Published on November 13th, 2013 | by wbcrteam

The Radio City Rockettes illuminated the New York City skyline

Tonight the New York City skyline will glow red and green. The traditional Christmas illumination at the Empire State Building welcomes the season, but also honors the official opening of the “2013 Radio City Christmas Spectacular.”

At 11 a.m. today, four girls arrived in Christmas outfit – red and white miniskirt and coat, a lot of glittering and silver high heels – to the Empire State Building. They were members or the iconic Radio City Rockettes, the world’s famous precision dance company.

While tourist and press flashed their cameras, the girls lighted a replica of the building to celebrate the opening night of the eighty first version of the show.

“It’s always wonderful to be able to join two New York icons together, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Empire State Building,” said Lindsay Howe, a Radio City Rockette from Sacramento, California.

Charles Williams, 49, a carrier in the city was purchasing his tickets for the show at the Radio City Hall. “I want to bring my kids this year,” he said. “It’s a great show, they always change something. The girls are very talented and they are very pretty of course.”

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular show is a holiday celebration for the whole family. The show includes 36 spectacular Rockettes, which account for 72 legs moving in perfect harmony at every performance. The show, were the Rockettes dance and shine for 90 minutes, include eight changes of wardrobe.

“With wardrobe we came in Halloween, so we have been rehearsing the last two weeks, getting ready for opening night tonight,” said Susan Francis, who works as a dresser for the show. “Every costume is different, not to mention all the earrings, the globes, the sucks, the huts.”

On Nov. 8, New York City saw the 2013 preview of a show that will run through Dec. 30. “Of course we have our traditional fans favorites,” said Howe. “We’ve got ‘The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers’, “The Living Nativity” which have been in the show since 1933, but we have a brand new finale scene called snow.”

“Snow” transforms the Radio City stage into a glistening winter wonderland. “It’s like a blank of snow has covered everything inside,” said Howe. “The rockets are dancing across the stage in their dazzling unique costumes. All 36 women have a different costume, so that’s definitely new for the rockets.”

By Sandra Lopez-Monsalve