Disney characters take to ice in 'Treasure Trove'

Disney On Ice presents its newest skating spectacular, "Treasure Trove — A Live Celebration of Disney's Animated Gems," playing Wednesday through Sunday at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento. It celebrates the legacy of classic Disney animated films and features the Disney princesses plus familiar characters from "Peter Pan," "The Lion King," "Alice in Wonderland" and "Tangled."

Skater Erika-Suyapa Gagne, 32, performs as the adult Nala, a character from "The Lion King," in the on-ice extravaganza.

Gagne, who hails from Quebec, started skating at age 5 and became a performer for Disney on Ice at age 21. She earned a bronze medal in novice dance at the Canadian Novice National Championships when she was 14.

This is Gagne's second time performing as Nala in Sacramento. "I was there last year with 'Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey,'" she said.

"I enjoy the character very much because Nala is very fierce, fearless and adventurous — and that's how I feel about my kind of skating. My partner and I do some crazy tricks on the ice, and you have to be a little fearless to do some of the stuff that we try to do," Gagne said.

"Nala is different from the princess-style skating because I am an animal, and there is just a whole different feeling to it. It's very enjoyable," she said.

"'Treasure Trove' is really for everyone," Gagne said. "There's romance with the princesses, and there's also the acrobatics of the pairs skating, and there's comedy. The boys really like Captain Hook and Peter Pan, and that's a big part of the show."

Gagne said ice dancing has always been her preferred skating style. "I have been doing it since I was 11 and as soon as I started, for me there was no going back to singles skating. I like the interaction that I have with my partner, and I think it tells a story better. I like the connection that we can make on the ice and the tricks that we can do."

Gagne said that she enjoys making children happy as they watch her perform. "I always try to make eye contact with as many people as I can and really get them to feel what I feel on the ice," she said.

To young people who aspire to skate, Gagne advised, "Give it a try and do your best. It's a beautiful sport, and it's not just good for the body but it's also good for the soul. It's a great way of expressing yourself, and it really is just so much fun."

Gagne said if she wasn't a performer, she would be part of a backstage crew or a photographer. "I just started an online photography class. I enjoy travel photography. I'm learning about different lenses and that kind of stuff," she said.

"Because this job takes me to so many different countries and places around the world, I've had the chance to photograph a lot of beautiful sites and amazing scenery and buildings and different types of people and cultures — and that's what I love the most about travel photography," she said.

In "Treasure Trove," Gagne revealed, "We have this really awesome number. It's the Army of Cards of the Queen of Hearts from 'Alice in Wonderland.' That is probably one of the coolest ensemble numbers that has ever been done. I can't give away too many details because I would hate to ruin the surprise. But it's so awesome," she said.

"It's a great show, and I hope everyone comes to see it."

CONTACT Susan Benitez 749-4773.