Rockettes bring joyfully merry Christmas to Salt Lake City

"Radio City Christmas Spectacular," through Nov. 29, Maverik Center, www.ticketmaster.com, running time: one hour, 30 minutes (no intermission)

I'll never forget the first time I saw the Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. My sisters and I had waited at the TKTS booth for hours, got great seats and with the downbeat of the orchestra, as the legs started flying, we had chills — basically the entire evening.

I'm happy to say that my sisters and mom trekked off to the Maverik Center Friday night for what, especially after a hectic day of shopping, was the perfect New York treat for kicking off the holidays; pardon the pun.

The national tour of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes is just what the name implies: It's spectacular. It's joyful, it's colorful, and it's merry. It's Christmas.

What a rare treat to have world-class entertainment, with their world-class production values trek out to Salt Lake City — the first time the precision dance team has visited.

The show is flawless, and it's fun. The girls fly through costumes changes; going from toy soldiers, to reindeer; from dancing Santas to sight-seers in the Big Apple; from rag dolls to their glitzy, beautiful selves.

And they're so elegant. In a day and age where good dancing is often determined by bumping and grinding or hair flips; and beautiful is demonstrated by bare midriffs and skimpy tops, the Rockettes are as refreshing as our recent arctic wind.

Also refreshing is Radio City's embrace of the word "Christmas" and what it means. The Christmas Spectacular ends with a gorgeous live Nativity; the wisemen and shepherds make their trek, draped in beautiful robes, as the Radio City Singers and ensemble sing wonderful renditions of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Joy To The World."

Radio City spared no expense with the tour. A massive LED screen, (25x65 feet — one of the largest to travel with a tour) transports the audience from inside Santa's workshop to a most-impressive tour of New York City, bathed in holiday beauty.

If you're looking for an activity that will get everyone in your family in a jolly state of mind, the Rockettes will give you your money's worth. If funds are tight, sit up top — with a production this size, you'll still get plenty of holiday chills. We're still smiling. This production is everything a Christmas show should be: familiar tunes, beautiful girls, Santa himself; and the only ghosts of Christmas past, or present, are more than 80 years of a wonderful American tradition

Email: ehansen@desnews.com