As one of the most iconic dance troupes in America, the Rockettes have been captivating audiences since 1932. These high-kicking performers are a staple of New York City’s holiday season, performing up to four shows per day during their annual Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. But many people wonder: How much does a Rockette make?
Of course, like any profession, salary rates for Rockettes can vary based on several factors such as experience level and contract negotiations. However, we can look at public information and industry standards to get an idea of what these talented dancers earn.
Firstly, it is important to note that while being a Rockette may seem glamorous and prestigious – with its long history and famous performances – it is still a job requiring dedication, hard work (and sore feet). The audition process to become a Rockette is notoriously challenging – with hundreds of hopefuls vying for around 80 spots each year. And once accepted into the company after passing dance auditions that test technique as well as precision kicks heights & flexibility requirements; individuals are put through rigorous rehearsals before ever stepping foot onto the stage.
Now let’s break down how much money a typical Rockette earns:
Starting Salary
For someone starting out as a new member or “rookie” within the company – this would be considered their entry-level contract. Currently (2021), according to figures published by Playbill.com (an online resource for information related to live theatre) showing all wages for various Broadway-related jobs which includes informational data about production contracts offered by both Equity-based companies which is called ‘AGVA’ (American Guild of Variety Artists), which represents Radio City employees including members of The Rockettes cast along with other support staff i.e., backstage management crew etc.; so they usually begin on AGVA Tier 3-A basic soloist rate with weekly pay ranging from approximately $1,400-$1,500
Career Advancement
If a Rockette is promoted to the rank of “swing” or “dance captain”We broke down some other calculations according by looking at older contracts that were publicly available on document sharing sites – using historic data from 2010 and 2015. From these documents, we observed various aspects which will be part of calculation below:
Swing Contract: Per this AGVA tier contract, swing member received a higher base salary compared to beginner-level dancers (it varied depending upon ensemble size i.e., if there are more than twelve performers then it becomes tier ‘2-A’). We found that under swings contract they earned approximately $2224-2569 per week; but note this would change somewhat based on the current Collective Agreement agreement in force for the show.
Dance Captain: A dance captain is an experienced dancer with added responsibility over cast members as well as performances moving along flawlessly. Their earnings can be slightly higher than Swings rate. According to one leaked document we reviewed earlier, those performing leadership roles within company or occupation would expect upwards of around $3000-$3500 weekly pay.
Other perks and benefits Rockettes earn include health insurance and pension contributions; however these types of remunerations depends upon seniority & working hours so better overall explanation could be given directly from their employer or union rep instead.
Additional Opportunities
Besides performing with Radio City at Christmas time other opportunities arise such as TV commercials, appearances & broadcasts outside features as well appearing at live events / promotional gigs throughout year.. Additional fees therefore may also occur depending on one’s involvement in any special shows or involved advertising ventures etcetera.. For example , they have been featured in several television productions like Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and NBC’s America’s Got Talent! These extra opportunities allowed earning potentials beyond regular schedule.
Conclusion
In summary – although exact earnings vary depending on factors such as level of experience and length of service within the company; experienced Rockettes can earn up to around $2,500 per week. However, those who take on leadership positions such as Dance Captains or Swings may receive slightly more (upwards of nearing approx $3,000), while rookies generally start out at a lower salary rate but still make well above minimum wage.
Regardless of earnings potential – the bottom line is put in just how truly arduous effort requires becoming part of iconic cultural team like The Rockettes. In building a successful career being able to dance for over eighty years now involving much dedication & perseverance with hard work really paying off when looking back upon many past performances!
As one of the most iconic dance troupes in America, the Rockettes have been captivating audiences since 1932. These high-kicking performers are a staple of New York City’s holiday season, performing up to four shows per day during their annual Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
But while being a Rockette may seem like a glamorous job from the outside looking in, it is still a profession requiring dedication and hard work (and sore feet). The audition process to become a Rockette is notoriously challenging – with hundreds of hopefuls vying for around 80 spots each year. And once accepted into the company after passing dance auditions that test technique as well as precision kicks heights & flexibility requirements; individuals are put through rigorous rehearsals before ever stepping foot onto the stage.
So how much does a typical Rockette make? Like any profession, salaries can vary based on several factors such as experience level and contract negotiations. However, we can look at public information and industry standards to get an idea of what these talented dancers earn.
Starting Salary
For someone starting out as a new member or “rookie” within the company – this would be considered their entry-level contract. According to figures published by Playbill.com currently (2021), showing all wages for various Broadway-related jobs which includes informational data about production contracts offered by both Equity-based companies which is called ‘AGVA’ (American Guild of Variety Artists), members of The Rockettes cast along with other support staff i.e., backstage management crew etc.; so they usually begin on AGVA Tier 3-A basic soloist rate with weekly pay ranging from approximately $1,400-$1,500.
Career Advancement
If a Rockette is promoted to the rank of “swing” or “dance captain,” they will receive higher earnings than those just starting out. By looking at older contracts that were publicly available on document sharing sites – using historic data from 2010 and 2015. From these documents, we observed various aspects which will be part of calculation below:
Swing Contract: Per this AGVA tier contract, swing member received a higher base salary compared to beginner-level dancers (it varied depending upon ensemble size i.e., if there are more than twelve performers then it becomes tier ‘2-A’). We found that under swings contract they earned approximately $2224-2569 per week; but note this would change somewhat based on the current Collective Agreement agreement in force for the show.
Dance Captain: A dance captain is an experienced dancer with added responsibility over cast members as well as performances moving along flawlessly. Their earnings can be slightly higher than Swings rate. According to one leaked document we reviewed earlier, those performing leadership roles within company or occupation would expect upwards of around $3000-$3500 weekly pay.
Other perks and benefits Rockettes earn include health insurance and pension contributions; however these types of remunerations depend upon seniority & working hours so better overall explanation could be given directly from their employer or union rep instead.
Additional Opportunities
Besides performing with Radio City at Christmas time other opportunities arise such as TV commercials, appearances & broadcasts outside features as well appearing at live events / promotional gigs throughout year.. Additional fees therefore may also occur depending on one’s involvement in any special shows or involved advertising ventures etcetera.. For example , they have been featured in several television productions like Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and NBC’s America’s Got Talent! These extra opportunities allowed earning potentials beyond regular schedule.
Conclusion
In conclusion – although exact earnings vary depending on factors such as level of experience and length of service within the company; experienced Rockettes can earn up to around $2,500 per week. However, those who take on leadership positions such as Dance Captains or Swings may receive slightly more (upwards of nearing approx $3,000), while rookies generally start out at a lower salary rate but still make well above minimum wage.
Regardless of earnings potential – the bottom line is put in just how truly arduous effort requires becoming part of iconic cultural team like The Rockettes. In building a successful career being able to dance for over eighty years now involving much dedication & perseverance with hard work really paying off when looking back upon many past performances!