Disney On Ice – frozen goodness
Buhle Mbonambi interviews Konrad and Yolande Giering, the only two South Africans on the cast of Disney On Ice which is in Durban this week.
DISNEY On Ice has been coming to South Africa for six years and Durban has always been left out. Well, that changes from Thursday night.
The popular Disney show, which sees characters from the films perform on an ice rink, will hit Durban until Sunday at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC Arena.
The production concludes with a parade of classic and modern Disney characters.
“Each year, the show is a completely different production and, based on the audience appreciation, we believe Disney On Ice is fast becoming a regular annual event on the South African winter events calendar,” says Tony Feldman from Showtime Management.
“We are pleased to extend the 2017 Disney On Ice SA tour to share the magic of Disney On Ice in Durban for the first time.”
Husband and wife skaters, Johannesburg-born Konrad Giering and Pretoria-born Yola nde Giering are touring the country with the show.
The couple have known each other since they were five and have returned to South Africa to perform in the show, for the first time.
They began skating internationally with Disney On Ice in 2009. We spoke to them about their time on the show. Disney On Ice is a major show – how was the audition process?
Konrad: We both watched a show after we finished our studies and decided that we should give it a shot and we made a video of us skating. A week later we were offered a contract.
What is it about the show that makes it so magical?
Yolande: It’s a journey through the years of all Disney’s favourites, from the very first feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to one of the latest films, Finding Dory, and for the first time in South Africa Tangled. It’s got action, drama, comedy and much more, it is really a magical day out for the entire family. The show has been going since 1981, but only recently started coming to South Africa. How do you think the show has grown over the years, that 36 years later, it’s still so popular?
Yolande: Disney has been in all our hearts since we were born and we see it in the crowd because you have grandparents, parents and children singing along to all the songs and, when a new story comes out, we are all eager to go and watch it and that is theme for Disney On Ice, something old and something new. What was it like making your debut on the show and which character/s did you play?
Konrad: We both started as ensemble skaters so were part of the big production numbers. Which characters do you perform on the show this year?
Konrad: I portray Scar from The Lion King and Kristoff from Frozen and Yolande is part of the ensemble and we both are line captains that are in charge of the men and women skaters. It looks easy when it’s on stage, but obviously it’s not. How many years have you been ska ting?
Konrad: 26 years , Yolande: 25 years And rehearsal for the show? What’s that like?
Yolande: It is about two weeks of teaching and learning and it can be from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon so that means very sore feet. Ever had any injuries?
Konrad: We do get the occasional pulled muscle but we try hard to keep our bodies in shape.
Do you have a favourite Disney story? What is it and what do you like about it?
Konrad: We both are Lion King fans because it reminds us of home.
The show has added Finding Dory and Tangled to the lineup – what other Disney film do you wish they could add?
Yolande: We really have a good variety of stories in the show and it is a really great show but I don’t think I would change a thing.
The show is finally coming to Durban. What should Durbanites expect?
Konrad: We are bringing Disney World to your doorstep and it is going to be amazing.