The most wonderful time of the year.

• Author: Schuman, Nicole
• Position: Entertainment - Christmas Spectacular

NEARLY EVERY young dancer, at some point in her life, dreams of being a Radio City Rockette--and I was, proudly, among them. For just about as long as I can remember, I spent my Thanksgiving mornings glued to the television screen waiting for those glamorous beauties to appear in front of Macy's and dazzle the crowd, and me, with their famous kickline.

This year marks my 15th season dancing with the Rockettes. It is astounding to me how much the "Christmas Spectacular" has changed over the span of my career, and how much it means to families celebrating the holidays together all over the country. I play an integral part in what makes New York so great during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons--we share a bit of holiday spirit with all those families in the audience, every night, year after year.

The "Christmas Spectacular," like the Rockettes, keep evolving. From my early years of giant garland wreaths and wooden candy canes, to the GPS-enabled snowflakes and life-sized double decker bus that currently are in the show, the "Christmas Spectacular" has innovated continuously--all while staying true to the tradition and legacy that it represents. That is part of its magic. The Rockettes now are more athletic, contemporary, and glamorous than my 18-year-old self ever could have dreamed.

You have to be at least 18 years old to be a Radio City Rockette, and I was barely 18 when I first auditioned. To say that the audition process is intense would be an understatement. Hundreds of beautiful, talented women show up at Radio City Music Hall every year in hopes of joining the iconic dance troupe. Each Rockette hopeful is measured at the start of auditions--you must be between 5'6"and 5'10" in stocking feet.

The Rockettes are proficient in tap, jazz, ballet, and contemporary dance, and getting more versatile and athletic all the time. There are many pieces of choreography, in numerous styles, taught at lightning speed, and we have to be able to pick it up fast. Future Rockettes take note: the audition is formatted in such a way that our directors can gauge our dance abilities--and, just as important, is our attention to detail.

Then come those world-famous, eye-high kicks. They may look effortless on stage but, to a novice attempting them for the first time, they are anything but.

I was the littlest fish in the biggest pond, and I remember vividly how out of my league and unprepared I felt that day. All these years later, I still remember that first audition and all of those emotions. I even remember the leotard I carefully chose and the brand-new heeled Capezio tap shoes my mother had bought for me the day before--and the blisters I got from those shoes. Nothing is more unforgiving than a brand new pair of tap shoes...