The Rockettes and the Willy

So, Sunday I took my niece to see the Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular. I'd seen it once before, in Branson, and was looking forward to it. They didn't disappoint. Her favorite part was all the dancing Santas...my favorite...the wooden soldiers followed closely by the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker was amazing because they were wearing those clunky bear costumes....not sure how many Rockettes were involved in that. There are other dancers and singers involved. But the wooden soldiers scene is a classic dance and really amazing to see if you've ever had any experience trying to march and turn in straight formations.

When I was in high school, I won a drill team pageant and was crowned Miss East Texas Drill Team. Because of that, I returned to the drill team camp the next summer after graduation to teach and carry out my Miss ETDT duties, which involved choreographing and teaching the camp dance, performing on show night, and choreographing and teaching a dance in one of the workshops. I was also assigned to be an assistant to a Rockette who was on the teaching staff. I demonstrated her dance during her workshops. I remember, it was to The Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian".

I would have loved to have been a Rockette, but there were two main obstacles to me even trying. 1) I'm not tall enough. You have to be between 5'6" and 5'10" 2) college called. I had a very good chance of becoming a Rangerette, but I passed on it because I didn't want to go to Junior College and then transfer. The fact that my boyfriend was already at North Texas didn't help matters. My oldest brother told me I'd regret not doing it one day and he was right. I do wish I had done the Rangerette thing. It would have been a lot of fun.

After the Christmas show, I took Rachel to the Magic Time Machine, a restaurant in North Dallas . The waiters and waitresses dress in costume as characters. Our waiter was Willy Wonka, which entertained Rachel quite a bit. Willy was all the way in character all the time. Rachel also liked the salad car as opposed to the salad bar. :D When Jack Sparrow walked by, her mouth dropped open. "That's Jack Sparrow!" LOL!

At the time, it didn't occur to me, but looking at the photo I'm not really sure if Willy was a waiter or a waitress. The act was very good...effiminate without being too much so, and just a little on the creepy side.

It was a real treat for Rachel, I think. We may have to make this sort of thing a tradition.