Disney on Ice returns to Resorts World Birmingham this week. The show features dazzling dance routines and gravity-defying aerial moments that you can catch at Resorts World Arena until Sunday 5 November. We recently caught up with some of the talented ensemble skaters to find out how they bring magic to the ice.

The Disney Company was founded in 1923, and this year the show celebrates their centenary with a trip through time, from Fantasia (1940) to Encanto (2021). It’s an amazing spectacle, and the cast really do bring the iconic animated characters to life on the ice.

Alejandro Garcia from Mexico is performing in the UK for the first time, after touring with Disney on Ice for five years: 'In this show, Disney presents 100 Years of Wonder, so we get an array of all the characters that we grew up with. We’ve got some classics, like Snow White, Rapunzel, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, the Little Mermaid, but we’ve got new additions as well. We’ve got Encanto - Mirabel is here, and we don’t talk about Bruno! I get to portray the role of Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. It’s such a fun time to share the ice with my friends from the toy box, Woody and Jessie.'

The cast are all committed to bringing wonder to the ice, and are over the moon to be representing Disney while doing so. For Lily Delle-Levine, one of the ensemble skaters, the best thing about performing is the audience: 'I’ll never forget my very first show three years ago. One of our older skaters said to take a mental picture of the audience when you’re coming out onto the ice for the first time, and to keep that with you as you continue to perform. I think back on that a lot and I’ll never forget that image of coming out of the curtain for the first time.'

Another member of the ensemble, Callum Leach, is from the UK: 'I’ve been with the company since 2012, so I’ve been touring on and off since then - it’s my third time in Birmingham. We had our first show last night which was really good fun.' Callum maintains that the best crowd is found on home turf: 'They’re the most amazing audiences, they’re just so loud and it’s great to see the children’s reactions.'

It’s clear that many of these performers were not only inspired by the movies, but by past versions of the show. Alejandro explained how influential Disney on Ice can be: 'I started skating because I went to watch my first Disney on Ice show. When I was nine years old, my parents took me to Mexico City to watch a show for my birthday. That day I said ‘I need to learn how to skate’. That’s when my dream started. Years later I started skating, I took some lessons, and now I’m here sharing the ice with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy… it’s a dream come true.'

It’s certainly not an easy dream to realise, and the company has rigorous rehearsals to make sure that they’re performing at their best. Lily described the rehearsal process: 'On every opening day we have a class with one of our fellow skaters, where the whole cast gets to bond and get used to the venue. This is performance but it’s also very athletic, so we’re always warming up our bodies. We do a cast warm up all together before every show.'

One of the most important aspects of the show are the costumes. They transform the skaters into animated characters, but also have to allow for intricate dancing and movement on the ice. Another member of the ensemble cast, Sean Isaac Parry, talked through some of the costumes' design: 'The opening costumes have big, beautiful, bright, bold colours and they set the pace and the energy from the start of the show. It’s really vibrant, upbeat music, and they match that tone. Our Toy Story costumes are chequered fabric and chaps, and they really give you that ‘Yee-haw’ rodeo feel that you really want when you’re meeting Jessie, Woody and Buzz.'

This year the show introduces the magical family from Encanto for the first time. The film, set in Columbia, has costumes to match the setting, with bright colours and embroidered designs. The iconic costumes had to be properly represented on the ice as well. Sean explained that this was carefully planned - right down to Mirabel’s signature glasses: 'Even though they’re so small, you really notice them on the ice - they absolutely pop. The costume department has done a fantastic job to make sure every little detail is really showing up, whether you’re sitting next to the ice, or fifty rows up, they all look absolutely amazing. It all comes together - when you have the lights on these costumes, all the little sparkles are placed just so, to make them catch the light.'

As witnessed in our recent visit to Resorts World, the acts are meticulously planned to wow the audience and bring their favourite characters to life. As well as intricate ice dance routines, some skaters also take to the sky in spectacular aerial performances. In the Rapunzel segment, the characters soared through the air on silks resembling the main character’s hair. This was certainly a feat of strength and skill - a feast for the eyes and a real treat for the whole family.

Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Wonder continues to show at Resorts World Birmingham until Sunday 5 November. Shows take place at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Prices start from £34.15.

Jessica Clixby