Skater Stories: Allison Kymmell
A Disney on Ice veteran shares their story before heading out on another tour this season.
Allison Kymmell is a Disney on Ice veteran, having been with the tour for more than a decade. They currently skate with "Frozen & Encanto," and took time out of their offseason preparations -- and their coaching schedule -- to talk to me about their career, their skating journey, and Chappell Roan (don't worry, it'll make sense soon enough).
Q: Take me back to the first time that you started skating. What made you want to get into it?
A: SO I'm adopted, and my father, who adopted me and raised me, was born and raised, actually in the Netherlands, and skating is huge there. So when I had just turned six years old, my Oma, his mother, passed away, but had left money for us to have ice skating lessons, so we could learn it. And I fell in love with it the second I stepped on the ice. Like I didn't fall, LOL, that time, but the second time I fell. But just skating around and going fast, and I just felt this connection and I kind of was like, I want to do this. I mean, I want to keep coming back. And I actually competed in my first competition that year and won and I was like, I know this is what I want to do.
Q: So you knew pretty early on that you wanted to make a career out of skating?
A: YEAH, I would say when I was about 11 years old, that's when I discovered there were other things besides, like, you know, everyone's dream of competing, going to the Olympics. There were ice shows because then I started working with coaches who had been on Disney on Ice and also Holiday on Ice. And I would hear stories, see their pictures, and I was like, that's what I want to do. Like, that's what I definitely want to do with skating. Because I loved competing. And the reason I competed was I loved telling a story and being able to perform the number where I get to do that every day and the night show.
Q: Outside of your coaches, who as you mentioned skated for Disney on Ice, were there any skaters you looked up to, any inspirations, anyone you tried to model your style after?
A: YES, I really loved skating like Irina Slutskaya and Michelle Kwan. They were definitely my two favorites because I was never like a pretty ballerina skater and I never like vibed with, you know, classical music to skate to. I was really, and still am like a very strong, powerful skater with like dynamic movements and definitely like when I saw Irina Slutskaya on the ice doing that with her Russian split jumps and just how she skated into her jumps, I was like, I want to skate like her. And then I just love the performance quality of Michelle Kwan. And she's just so captivating.
Q: Now, how did you end up getting your start with Disney on Ice?
A: WELL, I went to my first ice show when I was 19 and it was not with Disney, because I had a friend go. I had just done a Disney audition live in D.C. and I had also applied to other companies because it's like a job, you know, like you want to apply to multiple companies. And the first one I've heard back was the Russian Circus on Ice in South America through Nicky Scott, Hot and Cold Productions. And I went there and I loved it. I was in Colombia, South America for almost two years. It's ironic, because the show I'm with now, "Encanto" takes place in Colombia, and that's why it's also so special to my heart. And then from there, I was, I've worked with Rosstyn ice shows multiple times.
I did Holiday on Ice and my first year I was on Holiday, we were doing the production Ice Age and it ended up closing a little bit earlier than expected. And Robin Cousins, who was our choreographer at the time, was like, 'I think you would be really great at Disney, especially character work because you just shine in it.' And he called Judy Thomas, who was the casting director, and a week later, I was on 'Passport to Adventure' and I fell in love with it. And 'Passport to Adventure' is actually 'Mickey's Search Party' now, when they rebuilt the show.
Q: I love that they do that, that they, they'll take the shows and they evolve over the years. and obviously the name changes, but it's technically one ongoing continuous production.
A: IT’S funny because that's actually my second favorite show in the company, just because I love all the numbers and the costumes on it, honestly.
Q: As you mentioned, you're with 'Frozen and Encanto' now, which is a very different show, only having two segments. So what has your experience been like on that show?
A: IT was phenomenal because I had the privilege of it being actually the first ice show to open out of COVID and getting to build it in the studios from the ground up and watching the props come alive and develop it. So it's pretty incredible if you ever get hired on Disney, if you have the opportunity to ever do a build of a show because you just get to see it all come together as one. And it's a pretty incredible and also like mind-blowing experience because you get to see all the ins and outs that go into it, in the creativity and the work.
And I resonate with the show because Olaf is my favorite character from 'Frozen' and he narrates the whole first act. And my favorite number to skate is actually Coronation, because of who choreographed it. He was one of my favorite ice dancers, Ben Agosto. That was taken from the original 'Frozen' production, and they transferred it over when it was just 'Frozen on ice.'
