These AA+PI dancers are supporting Rockettes of color, past and present
Lainie Sakakura and Sally Hong founded the organization to preserve the Rockette's unique but often untold history
Sally Hong (fourth from left) during her time on the Rockettes.
Courtesy of Sally Hong
Words by Ashley Packard
On Lainie Sakakura’s first day as a Rockette in 1994—even before rehearsal started—she watched another Asian woman walk across the Radio City studio and say to her, “Hi, I’m Setsuko Maruhashi and I’m the first Asian Rockette, and you’re the second. I have waited 10 years for you to walk into the room.”
That was the first moment Sakakura realized the significance of her very existence. What she didn’t realize was the impact of her presence—not just for those who would come after her, but also those who came before her. Maruhashi (1985-99) had opened the door nearly 40 years ago and had been waiting for someone to follow her across the threshold. Despite that initial conversation, Sakakura and Maruhashi never got to perform next to each other in the two years Sakakura was a Rockette.
Few names in American entertainment evoke such awe and holiday tradition such as the Rockettes, the iconic precision dance company that dazzles on stage and has captivated audiences globally for nearly a century. From entertaining troops abroad, to performing at a presidential inauguration, their legacy is undeniable. Founded in 1925 in St. Louis, the group has performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York City since 1932.
Behind the glitz, glamour, and high kicks lies a lesser-told story of perseverance, representation, and breaking barriers. And this is where Sakakura and Sally Hong step in as co-founders of the Rockettes of Color Alumnae (ROCA), an organization whose goal is preserving the troupe’s unique history, providing support and advocacy for former and current Rockettes of color, and identifying, nurturing, and mentoring the next generation of dancers.
Sakakura and Hong met on Broadway in 2002. At the time, they discussed their future plans, including the possibility of rejoining the Rockettes. Unbeknownst to each other, they were both former Rockettes. Hong was the fourth AA+PI Rockette (1996-2001)—joining the year Sakakura left, and they had never been on the line together.
A lesson in history
The Civil Rights Act of 1964—which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson—outlawed discrimination in employment and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce these laws. And while the law allowed minority groups to pursue roles they qualified for, the entertainment industry lagged in compliance. True progress depended on private organizations embracing inclusivity and actively implementing these values in their leadership.
In 1982, Violet Holmes, the director and choreographer of the Rockettes at the time, insisted that the group was all about uniformity, and having dancers of color would “distract” from “the look of precision.”
Despite this, history was made when Maruhashi broke the color line to become the first BIPOC Rockette and Japanese-born member. Then in 1987, the first Black Rockette, Jennifer Jones, joined the group.
On the Rockette’s official history page, there is no mention of these significant moments in their nearly 100 years of dance history. More than 3,000 women have performed as Rockettes since the group’s first opening night in 1933, with their performances having drawn in 69 million people worldwide over the years.
The photo that started it all
In 2017, Sakakura and Hong attended a Rockette show through the Rockette Alumnae Association, and magic happened. There, they met Maruhashi, and took a photo with her. It was the first time all of them had ever been in the same room. Hong sent the picture to the president of the alumnae association, who later asked if she could forward it to Gary Memi, head of Rockettes operations at Radio City Music Hall, who was working on creating a diversity and inclusion initiative with limited success.
This led to Memi at Radio City reaching out to Hong, Sakakura, and Maruhashi to discuss ways to diversify the line. During that meeting, the trio learned that Radio City didn’t have any digital records prior to 2005, meaning they don’t have information on former Rockettes and cannot ascertain how many Rockettes of color have danced on the line. Motivated by the desire to create a space in which they could advocate, shape the message, give a voice to, and come together with other women of color, Hong and Sakakura took action. They started a Facebook group, which started with six members through word of mouth and became known as ROCA.
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, ROCA was able to support and connect with many other women virtually. Despite challenges, they worked tirelessly to form a symbolic line of 36 women.
As Sakakura shares, “The Rockettes is a sisterhood and a commonality that pulled us together, but as women of color, we’re alone most of our careers. So, the first few times we were together virtually, we were crying, sharing stories, and experiences…If we’re always tokenized, we’ll never get to have those conversations.”
Meet the Rockettes of Color Alumnae
Now standing at 70 women strong and seven years of existence, ROCA members seek to share their knowledge from their experiences on the line with strength, perseverance, persistence, and unity. All members are former performers with the Radio City Rockettes, hired between 1985 and today.
ROCA operates independently from both the Rockettes and the Rockettes Alumnae Association as they don’t require annual membership and, while not currently a 501(c)(3) organization, they are fiscally sponsored by New York Live Arts through Sakachez.
The alumni group offers mentorship, education and outreach, free dance classes for all races, ages, and genders, and a welcoming space for current and future theater performers.
The members have diverse backgrounds and occupations, such as doctors, lawyers, mothers, volunteers, teachers, producers, directors, and professors, among others. Despite their varied careers, they continue to come together to experience the magic and vision that began with their passion and purpose for dancing, which has grown into a powerful movement.
Advice for the next generation
When ROCA was first introduced, Sakakura and Hong say the conversations around diversity and inclusion weren’t happening as they are today.
Lainie Sakakura and Sally Hong founded ROCA to support all Rockettes of color, past, present, and future.
Courtesy of Lainie Sakakura
Their advice to anyone in the dance community or otherwise is, “You cannot be lazy, you must be professional, prepared, trained, and accept the fact that if you are ever going into a room where your face is not the typical, whether or not you’re auditioning, expect that you need to be 10 times stronger. Try not to measure what you think is fair or not fair. Pay attention to your own work and don’t fill your head with things you cannot control. Be the best you can and show up.”
They add that showing up and developing the skills to land that job or opportunity will allow you the chance to then speak up—and when you do speak, those consequences will affect you as well as the people who come after you. “It isn’t activism if your goal is for personal gain,” they say.
Sakakura and Hong both agree that it’s important to keep building for those who came before and those who will come after you. Rising and pushing forward together will have even greater strength—a win for one is a win for all.
As Sakakura states, “We stand on the shoulders of those that came before us, while also carrying the responsibility of those who will continue forward by standing on ours.”
Published on December 18, 2024
Words by Ashley Packard
Ashley Packard is a freelance writer covering travel, lifestyle, sustainability, beauty, culture, and more. She is an American expat living in Germany with her husband and their two cats. When she’s not writing or researching her next trip, she’s outside hiking, cycling along the river, buried in a book on her Kindle, or eating her way around a new city. To view her portfolio or to collaborate check out, www.ashleypackard.com.