Chester girl starring in Radio City Christmas Show

CHESTER – ‘Tis the season for a 10-year-old Chester girl who has begun practicing for a pivotal role in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular this holiday season in New York City.

Believe it or not, the premiere annual holiday show featuring the world-famous Rockettes is just three months away, but 10-year-old Rachel Quiner is already living in a winter wonderland as she prepares for the show.

Rachel will play the role of Clara, who shows up for the “Nutcracker” portion of the show.

A dancer since she was two, Rachel practices ballet six days a week at the North Jersey School of Dance Arts in Hackettstown, and her hard work and dedication is already paying off.

At just 10 years old, Rachel has received multiple dance scholarships and modeled dancewear.

Like many ballet dancers, Rachel has dreamed of one day playing the role of Clara in “The Nutcracker.”

Last holiday season, Rachel played the part of Fritz in the Centenary College New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet production of “The Nutcracker.”

Rachel has also danced at the Lincoln Center in New York City in the Little Orchestra’s Society’s production of Cinderella.

Rachel auditioned for the coveted role in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in June along with more than 60 other girls ages 10 to 14 and was offered the role in July.

The role is a “dream come true” for Rachel, who is looking forward to enjoying Christmas in New York.

“I’m really excited,” said Rachel, who was in the middle of ballet rehearsals when she got the news. “I’m looking forward to meeting the other Clara’s.”

Rehearsals begin in mid-October and Rachel will perform in one-third of the more than 250 planned shows, an average of two per day for six days each week.

The Quiner family isn’t new to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Rachel’s sister Michelle played the role of Clara for the Nashville version of the show in 2010. There is a traveling version of the show that is based at the New York City landmark.

“So we have done this before,” said Rachel’s mother Krista. “It’s a great experience.”

To ease travel from Chester to Manhattan, the family is considering getting an apartment in the city, and Rachel’s grandparents also plan to help out. The fifth of eight children, Rachel is homeschooled, which will allow her to have a more flexible schedule during the holidays.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular opens Nov. 13, and runs through January 3, 2016.

For tickets, go to http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com