Then going into the 'Encanto,' it's like my very first ice show, I lived in Colombia, South America. Like I've been to the rainforest, the mountains. I see the vibrant colors. I got to be with the people and experience the culture. So they really made it come alive and stayed fairly accurate to the Colombian culture. And that should be really celebrated in and of itself.
Q: I completely agree. And I had no idea that Ben Agosto had choreographed that, the coronation scene.
A: I got to meet him and he watched us do class the very first year we went on tour in New York City. So it was kind of like a full circle moment.
Q: You've gotten to play a few different roles in that show, obviously. Do you have a favorite?
A: OH, that's really hard to nail down, but I really do love being a dancing donkey in 'Encanto.'
Q: Everyone I have talked to so far that has been in a show that has had an 'Encanto' segment has singled out the dancing donkeys as a favorite part of the show.
A: YES. And like I said, I guess my second favorite up to that would probably be Coronation in Elsa's Coronation scene because I get the opportunity to actually do different spots sometimes and skate with different people so that can be quite entertaining sometimes. And keeps it fun, you know?
Q: How challenging is it for you to have to prepare and learn the choreography for all those different roles?
A: I wouldn't necessarily say it was challenging. I would say definitely during rehearsals of the build of the show almost four years ago now, it was like a lot at once. But also I had an advantage over some skaters joining the show. Like it wasn't my very first ice show, so I knew what to expect. I knew expectations that are required usually across the board for any ice show and I personally pick up choreography pretty quickly because I was doing other shows for so long. So it really does help, if someone has a go of Disney, going and doing a smaller show first. Just so when you get to a big production, because everything's bigger. The ice is bigger, the cast is bigger, the production's bigger.
But I love skating so much that I skate all the time by myself. So I like running choreography. So it's in my brain. Like it's not required and I don't have to do it, but it's always in the back of my head and I just love having fun practicing it and skating and keeping it fresh because you never know when you're going to be thrown into a number.
Q: You mentioned that you've been with other shows, you've been with Disney, you've gotten to travel all over the world. Is there a favorite place to you that your skating career has taken you?
A: AH, that's such a hard question. Because I always have such great memories and stories and experiences and different ones. I would probably have to say two are tied together. Colombia definitely, because it was like my first time out of the country. And I actually met two of my best friends to this day on that show and just like the craziness of being on a circus.
And then definitely tied with that, I was invited out in the Bahamas with a company and we did like a New Year's Eve show, but it was for a bunch of celebrities at the Albany in the Bahamas. And that was pretty incredible to be able to put on a show, not just New Year's, but for celebrities and other people.
Q: Do you have somewhere that you haven't been able to go yet that you're like, 'I really want to skate there?'
A: YES, I really, really want to skate in Egypt.
Q: Interesting. Why?
A: I love the Middle East. I love the cultures over there, the food. I do have a lot of friends either living in the Middle East or are immigrants from there. One of my really good friends is from Lebanon and most of his family's still over there. And then he actually used to work on Disney, on crew. But one of my friends, Mouner Saidi, he is also from the Middle East, from Yemen and is an immigrant from there, but he went back and is actually working on productions in the UAE right now as well. And then I have a friend who is a skater that flies for Arab Emirates and lives over there as well.
And I just like the history of Egypt. I've always, since I was a young child found hieroglyphics, and the pyramids, Cleopatra, all that, really mind blowing and interesting and it would be incredible to see that in person. And all my friends who have performed there with Disney have the best things to say.
Q: That's one of the things that I think that people don't realize about the Disney on Ice touring life is that you do get time to explore the places you visit. What is that like when you go to a new city for the first time and you get to sort of immerse yourself in that culture for at least a couple days before you have to really start getting into shows?
A: WELL, it's always nice to have a couple days off to just, like, reset, but any time it's a new city, I've never been. I actually look up the top five things to do when you go to that city online and I go on TikTok to find a couple restaurants or coffee shops. And then I look to see what free stuff they have. Like, oh, this is a really significant free monument or museum or statue. In several cities, there's usually a big bridge somewhere that's really pretty. And, you know, I love free. But I try and find one or two other things to do as well.
Q: I'm just curious. This might be another difficult question to answer, but can you describe the feeling that you get while you're skating, while you're performing for Disney on Ice? And you look out at the crowd and you just see the smiling faces of all the kids there and know that you are part of something that is bringing so much joy to people.
