Beauty in the blades

EVEN AS Thais revel in the icy depths of “Frozen”, the latest fantasy movie from the Disney stable, they can start the countdown to the eagerly awaited annual ice extravaganza as “Disney on Ice” confirms its return to Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani between March 27 and 30.
This year’s spectacle “Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove” celebrates the success of the studio’s best-loved animated films by bringing selected characters from nine movies to the rink. Joining the title characters from Disney’s first feature length animation “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, which was released back in 1937 are Rapunzel and her friends from the 50th Disney movie, 2010’s “Tangled” and personalities, human and animal, from “The Lion King”, “Toy Story”, “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan”.
At the Cotai Arena in The Venetian, Macao last week on the invitation of Thai organiser BEC Tero, a media group watched enthralled as Disney icons Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy came out to the ice and introduced the full cast of characters before Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear from “Toy Story” took centre-rink to perform the “Yee Haw” dance.
Next up was “Alice in Wonderland”, which showcased a great sequence where the Queen of Hearts led her army of double-sided cards around the ice. It took a sharp eye to judge which side of each card bore the face of the skater and which featured the puppet. This effortless blend of character, choreography, and costume with the skaters’ exceptional talent also made it hard to tell whether the cards were skating backwards or forwards.
“It’s my favourite scene,” enthuses performing director Tara Patterson, who makes her directing debut after 13 years as a Disney skater.
“For me, it’s a transition to still doing something I love. My job is to help the young skaters grow and maintain the integrity of the show so we all put on the best performance,” Patterson adds, though she admits that misses the excitement of being on the ice.
“But I feel that I’m still part of the cast and skate with them as often as I can. It’s also great fun to be one of the audience as that not only lets me see how people are enjoying the show but allows me to view my career from a different perspective.
As the show director, Patterson always sits with her four assistants in the audience and take notes of what needs to be fixed or adjusted.
 She then takes the feedback to the next rehearsal and the troupe tries out the new moves.
“Treasure Trove” is in many ways more fun than the 2013 theme “Princesses and their Heroes” which was performed here in March and focused on sweet fairy tales and happy romantic endings, “Trove” is more upbeat with faster-paced performances designed to match the adventurous nature of the stories. The music is up tempo too with a Western soundtrack accompanying the moves in “Toy Story”, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” lighting up “The Lion King” and a jazzy New Orleans tune matching Princess Tiana in the “Princess and the Frog”.
And of course the artful clumsiness of Simba’s friends Timon and Pumbaa in “The Lion King” as well as the elephant characters had the audience laughing and applauding the skaters’ prowess.
Popular scenes from earlier shows also make an appearance, among them the hilarious dance by the seven dwarfs and Snow White asking audience whether she should eat to the poison apple, to which the audience responded with a loud “Nooo!!”
Generations of children have flocked to the rinks over the decades to watch this annual fixture and the iPad generation are no exception, watching with wide eyes as their favourite cartoon characters float effortlessly over the ice and perform impossibly high jumps. Even adults who were taken to see Disney on Ice as kids wait anxiously for this festive treat.
The challenging performances also draw professional skaters who have signed off from international competition but are not about to relinquish their blades. But not every member of the cast is a career skater. Patterson stresses that the production is open to anyone who succeeds in the auditions and points to one cast member, a Brazilian guy who was so inspired by his first experience of the Disney on Ice show that he took up skating at the age of 22 and eventually went on to audition. Now 51, he’s been with the production for 17 years.
While audience numbers in Thailand have remained steady since the show first came here, BEC Tero is aware that only the better-heeled can afford tickets. Production costs are higher than ever, they say, but in an attempt to widen the audience, they will be offering a special ticket price of just Bt300 for some performances.

 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
“Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove” performs at Impact Arena, Muang Thong thani from March 27 to 30.
The show and the songs will be translated in Thai. An English soundtrack will be available at some performances.
Tickets costing from Bt300 to Bt2500 will be on sale at Ticket Major Oulets in the New Year.
Find out more about the show at www.BecTero.com or Facebook.com/bectero.