Aiming high: Malverne dancer kicks off summer with Rockettes

With desires of eventually dancing her way onto the most prestigious performance stages, 17-year-old Sacred Heart Academy senior Kristen Smith is one step closer to her dreams. The life-long Malverne resident has been accepted into the Rockette Dance Education Program’s annual Rockette Summer Intensive.

The summer intensive, a training program for aspiring dancers to work with and study under Rockettes’ Director Eileen Grace, is an extraordinary opportunity for young dancers: in addition to working with Grace and accomplished choreographers, the dancers will work with the legendary Radio City Rockettes themselves. Now in its 10th season, the summer intensive’s curriculum focuses on original choreography and teaching dancers the precise dance techniques practiced by the world-famous Rockettes.

To be accepted for the program, entrants must have at least five years of training in tap, jazz and ballet. Smith has been studying dance at Tap to Pointe Dance Center in Malverne for 14 years under teacher Sara DeGennaro. This will be her second summer in the program — an experience she thoroughly enjoyed.

“It was wonderful,” Smith recently told the Herald. “I was able to experience the discipline and precision that is involved in each of the famous Rockette routines, formed a bond with dancers from across the U.S. and other countries, and in culminated in my performing in the Radio City Music Hall stage.”

Smith, who landed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Sacred Heart’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” last November, developed an interest in the Rockette program at an early age. “I have been interested in the Radio City Rockettes since the first time I saw them perform in the Christmas spectacular years ago,” Smith said. “I attended the Rockette Experience when I was a child and had my first taste of what it would be like to be a part of this exciting group, and ever since then have dreamed of returning.”

This year, Smith auditioned again and earned a spot in the program. She was also selected to be featured in a three-part series on MSG Varsity, a local broadcasting channel specializing in high school athletics that will cover the summer intensive. “I was thrilled to be selected to be a part of the MSG Varsity television documentary on the Rockette Intensive,” Smith said.

She was further thrilled to see that MSG Varisity featured a close-up of her in an advertisement for the March 15 series premier of the show, which follows Smith and six other area high school students as they make their way through the intense summer dance program.

According to MSG Varsity, 47 dancers who have gone through the summer intensive “made the line” to become Rockettes. Is Smith next?

“I would love to become a Rockette,” she said. “It is every dancer’s dream.”

Although Smith has not yet decided where she’ll attend college, she plans to explore the field of professional dance as a future career. Smith, who describes herself as “passionate about dance,” has been a member of her high school’s competitive dance team, captain of the kickline and president of the Dance Theatre, which preforms the annual “The Nutcracker” ballet. This year, she is serving as the choreographer for her school’s spring production of “Godspell.”