Two very special guests had some pep in their steps while visiting Central New Jersey this month.
Katie Hamrah and Taylor Shimko moved from the dance floor to the book shelves as the Radio City Rockettes visited the South Brunswick Library on Sept. 14.
”They look pretty when they do their dance,” said Isabella Merunka of the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick, an aspiring dancer who has watching the Christmas Spectacular live on her bucket list.
As part of a community outreach program, a selection of the 80 high kickers visit libraries in the Tri-State Area each year to help children with craft projects ,while they also signed autographs and took photos.
Hamrah, of Middlesex, is in her 13th season dancing for the holiday classic. At age three she began dancing, and since she grew up with a former Rockette, she decided to audition at age 18 for a spot in the line.
”I always looked up to the girl I grew up with,” she said. “I made it to the other side of the curtain.”
Rehearsals begin in September, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week before the season opens Nov. 9. The women can perform up to four shows a day, six days week through January.
”My dad calls us ‘athletes in diamonds’” said Hamrah, who is also a fitness instructor. ”It’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes but it’s really something so magical. Thirty-six women can be moving at the same time and the end result is really beautiful,” she said.
Shimko, of Ewing, is headed into her ninth season dancing on the Radio City Music Hall stage, having gotten the “call of a lifetime” two days after her high school graduation. She had initially seen the show at age 10 with her dance teacher, and she knew this was her destiny.
Loving the “12 Days of Christmas” scene the most, she said, “It’s pretty insane. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I feel so blessed and so lucky to be part of everyone’s Christmas. … It’s such a special part of my own tradition to be able to spread my Christmas cheer with everybody else.”
Shimko said audience members should know some fun facts, such as hair and makeup only take about half hour, their tap shoes have wireless microphones attached so the women can hear live feedback, and the Rockettes can see out into the first few rows so they love all the “shining faces.”
Jada and Olivia Hutchinson, of Ewing, are just two of those shining faces who have seen the Rockettes in person. Their mother, Ally Coryell, is best friends with Shimko.
”We’d love to be in the show one day,” Jada said, calling the show “amazing.”
”They do the kicks very well,” she added.
For more information on the Christmas Spectacular, visit www.rockettes.com/christmas.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].