Local dancers to train with Radio City Rockettes

Even if they don't become Rockettes, three local dancers will get to experience what it's like to be part of the well-known dance company during an intensive training program in New York.

"When I found out how many people had auditioned (nationwide), I didn't think I would get in," said Rachel Bohanon, one of three dancers at Ginger Brown's Academy of Performing Arts in Ringgold, Ga.

About 60 people auditioned around Christmastime in Nashville and about 8,000 auditioned across the nation, said the 16-year-old Chickamauga resident. It took about three months before the three teenagers -- Miss Bohanon, Leah Mulcahy and Haley Riddlebarger -- received letters saying that they'd been accepted.

Now they'll head to the one-week summer program with Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, a trip that's hardly a vacation because it includes six-hour daily classes and a performance at the theater's Great Stage.

"We started this program nine years ago as a way for young ladies to be able to train and learn the legendary Rockette technique," said Eileen Grace, director of the Rockette Summer Intensive Program in a video on its website.

"What we look for in the audition process are women who are eager to learn, who have a positive attitude and, of course, are well trained in jazz and tap," she said.

Both Miss Bohanon and Miss Mulcahy said they want to be Rockettes, and the training is a perfect opportunity to see how they train and work.

"It gives you a feel of how it would be," said Miss Mulcahy, 19, who has been dancing for about 14 years.

For Miss Riddlebarger, 17, the decision on whether to participate in the program was a little tougher.

"I was very excited, but I had to make the decision of whether or not to go because my summer consists of a lot of trips (with the dancing studio)," said the Northwest Whitfield High School senior.

But in the end, she knew the experience would be something she couldn't afford to miss.

Ginger Brown, owner and artistic director of the studio where the three girls dance, said this is the first time any of her dancers have been selected for the prestigious program in more than 30 years.

Only one other dancer from her studio has auditioned in the past, she said.

"We are not only proud of the dancers," she said during a practice at the Choo Choo Centennial Theater, where the girls perform, "but it will be a wonderful experience to work under these professionals ... and learn what it's like if they want to choose this profession."

She described the three dancers as being passionate about dance, hard workers and "good girls inside and out."

For Pat Mulcahy, Leah's mother, it's simply amazing that her daughter was accepted.

"She's always looked up to those dancers," she said.

And the $895 cost is not that steep, she said, when you consider all the training they will get.

"For her to get the chance to work with the Rockettes, that will get her that much closer to get ready to audition, and she would love to audition to be a Rockette," she said.

Online:

THE ROCKETTE SUMMER INTENSIVE

* A one-week summer training program led by actual Radio City Rockettes and a Rockette director/choreographer.

* Includes six hours of class daily with emphasis on Rockette jazz, tap, formations and kick line.

* Finale performance takes place on the Great Stage at Radio City Music Hall.

* Tuition is $895.

* To be considered, dancers must be at least 14 years old, have a minimum of five years of continuous training in tap, jazz and ballet and audition.

Source: www.rockettes.com