Every holiday season in New York City, members of the Radio City Rockettes are at the heart of one of the city’s most enduring festive traditions, performing in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The precision dance troupe has been part of the annual show for decades, bringing synchronized routines and high kicks to audiences from early November through January.

For many Rockettes, life in New York over Christmas is shaped by the show’s demanding schedule. They rehearse for hours daily and often perform multiple times each day during the run, including on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Even so, the season becomes a familiar routine that feels like family; dancers often celebrate together with traditions like Secret Santa exchanges and shared meals.

The Christmas Spectacular itself is a 90-minute production featuring more than 140 performers, iconic numbers such as the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” and festive scenes that blend music, dance and holiday storytelling. It’s a show that draws crowds from around the world and is considered a must-see part of New York’s Christmas spirit each year.

Offstage, Rockettes may take in some of the city’s other seasonal sights from the Rockefeller Center tree and ice rinks to elaborate holiday windows along Fifth Avenue but much of their winter is centred around the camaraderie, precision and tradition of the Spectacular itself.

For these dancers, Christmas in New York is both a performance season and a community experience, combining the magic of their craft with the festive energy of the city during its most celebrated time of year.