Thai skater joins Disney on Ice
By Tatat Bunnag
Disney on Ice, one of the world’s most famous touring ice-skating shows, will return to Bangkok from March 26 to 29 with the brand new show, Dare to Dream.
The show will feature scenes from Disney films such as Tangled, Rapunzel, and The Princess and the Frog, as well as classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Fans can also meet many of their favourite Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and a bunch of princes and princesses.
The current Disney on Ice team features 27-year-old Thai skater Romklao Sopa (Film), who was formerly national athlete with the Thai figure skating team.
Student Weekly recently caught up with Film to chat about his passion for skating and his life touring with Disney on Ice.
StudentWeekly: When did you first start ice skating?
Film: I started skating when I was 17, and I kept practising it until one day I was fortunate enough to become part of the Thai national team. I also got a job as a skating coach.
StudentWeekly: How did you get involved with Disney on Ice?
Film: I’ve always been a big fan of Disney on Ice, and I’ve seen most of their shows in Thailand. I dreamed of joining them, so I decided to go for a team audition with Disney last year.
StudentWeekly: What part do you play in the show?
Film: I’m in the ensemble, so I play several different roles in different segments of the show. This is my first tour, so I’m still very new to the team.
StudentWeekly: Is it difficult being the only Thai skater in the team?
Film: I still have so much to learn and things to adapt to or get used to, whether it’s communication, cultural differences, food or working together as a team. It’s very challenging, but I’m very proud of where I am today.
StudentWeekly: What are some of the favourite places you’ve visited so far on tour?
Film: I loved Japan. We played 127 shows there. Many people think that Tokyo is the biggest thing in Japan, but personally I loved Osaka the most. People there seemed to enjoy our show a lot. We did a lot of sightseeing and exploring around the city, which was very beautiful. The people there were very nice, too.
StudentWeekly: What goes through your mind when you skate in front of a big audience?
Film: I feel very excited, and sometimes nervous. It’s surprising how much of the crowd I can see. But I have to shake off nervous feelings and do my best. I can see the crowd dancing and waving, and even see their reactions. It’s really cool.
StudentWeekly: How do you feel about the upcoming show in Thailand?
Film: I’ve waited for this moment for a long time. I’ve always dreamed that one day I’ll come back to Thailand and perform at Impact Arena. Now the day has come, and I’m really excited. I feel proud to be able to show the Thai audience that there’s a Thai guy in the Disney on Ice team!
Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream will run from March 26 to 29 at Impact Arena. Tickets are 300 to 2,500 baht from Thai Ticketmajor.
For more information, call 02 565 3456.
Vocabulary
- current (adj): happening now; of the present time
passion (n): a strong feeling of enthusiasm for something
ensemble (n): a small group of musicians, dancers, actors, etc. who perform together
adapt (v): to change your behaviour in order to deal more successfully with a new situation
shake something off (phrasal v): to get rid of something
reaction (n): what you do, say or think as a result of something that has happened
