The Woodlands High School Highsteppers will perform on the Radio City Music Hall stage Nov. 8, opening for the Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular in front of nearly 6,000 people in New York City.
The school's student newspaper, The Caledonian, called the trip a celebration of the program's 50th anniversary. The Highsteppers were founded in 1976, and director Heather Hays said the moment carries personal weight.
"I'm looking forward to seeing our uniform on the iconic Radio City Music Hall stage," Hays told The Caledonian.
That uniform has barely changed since founder Kathy Harlan designed it at McCullough High School, the campus that served The Woodlands before TWHS opened in 1996. The original green and white saddle oxfords were discontinued in the early 1990s, but the rest of the look remains intact. Generations of mothers, daughters and sisters have worn it across five decades.
The Highsteppers won the Grand National Championship in 2005 and have been a staple in the community since their founding. This season, the team is reviving dances that alumni performed during their own years on the squad. Student dancer Ivy Hohn told The Caledonian she's most nervous about the bright lights and the size of the crowd.
Radio City Music Hall seats 5,960. The Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular runs annually from November through January, performed by 36 dancers known for their eye-high kicks and precision choreography.
The Highsteppers' website notes the organization is the one constant from the original McCullough campus, connecting current dancers to a tradition Harlan pioneered 50 years ago.
Upcoming:
- Nov. 8 — TWHS Highsteppers open for the Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular, Radio City Music Hall, New York City.
