Young Londonderry dancer to perform with Rockettes

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November 5, 2009

Londonderry dancer, 10, to perform with legendary dance troupe

By Suzanne Laurent

LONDONDERRY — Christopher Zaino missed trick-or-treating in his Londonderry neighborhood last weekend.

But he didn't really mind.

The 10-year-old fifth-grader at Matthew Thornton Elementary School set off with his mother, Terri Zaino, to Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Friday afternoon to begin a whirlwind of rehearsals with the legendary Radio City Rockettes.

Chris auditioned for one of only two children's roles in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular's Nashville, Tenn. production while in New York City attending the New York City Dance Alliance convention in July.

"They told me they would let me know by Aug. 1," Chris said.

"Aug. 1 came and went and I didn't get a call, and I sort of forgot about it."

Then one September afternoon, Chris came home from school to learn that he would be performing in the show.

"My mom had tears in her eyes," he said.

Chris and his sister Kelli, 13, take dance lessons at the Melissa Hoffman Dance Academy. He began with tap, jazz, hip-hop and modern dance, but later added ballet.

"It's good for flexibility and expression," he said. Chris joked that he sometimes does pirouettes while playing baseball when he swings at a pitch.

Chris, who is on the dance academy's competitive team, won the title of Mr. Junior Dance New England and was first runner-up in the national competition held in Washington, D.C. in July. After that competition, he headed to New York to try out for the Rockette's Christmas show and the Broadway "Billy Elliot" show, where he was one of the last three finalists.

Hoffman said she is thrilled that Chris was chosen for the Rockette show.

"From a working prospective, the Rockettes is one of the best shows you can get into," she said.

While in South Carolina, Chris will be training with another Matthew Thornton alumni, Kerry Margolin, a working Rockette who will be performing in the Pittsburg-Seattle run of the Christmas show.

"Only the New York and Nashville shows have children in them," Hoffman said.

"I'm hoping beyond hope to go down to see a show," she added.

"If I can't, my daughter Jaclyn will go down."

Chris will split the production's run of 60 shows at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville with another boy and there are two girls for other parts. The show opens Nov. 27 and runs through Dec. 27.

He's not sure exactly what parts he will be playing.

"They were looking for specific heights and (vocal) pitch range," Chris said.

"It was just what they were looking for, and they told us if we weren't chosen, it wasn't because we couldn't perform well."

Chris' classmates at Matthew Thornton and Principal Carol Mark are excited that Chris was chosen.

"It's a fabulous opportunity for him to showcase his wonderful talent," Mack said.

After rehearsing at Mrytle Beach, Chris and his mom and cast will go to Nashville for a month of performances. He has a tutor provided by the Rockette organization who arranged with Matthew Thornton for class work. Mack said all of the school's textbooks are on-line so he can access them while away from home.

Besides dancing and singing, Chris plays piano, guitar and drums and is active in soccer, baseball and gymnastics.

He likes to watch "So You Think You Can Dance" and "America's Best Dance" on television.

"I think he got the performing bug in New York," Terri Zaino said.

"He was electrified down there."

Chris' dad John and his sister will join him and his mom at Thanksgiving and at Christmas.

"This will really give me an idea of if I want to do this all the time," Chris said.