In 2025 New York City is celebrating a milestone in American entertainment. The Radio City Rockettes, the high kicking precision dance troupe synonymous with the holiday season and iconic stage spectacle, have reached their 100th anniversary. It is a rare moment for an institution that has shaped New York’s cultural fabric and delighted audiences across generations.
The Rockettes trace their origins to 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, where choreographer Russell Markert formed a precision dance ensemble called the “Missouri Rockets.” The troupe relocated to New York in the late 1920s and by 1932 had found a permanent home at Radio City Music Hall. A year later the Christmas Spectacular, now America’s most enduring holiday stage tradition, debuted and has run almost continuously since. The Rockettes
For a century the Rockettes have been celebrated for unity of movement and discipline in performance. Their signature precision technique blends jazz tap and ballet and yields the telltale eye-high kicks and seamless formations that have become an emblem of disciplined showmanship. Over decades they have appeared in major national events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Super Bowl halftime show, consolidating their place as cultural ambassadors of both New York City and American performance art.
This anniversary year’s centerpiece is the 2025 Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, running from November 6 through January 4, 2026 at Radio City Music Hall. It is the company’s 92nd season of the holiday show and arrives at the height of centennial celebration, blending cherished traditions like the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” with enhanced theatrical effects including expansive digital projections and immersive audio that envelops the audience in holiday wonder.
The centennial experience extends beyond the stage. Attendees at the Christmas Spectacular encounter archival displays and costume retrospectives honoring the Rockettes’ legacy, and pre-show videos highlight the century of artistry that has defined their work. The celebrations ripple throughout the city with New York landmarks and institutions participating in tribute events: the Empire State Building lighting in red and white, a museum exhibit at the Museum of Broadway chronicling the troupe’s journey from Missouri to Midtown Manhattan, and even themed treats and merchandise inspired by the Rockettes’ signature imagery.
Perhaps most emblematic of their impact was a recent tribute in Midtown Manhattan. New York City temporarily renamed the stretch of Sixth Avenue outside Radio City Music Hall “Rockettes Way,” a symbolic gesture honoring the role the troupe has played in the life of the city and its holiday traditions.
The Rockettes’ century is significant not only for longevity but for how they have both preserved tradition and embraced innovation. From their early performances in the Great Depression to the sophisticated theatrical and technological flourishes of today’s productions, they reflect a blend of resilience and evolution. That duality is at the heart of their enduring appeal: they are at once classic and contemporary, a living thread between past and present.
As the Rockettes kick into their second century audiences are reminded that showmanship, discipline, and a sense of shared celebration can knit a community together, especially during the most festive time of year. Their 100th anniversary is not merely a commemoration of the past but a living testament to performance as a bridge across generations.
