Curiocity: 3 Local Skaters Touring With Disney On Ice

If there's anything the kiddos love more than their favorite Disney stars, it's when those same Disney stars strap on a pair of skates and hit the ice.

This December, when Disney On Ice comes to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, they'll have plenty of familiar faces, beyond the stars, in tow.

Not one, not two, but three local skaters will be part of this year's tour, "Passport to Adventure." The tour kicks off Dec. 12 for eight performances through Dec. 15. And all three skaters are enjoying their first year with Disney, having joined the company in September.

But before they head back to their home state, we wanted to chat with each about their Disney experiences, both old and new.

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Name: Steven Grant
Hometown: Oakdale, Minn.

What characters do you play with Disney On ice?
I am an ensemble skater which means I have to know all the big production numbers. Most of the time I play a starfish in under the sea, a beach boy in Lilo and Stitch and a pirate in the Peter Pan segment.

What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is being able to connect with all the children in the audience and to see there faces light up as I skate past them every single performance, as well as the roar of the applause at the end of each show.

What was your first Disney memory growing up?
My first Disney memory growing up was waking up every morning before daycare at 5:30 a.m., watching Winnie the Pooh and all the Disney classics. I would sing and dance for hours in front of the mirror to songs like "Part of Your World" and "I Just Can't Wait to be King."

If you could be any Disney character, who would you want to be and why?
I would want to be Peter Pan because he is so full of life and energy. He makes people feel like things should always be simple and never complicated, plus he gets to fly everywhere.

Name: Cale Bergerson
Hometown: Duluth, Minn.

What character(s) do you play with Disney on ice?
I am an ensemble (or chorus) skater, which means I am lucky enough to be able to skate in all of the major production numbers. Our show tells the story of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Lilo and Stitch and Peter Pan. I start out as a monkey in the Lion King and end as a pirate in Peter Pan, but I portray many amazing characters in between.

What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is to travel around the world and to skate for children who may have had the same dream I had when I was their age -- the dream to become a professional ice skater. I feel rewarded at the end of each day knowing I encouraged someone to follow their dreams and that I was able to help put a little Disney magic into their everyday life.

What was your first Disney memory growing up?
My first Disney memory was going to Disney World in Orlando, Florida when I was 4 years old, and meeting all of the Disney characters in person for the first time. Definitely a week I will never forget.

If you could be any Disney character, who would you be and why?
If I could be any Disney character I would want to be Sebastian or Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid, because The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie. And if I was Sebastian or Eric I would be able to spend a lot of time with Ariel, who I will admit was my first crush.

Name: Mickayla Lindberg
Hometown: Superior, Wis.

What characters do you play with Disney on Ice?
First, I monkey around with The Lion King on the African Savanna, then I make a splash with The Little Mermaid and Sebastian "Under the Sea" as a tuna fish, next I hula dance with Lilo and Stitch in Hawaii. For the second act, I am a Pearlie, which is a London town's person and then I make a few appearances in Never Land with Peter Pan and Captain Hook.

What is the best part of your job?
I love looking out into the audience and seeing all the kids smiling and singing along with the songs. The absolute best part of my job is interacting with them, and helping to bring the stories and characters they love to life.

What is your first Disney memory growing up?
I remember watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on tape, back when those existed, over and over again until it would wear out.

If you could be any Disney character who would you want to be and why?
I would love to be Snow White because she embodies kindness, grace and everything a real Disney Princess should be.

Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure will be in St. Paul at the Xcel Energy Center from Dec. 12-15. Tickets are available, from $18 to $71, on the Xcel's website.