Kimberly Dodson living her dream skating with iconic show

Disney On Ice Special to American Press Anna & Elsa – Disney On IceTim Pannell

{{tncms-inline alignment=”left” content=”<p class="p5">Show times are 7:30 p.m. April 26-28, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. April 28 and 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. April 29.  </p> <p class="p5">Ticket prices range from $20-$50 are available at ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or at the Civic Center box office.</p>” id=”d499441c-86e5-4a80-b61c-9e59c776b046″ style-type=”fact” title=”If You Go” type=”relcontent”}}

Southwest Louisiana fans can catch their favorite characters next week at the Lake Charles Civic Center when Disney on Ice brings its “Dare to Dream: Discovering Your Inner Hero” production to the area. 

Kimberly Dodson, an ensemble skater in the show, said she knows the effort that goes into pursuing a dream.

Dodson, who began ice skating at age 4, said she has tested through senior in both moves and free skate competitions and has also passed her immediate pair skating test. She is working on her gold dance performances and said her dream is to stay in the industry and make her way up to a principal pair skater for Disney on Ice. 

Kimberly Dodson

Special to American Press

“The future holds lots of skating,” she said. “I plan on doing this for quite a while.”

Dodson said attendees can see her next week perform in a “Tangled” skit as a tavern patron for Rapunzel’s “I Have A Dream” number and she will also appear as one of Maui’s tattoos that comes to life in a “Moana” skit.

“We get to be silly and interact with the audience,” she said. 

Dodson, who grew up in Long Beach, Calif., said she has loved the Disney on Ice productions since she was a young girl sitting with her grandparents in the audience.

“I watched them growing up every year when they came to town, and I decided that once I turned 18 and was old enough I would apply because I always loved watching it as a kid,” she said. “They accepted my application and I had a tryout and now here I am.”Moana – Disney On Ice Special to American Press

Dodson, who joined Disney on Ice in 2014, has also performed in previous productions as Tinkerbell and Snow White. 

She said this year’s production includes beloved characters from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Frozen,” “Tangled,” “Cinderella” and “Moana.”  

Dodson said her favorite part of the show are the children who attend.

“I love seeing the faces of the little kids light up,” she said. “We have a big end finale where we get to high five kids before we get off the ice and that’s my favorite part. I love seeing the excitement that the kids have.”

Dodson said she uses hotel gyms and visits local yoga studios in each town the production stops in to stay in shape for the 11-month production. She also never leaves home without her skillet. 

“I love to cook all the time,” she said. “I love cooking any pasta and oatmeal.”

Originally scheduled for five performances, publicist Paula Bothe said that “due to overwhelming demand” a sixth performance was added in Lake Charles. See show times in box at left. 

Bothe said Mickey and Minnie Mouse will host the show, bringing the audience on a “expedition across raging seas and snow-covered mountains in this action-packed extravaganza.” 

Show times are 7:30 p.m. April 26-28, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. April 28 and 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. April 29.  

Ticket prices range from $20-$50 are available at ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or at the Civic Center box office.

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