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| Rockettes' inauguration gig is reportedly causing turmoil within troupe | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The famous dance troupe the Rockettes will perform at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration celebrations on 20 January, as the highlight of a ticket so far devoid of showbiz A-listers. Some dancers, however, may be reluctant to take part. | The famous dance troupe the Rockettes will perform at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration celebrations on 20 January, as the highlight of a ticket so far devoid of showbiz A-listers. Some dancers, however, may be reluctant to take part. |
| Barack Obama’s two inaugurations featured performances from Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Jay Z, U2 and others. | Barack Obama’s two inaugurations featured performances from Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Jay Z, U2 and others. |
| The line-up for Trump’s inauguration in Washington includes the likes of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a finalist on America’s Got Talent called Jackie Evancho and, possibly, the Beach Boys. | The line-up for Trump’s inauguration in Washington includes the likes of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a finalist on America’s Got Talent called Jackie Evancho and, possibly, the Beach Boys. |
| Famous names such as Elton John, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Garth Brooks and Celine Dion were reportedly asked to perform but declined. | Famous names such as Elton John, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Garth Brooks and Celine Dion were reportedly asked to perform but declined. |
| On Thursday, it was announced that the Rockettes had been signed up for the big day, when they will be fresh from their annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular. | On Thursday, it was announced that the Rockettes had been signed up for the big day, when they will be fresh from their annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular. |
| However it quickly emerged that some of the performers, while kicking and smiling on the outside, might be kicking and screaming on the inside. | However it quickly emerged that some of the performers, while kicking and smiling on the outside, might be kicking and screaming on the inside. |
| James Dolan, executive chairman of the Madison Square Garden company, which produces the Rockettes and their shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, announced that he was honored that the troupe, which has performed since 1925, will “participate in inauguration festivities in Washington”. | James Dolan, executive chairman of the Madison Square Garden company, which produces the Rockettes and their shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, announced that he was honored that the troupe, which has performed since 1925, will “participate in inauguration festivities in Washington”. |
| The Rockettes performed for George W Bush at his inauguration celebrations in 2001 and 2005. | The Rockettes performed for George W Bush at his inauguration celebrations in 2001 and 2005. |
| As speculation began flying on social media that their participation in 2017 was proving distinctly unpopular within the troupe, however, an email surfaced from the union representing them, the American Guild of Variety Artists. | As speculation began flying on social media that their participation in 2017 was proving distinctly unpopular within the troupe, however, an email surfaced from the union representing them, the American Guild of Variety Artists. |
| Theater news website Broadwayworld.com reported that it had verified the authenticity of an email from the guild “to what appears to be Rockettes in its membership as a response to the announcement that some Rockettes do not want to participate in the auguration of President-elect Donald Trump”. | Theater news website Broadwayworld.com reported that it had verified the authenticity of an email from the guild “to what appears to be Rockettes in its membership as a response to the announcement that some Rockettes do not want to participate in the auguration of President-elect Donald Trump”. |
| According to the report, the email from an unnamed guild leader read: “We have received an email from a Rockette expressing concern about getting ‘involved in a dangerous political climate’. | According to the report, the email from an unnamed guild leader read: “We have received an email from a Rockette expressing concern about getting ‘involved in a dangerous political climate’. |
| “I must remind you that you are all employees, and as a company, Mr Dolan obviously wants the Rockettes to be represented at our country’s presidential inauguration, as they were in 2001 and 2005. | “I must remind you that you are all employees, and as a company, Mr Dolan obviously wants the Rockettes to be represented at our country’s presidential inauguration, as they were in 2001 and 2005. |
| “Any talk of boycotting this event is invalid, I’m afraid.” | “Any talk of boycotting this event is invalid, I’m afraid.” |
| Phoebe Pearl, reportedly a current Rockette, posted a picture on Instagram of the dancers with a drawn-on bubble coming from one performer saying: “Not my president.” | Phoebe Pearl, reportedly a current Rockette, posted a picture on Instagram of the dancers with a drawn-on bubble coming from one performer saying: “Not my president.” |
| She wrote that it was appalling that they would have to dance for “a man that stands for everything we are against” and that the Rockettes had been performing “with tears in our eyes and heavy hearts” since hearing the news. | She wrote that it was appalling that they would have to dance for “a man that stands for everything we are against” and that the Rockettes had been performing “with tears in our eyes and heavy hearts” since hearing the news. |
| “Finding out that it has been decided for us that Rockettes will be performing at the Presidential inauguration makes me feel embarrassed and disappointed,” she wrote. | “Finding out that it has been decided for us that Rockettes will be performing at the Presidential inauguration makes me feel embarrassed and disappointed,” she wrote. |
| The Instagram post was taken down, but not before social media platforms lit up. | The Instagram post was taken down, but not before social media platforms lit up. |
| “What could be more fitting for this inauguration than forcing a group of women to do something with their bodies against their will?” one commentator wrote on Facebook – an oblique reference to Trump’s track record of boasting about being able to grab women’s genitals without consent, and many women who have accused him of sexual assault. | “What could be more fitting for this inauguration than forcing a group of women to do something with their bodies against their will?” one commentator wrote on Facebook – an oblique reference to Trump’s track record of boasting about being able to grab women’s genitals without consent, and many women who have accused him of sexual assault. |
| MSG and AGVA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. | MSG and AGVA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. |
| Rockettes not on full-time contracts with MSG will reportedly be able to choose whether or not to sign up for the inauguration. Those employed full-time will be under conditions of contract to perform, according to a report at the theater news website onstageblog.com. | Rockettes not on full-time contracts with MSG will reportedly be able to choose whether or not to sign up for the inauguration. Those employed full-time will be under conditions of contract to perform, according to a report at the theater news website onstageblog.com. |