The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice and Exclusive Interview with Julianne DiMura

The highly anticipated Disney on Ice is back in Singapore this year presenting The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice this coming March school holiday from 15th – 19th March 2017 at Singapore Indoor Stadium!

Our Parenting World Team is excited and honoured to be able to interview the lovely Julianne DiMura (JD), who plays Elsa in The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice to find out more.

1) When did you start skating and decide to develop a career as a performer?

JD: I first began skating when I was six years old. A local figure skating coach in my area had a small ice rink on her property and ran a skating camp there all summer. My mother enrolled me in the summer program, and I fell in love with the sport. From there, I began taking lots of private lessons and competed all throughout high school. I then attended the University of Delaware from 2009 to 2013, where I was a competitor on their collegiate figure skating team all four years. Upon graduation, I knew that I still wanted to figure skate and really had a desire to travel all over the world. Professional figure skating enabled me to combine both of those passions and ultimately perform for a living. Pursuing a career as a performer just seemed like a no-brainer, and I couldn’t be happier with my job as a professional figure skater.

 2) How did you become a skater for Disney On Ice and how did you get the role of Elsa?

JD: After graduating from the University of Delaware, I spent three years touring with Holiday on Ice in Europe. It was a tremendous experience, and I was able to enhance my performance skills and learn so much about show skating/touring. Looking to further my career in show skating and challenge myself even more as a performer, I sent my audition materials to Disney On Ice, hoping to obtain an offer for a role with more skating responsibility.  After going through more of the casting/audition process, I was offered the lead role of Elsa on The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I was so thrilled to be given the chance to take on the role of Elsa and bring her character to life on the ice.  

3) Can you tell us more about your role as Elsa? What are the joy and challenges that you faced in your role as Elsa?

JD: Elsa is such an iconic and dynamic character that people of all ages admire and can relate to.  It has been a tremendous joy to interpret her transformation from a cautious girl, fearful of hurting those around her with her powers, to a confident and powerful young woman who is no longer afraid to show what she is capable of.  Performing her role requires a strong mix of performing, acting, and technical skating skills, so her character really is exciting to both skate and watch on the ice!  Having a younger sister myself, I enjoy depicting the bond between Elsa and her sister, Anna, the most. I can really relate to the feeling of having a great love for a sister and wanting to protect her.  The greatest challenge of playing Elsa is that there are so many layers to her character and her transformation throughout the story of Frozen. I am not just focusing on interpreting Elsa’s personality – I also need to convince the audience of the strong relationship between Elsa and Anna. I want the audience to believe in their story and make a connection to the performance. That is what I am striving to do and improve upon every time I perform. 

4) Can you share with us what is your favourite part of the show?

JD: I enjoy performing two different segments in the show the most: the “Let it Go” solo performance and the “For the First Time in Forever” reprise duet number with Anna. It is such a surreal experience to enter the ice for the “Let it Go” solo and hear the audience sing the song with me as I’m skating. It is such a powerful performance that really resonates with the audience in a way that I’ve never seen before. I find so much joy in performing the duet piece because it centers on the strong bond between Elsa and Anna.  I have a younger sister that I am extremely close with, so it’s so fun to interpret a story on the ice that focuses on the love and developing relationship between two siblings.

5) What are some of your favourite characters in The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice?

JD: The amazing thing about The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice is that there are over 50 Disney characters featured throughout the production!  My favourite characters are Queen Elsa and everyone’s favourite snowman, Olaf, from Frozen, the Seven Dwarfs from Snow White, and Jessie the yodelling cowgirl from Toy Story!

6) We are very excited to know that The Wonderful World of Disney on Ice is coming to Singapore. What can audience in Singapore expect from the show and any interesting thing that you would like to share about the show with our readers?

JD: The Singapore audience can expect to see a mix of more traditional Disney stories, like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Little Mermaid, as well as more modern stories, like Frozen, Tangled, and Finding Dory. Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, and Goofy take the audience on an adventure throughout the show, introducing us to each new segment and Disney story. The great thing about The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice is that there really is something for everyone in the audience: with over 50 different characters brought to life in the production, everyone can relive their favourite Disney moments throughout the show. The Singapore audiences will definitely be entertained with the great mix of beautiful costumes and lights, exciting special effects, and the dynamic skating and tricks from the performers!

7) Do you have any advice for children who would like to become a performer and to perform for Disney On Ice?

JD: My advice to children who are interested in becoming Disney On Ice performers would be to always be yourself, to always find the joy in your skating, and to not be afraid to be a little silly at times. Hard work goes a long way, and you should never give up on striving to achieve your goals and dreams in skating!

 8) Lastly, what would you like to say to our Singapore readers and audience who are looking forward to catch The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice?

JD: I would love to tell your Singapore readers and future audiences that I LOVE to portray the role of Elsa and just find so much joy in bringing her personality and story to life on the ice. Elsa is such a poised, elegant, and independent young woman who learns to embrace who she really is and have confidence in herself and her abilities.  This self-confidence as well as the immense love/strong bond between her and her sister, Anna, send a great message to all kinds of individuals. Parents, children, girls, and boys – they can all relate to the message Elsa conveys:  letting go of self-doubt and having the confidence to be your true self.  I am truly so lucky to be able to portray such an iconic character that so many people admire and look up to!

Thank you Julianne DiMura for taking our interview! We look forward to catch your performances in The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice!

All the above images credited to Feld Entertainment

Parents and children, don’t miss this spectacular The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice coming to Singapore during the March school holidays!

Catch your favorite Disney characters and stories brought to life with the artistry of ice skating to create an unforgettable family experience! 

Disney on Ice presents The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice and details as follows:

Show Dates: 15 March – 19 March 2017

Duration: Approx 2 hours (including 15 mins interval)

Venue: Singapore Indoor Stadium

Tickets are on sale now and start from S$25 and up.

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice can be purchased online via www.sportshubtix.sg  

Good News!

Disney On Ice presents The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice produced by Feld Entertainment has kindly sponsored ONE Family Package of a set of 4 Cat 1 tickets (valued at S$260) for Our Parenting World lucky winner to bring your family to watch the spectacular The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice show on Wednesday, 15 March, 6.30pm. To find out more and participate in the giveaway please click HERE.