Radio City Rockettes on ice

NEW YORK, NY - New York's Radio City Rockettes have been delighting fans for over 75 years.

But every Christmas season, they tweak their act and add something new.

This year's ice skating number is more involved than ever before, and not as easy as it looks.

The Rockettes make it look so easy, both in the line.

But it's not really ice, according to Radio City's Jill De Forte.

"It's a Teflon based substance which then gets coated with a silicone," said Jill De Forte.

Huh! And, it turns out, the skaters aren't really Rockettes.

"I did want to be a Rockette, but I think that dream is gone, cuz I'm 5' 2"," said skater Ann Patrice McDonough.

You have to be between 5' 6" and 5' 10 and a half to qualify to be a Rockette.

McDonough may be too short for Rockette status, but as the principal skaters in the ice, or Teflon number, she and partner Jonathan Hunt perform a big part.

"A brand new skating number that we got to put together. It's unheard of!" said Hunt.

Also unheard of is how the skating surface appears during the show.

About 8 crew members have less than one minute to assemble the rink down below, get it up front and center.

The skaters say it gets smoother with each show.

If you happen to be in New York City during the holidays, the Rockettes show runs
through December 30th.