A: YEAH, that's why I've skated for I'll be skating professionally on the road for 11 years this November. And I just forget everything that's going on in the world or in my life that's maybe not so great or stressful. Can I step on the ice? I see the crowd and even like people singing and dancing along. And I'm like, 'this is why I love doing what I'm doing, to bring them that joy as well, that I get to transport them out of whatever's going on in their life or the real world.' And they get to be in this space, this safe space for this amount of time, seeing characters they love, the stories they love, the music they love, even adults as well, and bringing them that is probably the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life. And I'm also, like, beyond happy to be skating and doing what I love for a living.
Q: Speaking of joy, I felt so much joy at seeing your in show performance this year. Can you explain how that program, that performance came together?
A: SO I was actually on a bus ride going to another city in December, maybe early January, somewhere around then. And I was actually listening to her music and I was like, half asleep, and then it hit me. I'm pretty sure I turned around to my friend and scared her half to death. And I was like, 'I have the vision.' And she's like, 'cool. The vision tile [from the 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' scene]? You brought it with you.' And I was like, 'No, no, no.' And I was like, 'Pink Pony Club, but there's actual ponies on the ice, but they're inflatable ponies.' And I think everybody around me was just like, 'are they okay?'
It stuck with me and I couldn't get that thought of that; that's literally the funniest thing ever. And it's bringing that song to life. And, you know, like, why not do it? I was always nervous about doing a group in-show for my co-workers. Everyone at corporate sees them as well. But I was like, 'you know, I'm going to do it.' And I was like, 'okay, guys. So here are the costumes,' and everyone loved it. And they were such a good sport. And I was like, 'okay, well, what can we do that's skating but goes to the music in its choreography?' Because it's also an inflatable costume too. But it worked out. And I was like, 'let's just have fun with it, and see what happens.' And everyone loved it.
And that's why I did it. At the end of the day, I was like, here's an idea. I made it come to life. I hope someone likes it. Because at the end of the day, like, why not be creative? So what's the worst that can happen?
Q: I loved it. I thought it turned out beautifully. And I'm curious what it meant to you to skate a program to a song by Chappell Roan, who has become such an icon in the LGBTQ community.
A: I felt like it was a space where I could be myself because I am non-binary and bisexual and that's the whole point of the song is just be you or we can be ourselves every single day, in this safe space and people should be celebrated for whoever they are and however they choose to express themselves.
Q: I completely agree. I listen to that song and that album just so much these days. It's my comfort album now.
A: YES. I hope she sees it one day and likes it. That would be incredible.
Q: We need to find a way to get it in front of her.
A: YEAH, I know. I've sent and tagged her, but nothing yet. I was just like, maybe it'll inspire her to get some PolyGlide and we can have inflatable ponies on stage.
Q: Speaking of PolyGlide, you posted recently that you got that and you mentioned earlier that you just love to escape whenever and wherever you can. What is it like skating on that?
A: OH, I love it. You can do everything. I've actually done ice shows on synthetic ice before, and I'm just using it to get creative and work on skills and then maybe opening it up to younger kids to get them into skating when they're like one through three years old, where they're too young to maybe get on a big ice. It could be scary to them or their parents could be right there and even maybe doing pop-up birthday parties and just bring kids joy and get them interested in figure skating.
Q: So you could bring the ice to them instead of having to bring them to the ice.
A: EXACTLY. The thing I love about PolyGlide is it is really beneficial for a very young kid between the ages of one and six to get their bearings and learn the foundations. When you put them on a larger ice, they're really far away from mom and dad. They may not have that long attention span and also like it's cold in the rink. Maybe they have sensory issues. There's a lot going on and it can be kind of scary for them. So it's bringing it there. Also, U.S. Figure Skating has adaptive skating now, so we can bring skating for people with any form of disabilities, including wheelchairs. So that's making it even more accessible to them, to let them know on real ice we also provide something for them as well.
Q: One other thing I wanted to ask you about, as I was looking up your career in 2021, you competed in the U.S. Open Professional Championships, which were a virtual competition that year. So what was that like, with all of the COVID restrictions and competing in a virtual competition?
