NEW YORK: Hundreds of young women from around the world are kicking their dance routines into high gear in New York City this week in hopes of joining perhaps the most famous dance troupe there is - the Rockettes.

The aspiring dancers lined up Tuesday morning on a Manhattan street - getting 30 seconds each to audition for a chance to be in the 2013 Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

''I've always wanted to do this,'' said Chelsey Knapper, 22, who didn't survive last year's auditions.

Knapper and the others were led upstairs into a rehearsal studio to perform a dance routine before a panel of judges. Those who survive through the end of the week - a good dozen or so - will have to wait months to find out if they'll be invited to join the holiday show.

Whoever survives the process will join a troupe of about 80 Rockettes who are ''a part of history, an iconic part of New York City,'' said choreographer Linda Haberman, who directs the Christmas show.

Monica Woods, 21, didn't last the day, ''but I'll be back, for sure.'' —Photos by Agencies/text by AP