Ex-Rockette Urges Troupe to Punt Politics, Perform at Trump Inaugural

A former member of the Rockettes is urging members of the famed dance troupe to forget about politics and perform at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the New York Post reports.

"The only thing the Rockettes should be focused on is performing for our nation and helping unite us all with the joy, love, beauty and strength for which they are famous," the newspaper quotes Patty DeCarlo Grantham, a well-respected veteran Rockette.

Grantham, a Rockette from 1959-1970, is president of the 552-member Rockette Alumnae Association. She says she "cringed" when controversy broke out over of the dance troupe's planned performance at the Jan. 20 swearing in of the new president, the Post reports.

According to the Post, she was particularly concerned about ex-Rockette Autumn Withers urging the dance group to boycott the inauguration. And current Rockette Phoebe Pearl had posted she was "embarrassed and disappointed" about the troupe's planned performance before Trump.

But Grantham says: "Like the millions of people who are true Rockette fans, we cannot wait to see the Rockettes proudly 'strut their stuff' for the upcoming inauguration of the President of the United States of America."

And, as for those complaining, she added: "I think it’s an opportunity for people who want to get publicity to get publicity."

Marie Claire reports "controversy hit within hours of the announcement … that the Rockettes will perform at the presidential inauguration."

And it quoted one dancer as saying: "It's become a moral issue at this point."

• Rockettes Owner: Dancers Can Skip Inauguration Performance
• The Rockettes and Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Perform at Trump Inaugural