Rockettes Kick Male Hopefuls In The Nuts

Radio City Music Hall told men yesterday they have no chance of joining the Rockettes, the America's oldest and most colorful chorus line.

The "men need not apply" position was underscored at a news conference unveiling plans for six months of celebrations next year to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the elite New York based high-kicking, precision tap corps which performs across the United States

While the Rockettes have paraded across the Great Stage as wooden soldiers since The Radio City Christmas Spectacular’s debut in 1933, Howard Kolins, Radio City executive producer, made it clear that one battle he did not want was one of the sexes. "I can't imagine that we would open up the Rockettes to men," he said, adding that the Radio City Music Hall's dressing rooms were "small and cramped" and he did not want disciplinary difficulties.

"They are young and I don't want to enlist problems. I'm not saying that men are not qualified to be in leggy eye-high kick lines, but it is a question of discipline."

The troupe numbers 36 members, all women, and have to be between 5ft 6in to 5ft 9in tall to apply.