York milestone, the Rockettes have etched themselves into the fabric of American entertainment, and this centennial season promises to reaffirm their status as living legends of the stage. So, will you be among the lucky audience members who witness history in motion? The countdown is on, and the next chapter is ready to perform.

What to watch next: expect announced updates about special anniversary programming, potential guest appearances, and new archival showcases that will invite fans old and new to celebrate a century of high-kicking precision.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and [New York Post (Entertainment)
Playbill]
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed (GO)