A staple of the New York City holiday season is marking a century of wowing crowds: the high-kicking Radio City Rockettes are celebrating their 100th anniversary.

The famed dance troupe is opening its annual "Christmas Spectacular" at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan on Nov. 6.

The festive, energetic performance features synchronized dance routines, including the troupe’s signature precision kick line and the fan-favorite "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," a number in which the costumed dancers march in military-like precision before famously collapsing like dominoes.

The Christmas show dates to 1933, but the troupe itself traces back to the creation of the "Missouri Rockets" in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1925, by choreographer Russell Markert.

They were brought to New York City by S.L. "Roxy" Rothafel, a theater impresario who initially renamed them the "Roxyettes" before settling on the "Rockettes" when he moved the act to his newly built Radio City Music Hall in 1932.

The Rockettes represent a throwback to old-time New York of the Roaring Twenties, when Broadway was dominated by extravagant music and dance spectacles, elaborate costumes and lavish sets.

They famously performed for weary American soldiers during World War II and have been a mainstay of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting for decades.

In more recent years, the Rockettes have appeared on Broadway’s Tony Awards, MTV’s Video Music Awards and NBC’s "Saturday Night Live," among other major events and broadcasts.

The Rockettes' popularity waned in the 1960s as the counterculture and women’s rights movements took off. But as Radio City Music Hall faced closure and demolition in the late 1970s, the troupe reinvigorated its image by becoming the public face of a successful campaign to preserve its storied home.

In the late 1980s, after decades of resistance, the all-white troupe finally integrated when Jennifer Jones became the first Black Rockette in 1987.

In the ensuing decades, the Rockettes launched touring productions, vastly expanding their national reach. New directors and choreographers also injected more complex and contemporary dance elements into the production.

The troupe’s signature show, the "Christmas Spectacular," is a blend of the traditional and modern, says Julie Branham, the show’s longtime director.

The choreography in many of the most famous numbers has remained largely unchanged since the troupe’s founding, including the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers."

Some of the costume designs have also stood the test of time, Branham said, though the materials have been upgraded to withstand the rigors of the holiday season, which includes shows up to five times a day through Jan. 4.

Modern touches have been added over the years, from digital projections to drones, holographic animations and even an actual double-decker sightseeing bus, which features prominently in "New York at Christmas," a relatively new song-and-dance number.

This year’s shows, which are expected to be viewed by more than 1 million spectators, feature a new, immersive sound system similar to what’s used at Sphere in Las Vegas.

But Branham, who is also a former Rockette, said one of the most telling changes over the years has been the increased athleticism and technical ability of the dancers.

Rockettes, who are all roughly 5 feet 5 inches to 6 feet tall, perform more than 200 kicks during each 90-minute show that has no intermission, Branham said. They also must be well-versed in jazz, tap, ballet and other dance styles.

"We say that we're athletes dripping in diamonds," said Taylor Shimko, an assistant dance captain in her 16th season. "Every part of this is hard work, but it's all about making it appear as though it's easy."

AP video shot by Ted Shaffrey.