A Rockette speaks out: exclusive interview in Marie Claire [View all]

[mainer]

While the performance is now theoretically voluntary, it hasn't dissolved the tension within the usually supportive group of women. "There is a divide in the company now, which saddens me most," Mary says. "The majority of us said no immediately. Then there's the percentage that said yes, for whatever reason—whether it's because they're young and uninformed, or because they want the money, or because they think it's an opportunity to move up in the company when other people turn it down."

The Rockettes have performed at presidential inaugurations before—for George W. Bush in 2001 and 2005—which Mary says she would have been happy to partake in. "We do a lot of events, but there have been no events that could cause trauma. And doing this would cause trauma for some people," she explains of the dancers who, like herself, can't stomach celebrating a man who has bragged about sexually assaulting women. Or the few African-American women in the troupe who fear for their rights and their safety under an administration with reported white supremacists in its ranks.

Mary says that to her knowledge, no women of color have signed up to perform that day. "It's almost worse to have 18 pretty white girls behind this man who supports so many hate groups," she says. The lack of diversity in the kick line is "embarrassing" on a normal day, she says, and will only be more pointed in January. "They're going to be branded in history as one of those women," Mary says. "How's it going to look?"

She and other dancers are concerned about tarnishing the Rockettes' brand forever. "This is making our show, our job, our name, branded as right-wing. An extreme right-wing," Mary says. "There's a reason why everyone else is turning this down. Why are we not?"

http://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a24421/rockette-donald-trump-inauguration/