|
|
 Hi everyone,
I've been asked to write a Rookie Diary about my first year as a Rockette so here goes!
I first found out about the tryouts through a friend (Gabby) who had seen the Rockettes perform at a community event. She didn't want to try out on her own so she asked if I'd join her. I wasn't really sure what it was that I was "trying out" for, but being the supportive friend that I am I went along anyway.
As we walked in I immediately thought I didn't stand a chance. Everyone looked keen, tanned, toned, bubbly and most of all prepared for what was to follow. As Gabby and I settled down into our wee corner of the studio everyone started stretching and I am now ashamed to say that our preparation was eating a Mars Bar!!!
The tryouts took all day and involved us doing a "proper" warm-up and learning a routine that we then had to perform in groups of 4 to a panel of judges. I would tell you how my audition went but to be totally honest I really can't remember! I was so nervous that I could only remember walking in and walking out of the audition room. When my name was read out for the main squad it took my friend to push me forward before I could actually move!!
For the first few months of the Rockettes I spent nearly every night in the gym perfecting routines and my technique, and that was just to get me up to scratch with the standard of the vets (girls who had been in the Rockettes the previous year).
One thing I would say about the squad is that you have to be 110% committed to it because it requires a lot of your spare time and dedication. We train 3 times a week and more for big events, which mean we all see each other probably more than our families do!
 Everyone on the squad is so helpful and friendly, and I know it's a cliché but we really are like a big happy family! The first promo I done as a Rockette was the Largs Viking Festival. It was a beautiful day (I know, hard to believe in Scotland) as we walked along in the parade and performed a couple of routines. My family and Gabby (who by this time had forgiven me for getting in when she didn't) came along to support me on my debut. All the girls were really supportive and made me feel really welcome and part of the team.
As a Rockette the highlight of being part of the squad has to be dancing every week at the Scottish Rocks basketball games at Braehead. To be honest with you I didn't have a clue about basketball before the start of the season but I got really into it and was gutted when the Rocks got put out at the semi-finals in Birmingham just a few weeks ago. The Rocks fans are very supportive and always give us a fab reception wherever we are and I have to say it very flattering to be asked for your autograph, you feel like Britney, haha!!
The most enjoyable part of being in the Rockettes is the charity swimsuit calendar. We all get to act like models for the day and get our make-up done by our very own make-up artist Carrie!! I think we would all be in agreement that she is a miracle worker as we were all up at the crack of dawn and worked until well after teatime getting our photos done and still look amazing!
 As well as the calendar we also regularly perform at charity balls. We often get to mingle with celebs and also help raise money for charity at the same time, you can't beat that eh! Most recently the Rockettes held a charity fashion show in the Corinthian with all money being donated to Breast Cancer Awareness. This was one of our proudest achievements to date and our manager Carole Anne arranged everything to a 'T' to ensure an entertaining top-class night.
Well that's just a wee bit about what it's like to be part of the Rockette squad and I didn't even get to mention the fact that we have danced at Rangers and Celtic games, do community coaching and got to fly to London to be on BBC1's Test the Nation (which we all did pretty bad in!).
I'd just like to say a huge thanks to all the girls as I have had the best year of my life and it wouldn't have been such a good laugh without you!
I hope that I have persuaded you to tryout this year and I hope you'll come and say "hi" to me at the tryouts.
Lots of Luv
& Good Luck,
Karen x x x
|
|
