See Gracie Epperson in the iconic kick line at Radio City Music Hall through Jan. 5!
Share
Infinite Scroll Enabled
Anchor/Reporter
GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS
The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.
Your Email Address
Privacy Notice
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —
Many little girls venture to New York City around the holidays and get wide-eyed when they walk up to Radio City Music Hall. Some dream of being in the kick-line alongside the dozens of Rockettes in their sparkling and festive costumes. It only becomes a reality for very few talented, lucky dancers.
Gracie Epperson saw the show as a young girl, having taken dance classes starting at three years old, and felt called to perform in the show someday.
"I just fell in love with it, like I want to do that, I need to do that," Epperson said. "I want the sparkly costumes; I need to kick."
She worked diligently through her teen years, participating in competition dance through In-Motion Dance Studio in Winston-Salem.
"You just wanted to watch her dance," studio owner Michelle Nicholson said. "You knew she was going to be something special."
At the age of 18, Epperson moved to New York City with her sights set on Radio City Music Hall. She at least got to dance on the stage every year, as that's where auditions take place. But it took six years of auditions and workshops before she finally got the call that she was going to be a Rockette.
"It’s crazy to think," she said, "It took me six years, and I’m proud of that because I think you should never give up on your dreams. I’m very thankful for my community in Winston, and I credit so much to them for me getting here today. They were always there. Those are the people that inspire me to keep going."
Landing the role was just the start of more hard work for Epperson. She described their training as six hours a day, six days a week as "very physically demanding." It's all to create that iconic synchronized kick-line.
"It’s really cool to see a group of 36 women make a line," she said. "It was really magical to be on that side of things and watch us all come together as a team. It’s really a sisterhood. Everyone is so nice and encouraging. It’s really one of the best environments I’ve ever been lucky enough to be a part of."
Epperson said one of her favorite numbers is the iconic parade of the wooden soldiers, and she also highlighted new technology being used this year. Her family and some friends have already gone to see her perform.
"It was a lot of tears," she said. "I think we were all kind of just speechless, just happy for me. It was just so magical to know they were getting to see all the hard work finally pay off at that level, at Radio City Music Hall. They were just proud of me."
Nicholson said it's been fun to tell her youngest dancers about Epperson's roots in their Winston-Salem dance studio. Some of them have gone to New York City this year just to see her perform and come back giddy and hopeful to be like her someday.
The last time Nicholson saw the Christmas Spectacular show was with Epperson, when she was still in high school, aspiring to become a Rockette herself. This week, Nicholson will be back in the crowd, watching Epperson on-stage this time.
"I've known many other Rockettes but never have trained one before," Nicholson said. "Getting to sit in the audience and watch that little girl be that beautiful woman is just going to be amazing. I can't wait."
The Radio City Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular runs through Jan. 5. For more information, visit rockettes.com.
Top Picks