A: IT was different because that was all new to me. I grew up competing in front of people. But I got to perform not only a routine I choreographed, but something really different for them, which was a trapeze routine. People had done hoops before and fire and comedy. And I was like, I love my trapeze right now. This would be really cool for skating. And it was awesome because Adam Blake actually was one of the judges. And when we met in rehearsals a couple months later, he gave a little nod to that, which sent me over the moon, to just even have him watching me skate in general. But it was definitely different. And I'm glad they had that opportunity and outlet for skaters to keep being creative and doing what they love because I wouldn't have had that outlet to not just get creative, but do something like trapeze for the competition and send it in.
Q: And with Disney on Ice, it feels like there is a lot more aerial stunt work than there ever used to be in shows.
A: YEAH, I think it's amazing and just really incredible that they are adding the aerial acrobatics to shows because we can just have something for everyone, and just make that story come more to life. Like, for example, Isabela flying around [during "What Else Can I Do?"]. That's what she does in the movie and it's bringing back to life for the audience. And for people who may have never even seen something like that, they get to see something new with skating incorporated into it.
Q: All right, if you're up for it, I want to do a little lightning round here.
A: Okay. All right.
Q: Favorite move to perform on the ice?
A: Oh, definitely my hydroglide where I pull my leg up in the air.
Q: Favorite Disney on Ice costume to wear?
A: The donkey.
Q: Have you ever gotten to be the donkey with the tutu?
A: No, because that's not on our show unit, but it's on my list. I have a list of things where I'm like, 'I have to go do break work and specifically do this for the costume.'
Q: All-time favorite Disney song?
A: I would have to actually say 'Part of Your World' from The Little Mermaid.
Q: All-time favorite Disney movie?
Q: Don't laugh, but it's actually 'Finding Nemo.'
A: That's a great movie!
Q: It's tied with 'Dumbo,' definitely. They're tied. Okay. The reason I love 'Dumbo' is because I'm adopted, so it's like, that's how I came to my mom. You know? And then I joined the circus and my dad worked on the circus.
Q: All-time favorite figure skating movie?
A: I, Tonya.
Q: There are six types of jumps in figure skating: loop, toe loop, flip, Salchow, Lutz, and Axel. Which one is your most hated?
A: Probably loop. We have a love-hate relationship.
Q: If you hadn't been a skater, what career would you have gone into?
A: What made me jump on the circus was I was kind of planning to maybe go to college. I still have never been, and I don't regret it one bit. I wanted to make music videos and be a music video producer. I go to local shows. I actually used to be very, very big into photography and was trying to learn videos. I was actually taking some local community college classes because I was homeschooled at the time, so I just had to provide my grades. And I love photography. I used to shoot Warped Tour all the time and do other big bands, and I was freelancing for a company during high school. And I was like, yeah, I'm going to make music for this. I'm going to make music videos. And then I auditioned for Disney. And I was like, I think I really want to do this instead. It's a lot more money. And then I was offered, like, I told you earlier, the contract and I was like, well, I guess I'm going to go join the circus now, just like that.
Q: One piece of advice you would give to anyone starting out in skating.
A: I would say, don't get frustrated if you don't see progress every day and don't give up.
Q: Last but not least, where can we see you skate next?
A: You can see me skate on 'Disney on Ice: Frozen And Encanto' later this fall. And always on the internet. I post skating videos all the time.
Q: And you're playing Baltimore this year?
A: I'm so excited to play Baltimore. You have no idea. I'm inviting my all time favorite Baltimore band. to come, and I'm going to cry. I actually took off work to see them in Florida one weekend in January this past year. It was the only week off I've ever taken in my life. I was like, I'm not missing them. And the guy actually asked to get a picture with me when I was going to ask to get a picture with him. He goes, you're the Disney skater. I got to get a picture with you. And I was like, I'm going to cry right now.
Q: What band was it?
A: Okay. That's where it gets funny. I listen to a lot of punk and hardcore music. They are the infamous, famous Baltimore hardcore band Stout. They're actually on tour in Japan right now, which is cool. They've never been, but they are like famous in Baltimore, especially in the hardcore scene for being the Baltimore band. And they're a phenomenal bunch of guys as well, so it was very sweet. One of them reached out when the [Flight 5342] accident happened because he knew I grew up in Northern Virginia and it was one of my clubs. So they're very, very nice people.
Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto opens the 2025-26 season Sept. 11-14 in Saginaw, Michigan and makes 26 tour stops in the United States this season, including Boston and Springfield (where I’ll be in attendance).