A Rockette’s Legacy
Original Rockette Louise Neistat trained thousands of tap dancers at her home studio, and for more than 45 years coordinated an annual show to raise money for cancer charities. Learn about Louise in this short film by her grandson, Casey.
During rehearsal for her Radio City debut, Louise learned of her father being hospitalised with cancer. She rushed to the hospital, but he died before her arrival. In her haste she never stopped to take off her tap shoes; a 30 year old Louise running through the linoleum clad hallways of the hospital, the metal from her tap shoes making her every step an announcement of her presence.
Her father’s cancer became a source of motivation for Louise’s dancing career.
She died not long after Casey made this special film about his grandmother.
