Amber Owens kicks up her feet as one of the Rockettes

Erin Washington

For more than 75 years, the Radio City Rockettes have danced — and kicked —their way into our hearts. In 1925, Russell Markert founded the group in St. Louis, Mo., inspired after seeing the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922. Since opening at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall in 1932, over 3,000 women have danced as Rockettes.

They range from the required minimum height of 5 feet 6 inches to the maximum of 5 feet 10 and a half inches tall. They are known for their precision tap and line-kick numbers, such as “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” which has been performed in “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular” since 1933.

Amber Owens is one of 20 Rockettes you will see in the Boston production of the show, now playing at the Wang Theatre. The 26-year-old Owens grew up in the northern California town of El Dorado Hills, and has been a Rockette for three years. She recently took some time from her busy rehearsal schedule to speak with the Banner.

What sort of dance did you train in?

I studied tap, jazz and ballet growing up, which are all things that we utilize in the show.

So how many years have you been training in dance?

I started dancing when I was about 11 and a half and I’m 26 now, so it’s been kind of a lifelong thing. Although, 11 and a half is a little bit late for most people that become professional dancers. But I think because I started so late I never got tired of it. It was always something I was excited to do.

Why did you want to become a Rockette?

I was definitely familiar with the Radio City Rockettes from watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade and all of that. But I think when I actually decided that it was something that I wanted to do I was on tour with [the musical] “42nd Street.” I met a lot of different women that had been Rockettes and were leaving our show to become Rockettes again. I was just blown away by how much they loved their job and the level of commitment that they brought to it. And they just wouldn’t stop talking about it. Oh, they “had so much fun being Rockettes,” and oh, they felt like they were “part of a Rockette family.” I just really felt like it was something I needed to check out.

May I ask how tall you are?

I am 5-foot-6.

So [you’re] on the shorter end of the line.

Yeah. Which means towards the outside of the line, because in order to make it all appear the same height, the taller women are always in the center and then it gets progressively shorter as it goes out to the end[s].

How much do you practice and train?

When we’re in season, when we’re rehearsing for the show, we rehearse six days a week, usually like a regular workday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. And throughout the rest of the year, pretty much during performances we have up to four shows a day sometimes, so it’s sort of all consuming. And the rest of the year, it’s just kind of individual what people tend to do to stay in shape. I take dance class throughout the year. A lot of other women are really into Pilates and yoga. We have a few women who run marathons, so it’s really kind of individual.

So how much time per year are you working on the Rockette show?

It’s sort of a “once a Rockette, always a Rockette” thing. The show is generally, from rehearsal to closing day, about two and a half months. And then we have various appearances throughout the year.

What’s your favorite part of the “Christmas Spectacular?”

That’s a hard question. Outside of having just a favorite number to perform, my favorite part of being in “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular” is that families are coming to see us and that we’re able to be a part of their holiday tradition and their holiday time together.

What’s your favorite number to perform?

We have a number called “The Twelve Days of Christmas” that is a seven-minute tap number, and is kind of our way of demonstrating what each of the 12 days of Christmas would be. I think it’s the one that’s unique, it’s not really like anything the Rockettes have done before. And I think the audience is kind of surprised by it, which is fun.

There are a lot of animals in the show, particularly in the Nativity scene. What’s it like to work with them? Do you work with them?

Well, we definitely travel with the animals, as well as specific animal handlers and trainers. So I don’t personally come in direct contact with the animals. There are some members of the cast that hold sheep or what have you. It’s really just unbelievable, it’s a very surreal experience when you’re standing backstage and have a camel walk past you.

What would you say to someone who’s never seen the Rockettes?

I would say get your tickets quickly because we always sell out. And I think Boston audiences — we’re excited to come back there because they’re always so friendly and appreciative. I would say that it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve seen before. And there’s really nothing else to compare it to. It’s really a spectacular.

Is there anything else you want to say to our readers?

Just that I hope everyone gets a chance to come out and see us before we leave New Year’s Eve, because it’s really a great show. It’s honestly and truly equally enjoyable for people of all ages. I think a lot of shows make that claim but in our show it really is the truth.

“The Radio City Christmas Spectacular” is now playing at the Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., through Dec. 31. Tickets are available at www.wangcenter.org or by calling Telecharge.com at (800) 447-7400.