Exclusive | Rockettes debut new darker, moodier high-tech tap number at this years Christmas Spectacular

The Radio City Rockettes are getting a “darker, moodier” upgrade on their music and choreography ahead of their 101st birthday.For the first time since 2018, America’s most famous dance troupe will introduce a new dance routine during this year’s Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.The new number promises a different vibe than past performances, and aims to merge holiday magic with state-of-the-art technology.The dance performance will be set to “Carol of the Bells,” a holiday classic based on the Ukrainian folk chant “Shchedryk,” which means “bountiful.”  First arranged by composer Mykola Leontovych, the song made its debut in Kyiv circa 1916 before hitting Carnegie Hall in 1924.For the piece, the Rockettes will also unveil a brand new costume. Radio City Music Hall’s Production Executive Vice President, Jessica Tuttle, told The Post that the routine has “classic holiday whimsy while introducing state-of-the-art technology.”Wireless microphones embedded into the Rockettes’ tap shoes, and used in two other tap numbers in the show, will be paired with Sphere Immersive Sound speakers that surround Radio City, amplifying the dancers’ rhythm throughout the entire theater and syncing their live footsteps to the sound of ringing bells.While the mic’d-up tap shoes create the sonic sensation, new overhead cameras will focus on the Rockettes’ unbeatable precision, showcasing their world-famous choreography from previously unseen angles.“These cameras present the Rockettes in a way people have never seen before,” Tuttle explained.“You will see how straight their line is in the ‘Parade of the Wooden Soldiers’ from above, as well as the formation of circle kicks in the ‘New York at Christmas’ scene.”The innovation extends to costume design, which turns the Rockettes’ shiny showgirl dresses into high-performance athletic wear that’s covered in over 600 Swarovski crystals and designed to withstand up to five high...