The Rockettes are one of the most iconic dance groups in the country, and they're celebrating

a big anniversary this year.

The news hours Julia Griffin explains.

In New York City this time of year, holiday cheer and twinkling lights are easy to spot.

But of all that shimmers, perhaps nothing sparkles more than 36 rhinestone Rockettes

high kicking their way through the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The longest running

precision dance company in America, the Rockettes are not only celebrating the holiday season this

year, but also 100 years on stage. Founded in St. Louis in 1925, the troop was

originally known as the Missouri Rockets, but by 1933 they'd moved to New York, settled into

their Radio City Music Hall home, and launched the annual Christmas Spectacular, changing their

name to the now famous Rockettes along the

way. A mainstay of American entertainment, the Rockettes have performed at presidential

inaugurations, Super Bowls, and countless lightings of the Rockefeller Center Christmas

Tree. Today, the company is 84 members strong. 36 dancers grace the stage each show, kicking some 200 times each before the curtain closes.

Some members dance with the group for more than a decade.

It's just really a magical thing being a racquet.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Director and choreographer Julie Branum was a rockette herself for 13 years

and knows what it takes to grace the Radio City stage.

I think it takes incredible dancing, number one, and a willingness to work harder than you've

probably ever worked at any other job in your life because you have to really want to look

like everybody else and put in the time and effort to do the precision work.

That precision work, a sharp, synchronized mixture of jazz, tap, and ballet, is a style

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