Spiceislander’s Rockette bride in holiday tradition
With more than 600 superlative
dancers auditioning each
year to join the prestigious line
of hoofers renowned for being
Radio City Music Hall Rockettes,
the incentive of a relentless
pursuit to be chosen after
placing number 460 on the
initial try becomes heightened
for future efforts.
Needless to say, being measured
to stand tall at between
5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 10
inches is one of the requirements
to tip up to.
Athleticism, precision and
the fact the chosen must be
able to smile through four
shows daily for a season of
200 90-minute holiday shows
billed the Radio City Music
Hall Christmas Spectacular;
execute 300 eye-high kicks and
make eight costume changes
in a matter of seconds is no
easy feat.
Prior to 1988 Rockettes were
all one race — Caucasian.
The reason for that was that
any other selections would
cause a distraction.
According to that cigarette
commercial “we’ve come a long
way Baby!”
In 2019, yesterday’s distractions
are regarded as diverse
attractions.
This year six compliment
the revered line — three new
African Americans, two Latinas
and even a dancer with
one hand.
The diversity enhancement
to fill a line of 80 accomplished
Caribbean L 14 ife, December 13-19, 2019
dancers still manages
to accomplish fulfillment of a
tradition that has kept families
in awe since 1933.
Alicia Lundgren, an Oakland,
California native whose
numerical placing improved
in 2013 placed her among
the chosen few. That in 2014
she emerged one of the distinguished,
African-Americans
to join the diverse, national
treasure that attracts millions
of tourists to New York City
adds to the marvel of arriving
at the summit of an illustrious
career.
“It’s a joy to be on the line,”
Lundgren told this insider.
Enthusiastic, exuberant and
elated about her envied opportunity,
she gushes at the notion
that from a small child she
was convinced her career path
would lead to the biggest of Big
Apple stages.
She said her single mother
exposed her to many of the
aspects involved in traversing
what could be a hazardous
course. She escorted her to
dance recitals, enrolled her in
jazz, ballet, tap programs and
encouraged her to follow the
roadmap of a journey which
included the Ailey/Fordham
Program at the Alvin Ailey
School and a stint with the
Disney Cruise Lines.
In our conversation, Lundgren
did not mention encountering
any roadblocks before
reaching her dream destination.
In fact, according to the
dancer what might be perceived
to be an unexpected detour
placed her in direct contact
with Marlon Baptiste, the life
partner she married five years
ago.
Alicia Lundgren in Mirror image
She said, on one particular
cruise, Baptiste, a Grenadian
became enamored with
the dancing cruising talent and
before long charmed her with
sorrel, nutmeg and Spice Mas.
She has visited his acclaimed
Spice Island on two occasions
and admitted to sampling
breadfruit and some of the
culinary delights unique to the
Eastern Caribbean destination.
The fact she is now a Brooklyn
resident affords easy proximity
to a plethora of Caribbean
restaurants ready to serve
island menus eliminating the
hassle of cooking.
Lundgren has some advice for
young girls aspiring to become
a Rockette –”keep working…
stay in dance classes…beyond
that keep dancing… it’s not all
about dripping in diamonds…
just keep working….”
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
PATIENTS’
CHOICE
RATED & AWARDED BY PATIENTS
SM