Holiday Fitness and Beauty Tips from a Rockette!

Images courtesy of Avi Gerver/MSG
Images courtesy of Avi Gerver/MSG

If you thought maintaining clear skin through constant workouts was hard for you, imagine being a Radio City Rockette! Jacey, one of the few lucky girls that gets to show off her figure on the Christmas Spectacular stage, tells Seventeen how she prepares her for high-sweat activities, and how you can incorporate her tips into your own fitness and makeup routines.

17: How do you prepare for the Rockettes during the holiday season?

Jacey: My warm up starts on my walk to the train. I opt for stairs when I'm heading to Radio City Music Hall. I often get off the subway two stops early and walk to wake up my body. After I have my hair and makeup prepped, I do about 15 minutes of warm up in my dressing room. It's important to get the hamstrings ready for all the kicking.

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17: What do you do off-season to prepare for all the strenuous dancing?

Jacey: Our grueling schedule consists of up to four shows a day, so I do a lot of cardiovascular training in the off-season. My favorite cardio workout is running. I also mix in strength training and isometrics with a bar based workout at the Bar Method Studio in NYC. It's great because it keeps my heart rate up and combines strengthening and stretching exercises to promote long lean muscles.

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17: What sort of makeup do you recommend for high-sweat activities?

Jacey: Our signature look is red lips and long lashes and there are many really great lip sealers that hold lipstick in place. It is helpful for our show, especially because in "Here Comes Santa Claus" number, all of the Rockettes are dressed as Santa. I'm talking beards and all, so a good lip sealant is the best way to secure the red pout for the duration of the show. Fake eyelashes are also a great alternative to runny mascaras. I hesitate using waterproof mascara because I find it difficult to wash off. Fake lashes solve all these problems.

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17: When training, what is your number one beauty must-have?

Jacey: I'd say a good exfoliant. I use exfoliant by Philosophy that has teeny microbeads in it to really give the skin a good scrub. We perform up to four shows a day, with eight costume changes a show, and some costume changes are 90 seconds long, so you can imagine the constant sweat that is flowing.

17: How do you keep your skin clear with all that sweating?

Jacey: I keep my skin clear by washing my makeup off between shows with Neutrogena makeup removing wipes. I try to [make] my eye makeup last through all shows each day, so the wipes make it easy to just wash off my T-zone area.

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17: What is your skincare routine?

Jacey: Every morning and night, I wash my face at home with Cetaphil cleanser. I then use a liquid eye makeup remover with a cotton ball to lift any remaining makeup and eyelash glue. About four days a week, I exfoliate my skin, and I always follow my cleanse or exfoliation with moisturizer. Right now, I'm using Kiehl's everyday moisturizing lotion. It's not too thick, and a little bit goes a very long way.

17: When working out all day, what do you pack (that's easy and filling) for training/performing?

Jacey: I eat a lot of KIND bars and Larabars. They are super easy to pack, and are just the right size for between show fulfillments. I also make a huge batch of trail mix with banana chips, dark chocolate chips, peanuts, almonds, and dried blueberries. I divide it into bags and take them with me for a snack on the go.

Related: Eat Like a Celebrity: Healthy Recipes for the Holidays and Beyond

17: What's your advice for our readers who are interested in getting into the dance profession or trying out for the Rockettes?

Jacey: Follow your dreams because dreams really do come true. To be a Rockette, you must be 18 years of age or older and proficient in tap, jazz and ballet. Visit rockettes.com for audition information and to purchase tickets, on sale now!


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