Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-19

1T is estimated that more than 80
million theatregoers have marveled
j at the 50 disciples of terpsichore
internationally known as the Rockettes.
Technically their art is called precision
dancing and they are so remarkably
e>pert AT it that they once made a
tap 10 Paris to put on one 20 minute
show and catch the next boat home.
Many of the millions who have seen
these dancers in action have some ap-
Pre- citation of the strenuous routine OF
rehearsal that these girls have to so
through TO dance in snch extraordinary
unison but few people know that the
young women spend great deal OF
time in the gymnasium to counterfeit
the physical effects of their profess
sonal antics
AS the girls themselves put IT, they
have TO exercise regularly to kill the
fatted calf" In other words, if they
did not go through special maneuvers
to relax the muscles of their calves
and thighs, the performers in this
world famous chorus would. in time,
develop bullying muscles that would
make them look like college football
players Incorporating as chorines
The photographs on this page-and
-f.a4.tie4ila tif,-iaf-,e-- picture at the
top were taken behind the scenes
when the girls were not going through
their graceful routine but doing things
10 keep their famous legs streamlined.
One of the best ways they have
found, tor"kill the fatted calf" is TO
lie on the floor and point their twinkl-
ing toes skyward. This upside down
position has a tendency to drain the
blood from the legs and relieve muscles
taut from overwork. A little gentle
massage also helps prevent over
development of calf and thigh.
Theatre audiences like their precision
dances strong and spirited but they
also want them pretty and gracefully
feminine. And husky neither limbs, as
the Victorians would put il. are not tie
mark of the stage dancer. The proVerb=-
ial tired business man doesn't want
his cf1oruses looking like Amazons.
The Rockettes wage a constant war
against the "fatted calf but they do
not have to worry about putting on
weight elsewhere. With rare eXcep-
tions, none of the girls can increase
their PeHndage no matter how much
she eattt s--SSifte works too haTd on tic
stage and backstage TO need diet. Some
OF the dancers find that they lose
. weight on their periodic vacations from
the ensemble because they have much
less appetite when they are not follow
ing their strenuous athletic routine
Thousands of women, not to mention
artists and other experts in the fascin-
ating subject of feminine comeliness
have looked upon the Rockettes as
almost ideally constructed. These
curious observers of the celebrated pre-
cisions dancers may be interested in
the physical dimensions of the perfect
Rockette Here they are-bust, 30;
waist, pa hips, "a y; wrist, 8; thigh,
81. calf. Is; ankle. 8; head, q 4; neck,
. l2la. height. ga to 60 inches, and
weight l15 to 12o pounds. The aver
age Rockette wears a or a shoe.
Many a physical trainer whose job it
is to keep amateur, or professional
athletes in the pink" has marveled at
o the fine physical condition of the
Rockettes and has gone backstage at
New York's Radio City Music Hall to
find out just how the, directors of
these highly trained young women keep
them in such perfect physical shape