Courtney File first saw the Christmas Spectacular, Starring the Radio City Rockettes, when she was six years old. From there, it became tradition, as File and her family would come from Smithtown to see the show every year during the holidays.
“The curtain came down at the very end of it, and I looked at my mom and said ‘that’s what I want to do,’” File said. “And it never changed, my whole life. I was
very inspired and in awe of
the Rockettes.”
File always loved dancing. She first started dancing at a local studio in Smithtown when she was two. She trained on Long Island until she was about 12 years old and switched to the Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan, where she was a part of the Children & Teens Program.
“I loved it and it introduced me to a bunch of different styles of dance,” File said. “But the Rockette style has always been my personal favorite.”
File continued to train in Manhattan while attending Hofstra University for journalism, eventually getting the opportunity to train to be a Rockette through the Rockette Conservatory program, an invite-only, week-long intensive training program held at Radio City Music Hall each summer.
“It was an amazing program that fully prepares girls for the job,” File said. “I feel like it really prepared me for my first season last year and I’m still feeling the benefits of the conservatory program.”
Participants of the Rockette Conservatory Program are invited to audition in August for consideration to be a part of the Christmas Spectacular. It was File’s sixth audition when she finally got the part in 2022.
“You just have to keep pushing, and for anyone who asks me, ‘what advice would you give to a younger girl?’ I’d say keep going, keep pushing, because my story definitely shows dreams come true,” File said. “I’m working my dream job every day, which is amazing.”
File is now in her second year as a Rockette.
“I’m very excited to be back to celebrate Christmas here at the hall,” File said.
File said she and her fellow Rockettes share a similar story of being inspired by the show they are now a part of when they were younger.
“We either saw the Rockettes on TV for the Macy’s Day Parade or we came and saw the show every year with our families and friends,” File said. “It’s a similar feeling for all of us, that it’s such an inspiring company.”
Rehearsals, File explains, take place for six hours a day, six days a week for six weeks.
“We start in our rehearsal space and we learn our individual track for the show, and then we move into the hall, which is very exciting for us and we move into our dressing room, and we start working on stage during tech rehearsals,” File said. “Then we layer on costumes and lighting and it’s so fun each day.”
File performs during the evening performances of the Christmas Spectacular, at times performing in four shows a day. There is an hour-and-a-half of rest time between each show, where the Rockettes can eat, ice their muscles, stretch and relax.
“It’s a very rigorous and athletic schedule, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” File said. “It’s truly fun. You really do become a family at Radio City, especially spending the holidays together.”
During off season, Rockettes often work other jobs.
“There are some girls that are accountants,” File said. “You have some girls who teach fitness. We have some girls that have four kids and they go home and are with their kids for the rest of the year. It varies.”
For nearly a century, the Rockettes have starred in thousands of stage spectaculars at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, and have been a part of history by performing for troops abroad during wartime or performing during a presidential inauguration. For 80 years, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes has become a popular Christmas destination, featuring classic numbers like Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and Living Nativity. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rockettes.com/Christmas/.
“It’s a family tradition for so many people, especially for people who are lucky enough to be so close, living on Long Island,” File said. “I would describe it as a once in a lifetime experience, if you haven’t seen it. Each number is so special. You have numbers in the show like Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, that have been in the show since it opened in 1933. Then you have new and exciting numbers, like Dance of the Frost Fairies.”
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