Chrystie Greco from CK Dance Company was five years old when she started dancing, taking her first steps in what would become a career in dance. She was eight when her life path became more clear.
"That was the first time I'd been to Radio City, saw the Christmas Show," she said. "I knew that was something I definitely wanted to aspire to be."
Now, she is teaching her students they can aspire to the same thing.
Greco was hired by the Rockettes just two months out of college. She started rehearsals right away. Greco says before the show they rehearsed six days a week, dancing sometimes up to 10 hours a day.
"To be in the showplace of the nation and on the great stage of Radio City Music Hall is amazing," she said.
Her path took her on national tours with the Rockettes, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades, even "Dancing with the Stars."
It was the quiet moments where Greco says the magnitude of what she was doing, really hit her.
"You have 8 hours to stand there and take a deep breathe and say wow this is pretty amazing I get to come work here every day," said Greco.
It is a feeling she gets even now that her Rockette career is through. Greco is fulfilling another dream.
"Teaching is my other passion in life" she said.
Greco opened her own dance studio this past fall. Her steps brought her back home to the Capital Region. She is teaching her students what she learned not just about technique, but life.
"Dance overall gives you a lot of tools you can draw on throughout your life - hard work, discipline, work ethic, responsibility, teamwork, individual self-esteem," said Greco.
Now she hopes to be a guide in her students' journeys, no matter what stage is in their future.
"To instill passion and a likeness for dance like I had," she said.
