DISNEY on Ice is in Glasgow this week starring one couple who found their fairy tale ending off the ice.
Performers Katarina and Graham Hockley, who currently star in the show as Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled, have been married for almost 11 years after meeting back in 2011.
The couple met when Graham, from Toronto, joined the show a year after Katarina and they bonded over their love of travel.
Graham, who previously represented Greece as a competitive ice dancer, explained: “We got put on the show and we were touring Japan.
“We started having out a little bit and we both had a lot of common interests.
“We both like sightseeing on foot, we do a lot of walking, so we started doing more long walks together and that’s when we started hanging out ourselves.”
The magic of travelling around the globe and visiting different countries is something that the couple still enjoy 13 years later.
Graham, 33, continued: “One of my favourite aspects is going to different countries and seeing all the different cultures and then hearing the different audiences and how they react to their favourite character.”
The duo have played several different characters throughout their time with Disney on Ice but became Rapunzel and Flynn in 2019.
Katarina, 35, said: “It’s wonderful. I get to skate with my husband every day and we get to take this journey together.”
Katarina, who grew up in California and lived just 30 minutes from Disneyland, says she grew up watching Disney on Ice.
She said: “I was a pretty big Disney fan and I also love figure skating.
“I love performing so that’s how I got started.
“It’s been really great being able to skate and perform as a Disney character. I love it.”
Disney on Ice – Dream Big is at the Hydro from today (Thursday 22).
The show will see Tinkerbell take the audience through a journey of magical stories and features beloved Disney characters including Anna and Elsa, Moana, Aladdin, and Sleeping Beauty.
This will be the second time the couple have performed in front of a Glasgow crowd after vising back in 2018 on the first stop of that year’s tour.
Graham said: “The audience was great last time.
“The last time we played here was the first stop on the tour for that year so there was a lot of learning new choreography.
“It’ll be nice this time to do it when I’m settled and fully performing.”
He added: “This is a special Disney on Ice show.
“It's got a classic ice show feel to it but it’s chock full of Disney magic.”
Disney on Ice – Dream Big will be at the Hydro from Thursday, February 22 until Sunday, February 25.
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