Interview with Nicholas Fernandez

Disney on Ice presents Princesses and Heroes 2013

Featuring eight of our most loved Disney Princesses and their devoted Princes, evil villains, breathtaking skating, daring acrobatics, high flying jumps and a fire breathing dragon, Disney on Ice: presents Princesses and Heroes is a must see for boys and girls these winter school holidays. From Feld Entertainment, Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes is a high-energy, spine-tingling, giggle-making, magical adventure perfect for a winter holiday escape with the family.

Adelaide - Adelaide Entertainment Centre: 14 - 16 June
Newcastle - Newcastle Entertainment Centre: 20 - 23 June
Brisbane - Brisbane Entertainment Centre: 27 - 30 June
Melbourne - Hisense Arena, Melbourne: 4 - 8 July
Sydney - Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park: 10 - 14 July
Perth - Perth Arena: 19 - 21 July

TICKETS: Purchase tickets from Ticketek: 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au/disneyonice. Tickets start from just $28.50. Additional discounts apply. For more information visit www.disneyonice.com.au

 

Question: Tell us about Disney on Ice: presents Princesses and Heroes:

Nicholas Fernandez: The Disney on Ice: presents Princesses and Heroes show is coming to Australia and will feature eight of the most loved Disney Princesses and their heroes. The show contains amazing chorography and there is even amazing acrobatics with jumps and a lot of Disney characters besides the princesses.


Question: What role do you play in Disney on Ice: presents Princesses and Heroes?

Nicholas Fernandez: I am new to the show that is coming to Australia and it will be really fun to perform in my hometown. The show, Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic, I work in has just finished the American tour and I was invited to perform in Disney on Ice: presents Princesses and Heroes.


Question: How did you go about auditioning for the role?

Nicholas Fernandez: I auditioned in July 2012 when another Disney On Ice show was in Australia and it was a two hour auditioning process.


Question: Can you talk about the training before a show, such as this?
Nicholas Fernandez: We have roughly three to four weeks, of six day a week, before the show starts to participate in all the rehearsals and we are on the ice for eight hours a day to go over the different numbers and the entire production before sorting out costumes and ensuring we have the right sizes. I must say your feet do hurt a lot after spending eight hours a day, six days a week, on the ice!


Question: Do you have any pre-rituals before you go onto stage?

Nicholas Fernandez: The whole cast has a group warm up, that we do together, 45 minutes prior to the show which allows us to be prepared and excited for the show!


Question: How long have you been ice skating?

Nicholas Fernandez: I have been ice skating for 14 years, it's been a while for me and I started with the company in September of 2012, prior to that I was competing.

My mother always loved figure skating and as a young child she didn't want me to play rugby or any of those sports and she put me onto the ice for fun and a year later, I began to take ice skating much more seriously.


Question: What do you enjoy most about ice skating?

Nicholas Fernandez: Ice skating is such a different sport in comparison to other sports and I am able to jump around and spin, on ice, not just on the ground. There is also a risk factor to ice skating which is what I like about it, it is so much fun!


Question: What are you looking forward to most about performing in Australia?
Nicholas Fernandez: This is the first time that I will be performing with Disney On Ice in Australia and I am looking forward to performing in front of everyone who I've known for my whole life. I've been training in Australia, my entire life and I will be able to perform to all my friends, from home. And performing on the Disney on Ice: presents Princesses and Heroes will allow me to meet new people because it's a different cast to Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic which will make it a different experience to touring in America.


Question: What are you goals for the future?

Nicholas Fernandez: I plan to stay with the company for at least another five or six years and when that is finished I'd like to dedicate my time to coaching in my hometown.


Question: What advice would you give young Australians who are looking at beginning ice skating?

Nicholas Fernandez: It is a good question and I think you need to have a lot of guts and no fear. Fear is the one big factor when you want to start ice skating because it can be slippery and you can hurt yourself easily but it's like other sports you need to take the fear away and you'll get through it.

Performer Profile

Age you began skating: 7
Why did you start skating? I started skating because my mother had always loved figure skating. She put me in the sport just for fun and I just built on it from there.
Skating achievements (Competitions/awards/tests): - 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008 & 2007 Represented Australia at the Four Continents Championships - 2011 Ranked 2nd in Australia - 2008 Ranked 1st in Australia - 2008 Ranked 83rd Worldwide - 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 International Representative - 2007 Ranked 2nd In Australia - 2006 First Junior Men in Australia to land 4 different triple jumps in a free program at a National Championships event. - 2006 Part of The Winter Olympic Institute Of Sport - 2006 Received Scholarship from The Ice Skating Australia Association - 2006 Part of The Ice Skating Australia National Squad - 2008, 2006, 2003 And 2002 Australian National Champion
List your interests/hobbies/favorite pastime: Health and fitness, music, fashion, traveling
Personal and professional goals: To stay in the Disney company for a good 5 years. Continue my Personal Trainer career & run my own business. - To be a Choreographer/Technical (Jumping) coach.
What's something a lot of people don't know about you? I want to work in the music industry.
If you could be a professional athlete in any other sport, what would it be and why? Gymnastics: It relates to figure skating in a way and I love the body strength and flexibly those athletes have to do.
Are you a member of any professional associations, organizations, fraternities/sororities, etc.? Registered with the Australian Professional Skaters' Association - Registered with Fitness Australia
Do you have any special skills (sewing, cooking, juggling, etc.)? Cooking (still working on it)

Feld Entertainment
What Feld production are you currently performing in? Disney On Ice presents Princesses and Heroes
What year did you join Feld Entertainment? And what other productions have you performed in? 2012 and Disney On Ice- 100 years.
How did you audition? I put a YouTube video together with all my skating skills and I sent it to Feld Entertainment office via e-mail. Once they saw it, they asked me to have a personal audition with them when one of the shows was in Australia.
What did you do prior to joining Feld Entertainment? I was a competitive figure skater.

Hometown Information

Where did you grow up? Cranebrook
What major city is it near? Sydney
Hometown club where you trained? Penrith
Who was your coach? Sharryn Hollins
What high school/college did you attend, and if applicable, what degree did you receive? - Xavier College, School Certificate.

Interview by Brooke Hunter