Strickland: Open-call auditions were in April, and there’s a three-day-long audition process. I got through all three days and then got invited to Conservatory Week, which is a week-long program where we train with the Rockettes and the Ailey School [an educational institution that partners with the Rockettes on dancer development programs]. And the Dance Theatre of Harlem also comes and teaches us classes, so we’re exposed to a wide variety of dance styles over the week. And then there’s another, invite-only audition in August, which I also did. [Basically,] it was a summer-long process to be here.
SELF: Did you get an offer the first time you auditioned, or did you have to go through it a couple times before you made the cut?
Strickland: I auditioned twice, so this past audition was my second time. Being a Rockette has always been a dream of mine, and I knew it was possible if I just kept going for it, pushing. Besides, I love Christmas in New York, and I wanted to be part of that iconic Christmas tradition for so many people. And so that just kept motivating me to keep going, because I knew someday it was going to happen.
SELF: How did you all feel when you got the notification that you were in the cast for this year?
Strickland: When I got the phone call, I was speechless. I was like, “Uh, hi? Oh, yes, I would love to.” And I immediately called my mom. She started bawling, and I just remember feeling like, “Oh, I did it! All that hard work paid off, and I accomplished something.” Stepping on stage for the first time, I was like, “Wow.” It was a dream come true, and I started tearing up a little bit in my reindeer costume.
Hawkins: Yeah, getting the call is pretty magical. I remember that I was shaking. I was with my husband in a drive-through line at a coffee shop. He’s getting handed his coffee through the window, and I’m over there freaking out!
Howse: And there’s actually a separate audition for us as [veteran] Rockettes. It’s a one-day process for us. Return isn’t guaranteed, so it keeps us at the top of our game. I feel more confident every year that I go into it.
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