Describe a typical week for you as a skater for Disney on Ice.
No two weeks are identical touring with Disney On Ice. We usually have one or two shows on Thursday and Friday, three shows on Saturday, and two or three shows on Sunday. On show days, I spend most of my time at the venue warming up and preparing to perform. Some weeks we do PR appearances for local news stations, and other weeks we rehearse as a company. Since I am on a touring show, we usually travel to the next city on Sunday or Monday and then our “weekend” is Tuesday and Wednesday. On days off, I love to explore the various cities we visit. Learning about the local culture, cuisine, art, and architecture in places all around the country has been really interesting and is one of my favorite aspects of traveling with the show.
What made you decide to pursue Disney on Ice?
Skating with Disney On Ice has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I always imagined that I would audition after graduating from Hamilton. I started skating when I was 6 and have been training with the Red Rose Figure Skating Club in Lancaster, Pa., since then. Both of my coaches were performers on Disney On Ice. To be ready to audition, it was essential that I maintained my skating skills throughout college. Hamilton’s beautiful Sage Rink helped me realize my goals as I was able to continue training while balancing my rigorous academic schedule.
Hamilton offered the perfect blend of everything I was looking for academically and extracurricularly, and I’m grateful I was able to skate with the Figure Skating Club all four years. I was also able to develop my performance skills as I was very active in the Theatre Department. My family, professors, and coaches always encouraged my dreams, and as soon as I graduated in May, I submitted audition materials to Disney on Ice, was officially hired in August, and began rehearsals in October. “Mickey and Friends” opened over Halloween weekend in Charleston, S.C., and will be touring across the United States and Canada through May of 2022.
What have been the highlights of your experience thus far?
I would single out our opening night as a highlight that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’ll never forget seeing the crowd for the first time as the curtains opened before I skated out for my first number. Every time I hear how excited the kids in the audience are to see the show, I’m reminded of how much I love being a professional ice skater. Other highlights include reconnecting with Hamilton friends all over the country!
Lily Delle-Levine ’21
Majors: Government and Theatre
Hometown: Millersville, Pa.
High School: Lancaster Country Day School
Activities: Captain of Figure Skating Team, acted in Hamilton Theatre Department productions
What has surprised you about skating with Disney on Ice?
I’m inspired by the camaraderie among the cast and crew. Being surrounded by people who share both a passion for skating and a passion for performance is very exciting for me. I thrive in settings where there is a strong sense of community, which is one of the aspects I loved the most about Hamilton. I am also continuing to learn about new disciplines of performance, which has been an unexpected treat! For example, our show has various aerial silks acts and pyrotechnics that I had not previously been exposed to. I have to be ready to step into virtually any one of the show’s numbers on a given day, so I must be prepared for anything and everything.
What Hamilton experiences prepared you for this endeavor?
My experiences with the Theatre Department definitely helped prepare me to audition for and successfully perform. I learned about how professional shows are directed and cast in classes like Advanced Acting with Mark Cryer, Directing with Craig Latrell, and Performing Women with Jeanne Willcoxon. The hands-on experience of performing in various main stage productions absolutely helped me feel prepared to become a professional performer. I also served as co-captain of the Hamilton Figure Skating Club, and one of our annual traditions was performing in between periods at the Citrus Bowl! I choreographed our routine for several years, and every year these performances reminded me of how much I love sharing my passion for skating and performing with audiences.
