Vancouver families are in for a magical treat as Disney on Ice returns to the Pacific Coliseum with an all-new production called Let's Dance! running from November 26 to 30. This high-energy show features DJ Mickey Mouse spinning remixes of beloved Disney tunes while characters from Frozen 2, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Moana and Wish perform on the ice.
From Dominican Republic to Disney on Ice
One of the show's principal skaters, Nelson Sánchez Leemet, brings a particularly inspiring story to the ice. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Leemet moved to Montreal with his family when he was nine years old. "When I first moved, it was around September, and the weather is very, very warm in the Dominican," Leemet recalled. "I remember, the second I stepped out of the airport, my body just kind of tensing up."
Despite the initial climate shock, Leemet felt an immediate connection to his new home. "It was the first time I'd been in a real city. The buildings were so tall, and I felt this sense of comfort," he said, noting that his mother had grown up in Montreal and often spoke fondly of the city.
The Journey to Professional Skating
Shortly after arriving in Canada, Leemet attended his first figure skating show and immediately fell in love with the sport. "I was always the first one on the ice and the last one off," he remembered. His natural talent and dedication led to rapid improvement, and soon he was competing seriously for five to six years.
However, at age 17, as he was preparing to advance to the junior competitive level, Leemet had an important realization. "I realized that my love for the sport came from just having fun and performing and enjoying an audience that wasn't there to judge. That was where I was happiest." This epiphany led him to audition for Disney on Ice, and he received a contract just two weeks later.
What Makes Let's Dance! Special
Now celebrating nearly a decade with Disney on Ice, Leemet considers Let's Dance! one of his favorite productions. "This is one of my favourite shows I've ever been on, and we have a really cool concept," he explained. "This is the first time that DJ Mickey Mouse comes to you guys, and he remixes some of your favourite Disney songs while transitioning stories. It becomes like a big party in the arena."
The show also features spectacular aerial performances that add another dimension to the ice skating. "In The Little Mermaid segment, the daughters of Triton are in a lyra (aerial hoop). So there are seven girls flying in the air at the same time," Leemet revealed.
Bringing Wish's King Magnifico to Life
In Let's Dance!, Leemet portrays King Magnifico from Disney's 2023 animated film Wish. While the movie may not be as widely known as some Disney classics, Leemet believes it deserves more attention. "Wish is a beautiful story, and it sucks that it didn't do as well as it should have because it's one of my favourites," he shared.
Leemet enjoys the complexity of playing King Magnifico, noting that "he's a really interesting character because he is evil — he's the evil king — but he has good intentions." The role allows him to explore different emotional ranges, switching between evil, nice, and funny moments throughout the performance.
Disney on Ice presents Let's Dance! runs at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum from November 26 to 30, with tickets ranging from $37 to $138 available through Ticketleader. The show promises to be an interactive experience where audience members can sing along to Disney's greatest hits while watching their favorite characters dance on ice.
