Earlier this month, LaTarika Pierce auditioned for the eighth year in a row for her “dream job” — dancing with the world-famous, high-kicking Rockettes.

“I love that it brings joy to the audience,” said the 27-year-old from Orange, NJ, as she waited outside Radio City with more than 400 other wannabes from all over the world. “You can’t watch the show and not light up.”

If Pierce is finally picked, the African-American would help the Rockettes change its lily-white image — and overcome a shameful history of excluding black women.

Russell Markert, who founded the Rockettes in 1925 in St. Louis, Mo., forbid his all-white dancers to even suntan lest one of them “look like a colored girl,” he admitted decades later. It wasn’t until 1987 that the precision-dance troupe hired its first black member, Jennifer Jones.

The Rockettes, now owned by Madison Square Garden Co., has launched a broad new campaign to find women of color for its 2019 Christmas Spectacular — and beyond, spokeswomen told The Post.

“There is an awareness that there needs to be representation,” said Danelle Morgan, 33, who is black. A 13-year Rockette veteran, she is a leader of the diversity drive. “We want the line to be a reflection of all different faces and backgrounds.”

For the first time in 10 years, the Rockettes will hold “open call” auditions outside NYC, with Chicago and Atlanta tryouts scheduled in May.

Last season, the 80-member troupe — which features two casts of 36 dancers and four substitutes — included just four black women, or two per show, the company said.

Hopefuls must be at least 18 years old, between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10 ¹/₂ inches in height, and proficient in tap, jazz and ballet. The company legally cannot ask applicants their race, but based on their “impressions,” managers counted 21 African-Americans, 18 Latinas and three Asians at the April 16 auditions.

Of the 407 women who tried out that day, 35 made it through three rounds of cuts — including five black and two Latina dancers, the company said. Pierce was among the “callbacks,” receiving a form the next day saying, “Congratulations. You’ve made it to the final round of auditions. If you’re cast, we’ll let you know.”

She won’t find out until late summer, when the number of openings is firm. Besides all newcomers, current Rockettes who want to return to the show also must audition. (Last season, seven newbies were cast.)

Justine Birden, a black tryout from Chicago, did not get a callback but will try again next month in her hometown. Asked why so few black women apply, she said, “I think it’s because the Rockettes are so ballet-based — it’s something you have to be trained in as a little girl and continue with it. A lot of African-Americans drop out of ballet in their teen years.”

Another black tryout, Dea’shinique Ramsey, 19, believes the troupe’s persistent white image has discouraged some applicants who may think, “I’m not what they’re looking for.”

But more women of color should heed the call, the Bronx resident added: “You’re not going to get a diverse stage if you don’t have a diverse group auditioning.”

As part of their new diversity push, the Rockettes are giving workshops from coast to coast, and teaming with African-American dance schools like Alvin Ailey in Midtown to spark interest in women who might not have otherwise considered it.

“We’re trying to expand the outreach, go out into the community and let them know they’re welcome here,” said Morgan, the 13-year Rockette vet who was introduced to the troupe as an Ailey student. She also touted the Rockettes at a January conference in Dayton, Ohio, of the International Alliance for Blacks in Dance.

“It opens eyes that maybe this is a career path they can take,” she said.

Black tryout Tiffany Boomer, of the Upper West Side, did not get a callback, but was delighted to receive an e-mail offering her a “full scholarship” to a $1,100 week-long “Summer Intensive” Rockette class. “We see a future in your talent,” the invitation said. She’s taking it.

Meanwhile, Pierce hopes her eighth time is the charm — and won’t give up her quest to become a Rockette as long as she can dance: “I’m hoping that I get the call, but if I don’t, I’ll be at the next audition.”