Fearless feats with the wonderful world of Disney

Move on from the holiday season with some Disney flair. The latest Disney on Ice extravaganza arrives at UBS Arena in Elmont to the continued delight of families who can’t ever get enough of their favorite Disney moments.

Audiences can relive some of the iconic characters and stories — classic and new — when “Find Your Hero” brings a lineup of some of Disney’s iconic personalities here for four days, opening Jan. 4.

This production showcases inspiring favorites from the Disney canon and their beloved tales, including those spunky royal sisters, Anna and Elsa, from the beloved mega-hit “Frozen.” Joining this spirited pair are the hilarious snowman Olaf, the forever enchanting Belle, passionate Ariel, spirited Rapunzel and the charming bandit Flynn, plucky Mirabel, the aspiring young musician Miguel, and the daring, fearless wayfarer Moana. Their courage and spunky grit to live their best lives are set forth in lively — albeit condensed — re-tellings of “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty & the Beast,” “Tangled,” “Frozen,” “Moana” and “Encanto.”

These unforgettable characters and their adventures are brought to life on ice in a captivating show that transports the audience to world where imaginations soar and in true Disney spirit “anything can happen if you just believe.” Guided by Mickey and Minnie, with their crew, of course these stories are told through artful skating with dynamic sets and costumes, set to the soundtrack Disneyphiles know and love.

In keeping with longstanding Disney tradition, it’s a fast-paced spectacle, with rapidly changing segments. This medley of tales shares what it means to “find the hero in all of us,” in keeping with Mouse House lore, as we all are urged to follow our dreams.

That’s certainly the case for Tess Terpos, who’s delighted to step into the spotlight with the rest of the Disney skaters as part of the ensemble cast.

It’s a magical moment — each and every time.

“Skating with Disney On Ice is a dream come true for me,” she says. “It’s so special and the connection with our audiences is amazing.”

Ice skating has pretty much always been part of Terpos’ world. Since she was 6, in fact, growing up in Maryland. After years of steadfast devotion to her craft — countless hours of practice, grueling competitions and skating in various ice shows — the now 26-year-old Terpos realized her dream when she caught her break in 2021 with Feld Entertainment, producers of Disney On Ice.

Fast forward to 2024 and Terpos is an established ensemble member with the tour. “Disney on Ice is always special, and our audiences see that ‘magic’ come to life in truly personal way.”

In fact, ‘special’ is a word that keeps coming up as Terpos describes her life on the Disney circuit.

“I have found a home here,” the Towson University grad says. “It’s a great place to be, surrounded all these special talented skaters and creative people who are as passionate as me.”

Of course, Disney was a part of her world growing up, so being with the tour now is a natural extension of Terpos fondness for the stories and characters.

“I loved ‘The Little Mermaid,’ Jasmine, all the princesses. I’d watch them over and over,” she adds.

The timeless appeal of the Disney legacy lends itself to an entertaining, inspiring production. The uplifting nature of these stories end strongly with an inspiring message about finding your inner hero and finding your dreams.

“We all have inner heroes in ourselves,” Terpos says. “The Disney magic is all around us.”

As with her fellow cast members, Terpos’ skating skills enhance the high level of athleticism that is the hallmark of these spectacles. Solos and fast-paced ensemble skating with high-flying jumps add to the appeal of the stories the audience knows so well.

“There are so many iconic moments,” she enthuses, especially “The Little Mermaid” segment, which is among her favorites. It’s very colorful with fun music and favorite characters.

“Actually it seems every character is a ‘favorite’ character. “And don’t forget, we ‘don’t talk about Bruno,’” Terpos reminds us.

The high-energy production brings these characters to life through the energetic skills of the skaters.

“We have a very talented cast,” Terpos says. “You’ll see pairs, singles, freestyle and tricks.”

As always, there’s plenty of singing, with the audiences up on their feet throughout the show. And, naturally, Belles, Cinderellas, Jasmines, Elsas, and now Mirabels, among many others are scattered throughout the arena.

“I even saw a Sebastian in the audience the other day,” Terpos adds. “It’s so much fun to see.”

And, of course, as anyone who knows Disney on Ice, the show is enthusiastically welcomed at every stop on the tour.

It’s big. It’s magical. It’s Disney. But it’s also something much more powerful than that.

Because when Terpos and her castmates take center stage at UBS Arena shortly — you can bet your ice skates on it — there will be more than one wide-eyed 6-year-old in the audience who will discover, for the first time in her heart, that dreams really do come true.