Young Dancers Kick With Radio City Rockettes In Pittsburgh
Posted: 7:53 pm EDT September 29, 2009Updated: 8:46 pm EDT September 29, 2009
PITTSBURGH -- Local girls took a dance class with two Radio City Rockettes in Pittsburgh at the Benedum Center Tuesday. For the aspiring young dancers, it was a dream come true.One of the professional dancers went to Point Park University. "When it came time for college, I decided I still wanted to dance. I didn't want to go and study something else, so I decided to go to Point Park here in Pittsburgh. They have a fantastic program," said Kristin Altfather, a Rockette.Kristin has been a Rockette since 1996, making this her 12th season with the world famous company. The California native who now resides in New York City is an assistant choreographer of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" show and has been the choreographer and dance captain for several Rockette events.With Kristin and dressed in her costume on Tuesday was Katie Russell from Medina, Ohio. Katie has been a Rockette for two seasons.
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"It was really, really cool just to see them in their costumes. It was really cool," said dancer Anna DiPasquala.Hoping to be as successful in the dance field as Katie and Kristin some day, the young dancers watched and listened carefully. In no time, they were doing some pretty good kicks and performing one of the Rockettes real routines for their parents."I really liked doing the kicks," said dancer Ava King.At the end of the class, it was unanimous what the young dancers wanted to be when they grow up. Both Anna and Ava said they want to be Rockettes.To be a Rockette, dancers don't just have to be great dancers, they also have to be certain heights."We have 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10-and-a-half, so our end girls are not as tall. In the center, we have our tallest ladies, so it's an illusion that we're all the same height," said Kristin.The Rockettes will be back in November to perform the 2009 edition of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular." They will perform 51 shows at the Benedum Center from Nov. 12 through Dec. 6. Tickets are on sale. Visit the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Web site or call 412-456-4800 for ticket information.
Watch Video l View Pictures
"It was really, really cool just to see them in their costumes. It was really cool," said dancer Anna DiPasquala.Hoping to be as successful in the dance field as Katie and Kristin some day, the young dancers watched and listened carefully. In no time, they were doing some pretty good kicks and performing one of the Rockettes real routines for their parents."I really liked doing the kicks," said dancer Ava King.At the end of the class, it was unanimous what the young dancers wanted to be when they grow up. Both Anna and Ava said they want to be Rockettes.To be a Rockette, dancers don't just have to be great dancers, they also have to be certain heights."We have 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10-and-a-half, so our end girls are not as tall. In the center, we have our tallest ladies, so it's an illusion that we're all the same height," said Kristin.The Rockettes will be back in November to perform the 2009 edition of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular." They will perform 51 shows at the Benedum Center from Nov. 12 through Dec. 6. Tickets are on sale. Visit the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Web site or call 412-456-4800 for ticket information.
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