Interview: National Bronze Medalist Skater, Shaylyn Jackson Talks 'DISNEY ON ICE 100 YEARS OF WONDER'

Shaylyn Jackson is a skater on Disney on Ice (Click here to see Review: DISNEY ON ICE 100 YEARS OF WONDER) and also the three-time Provincial Champion in both Pairs and Free Skate and a Junior National Bronze Medalist in Pairs. She started skating when she was 2 years old and her mother was also a skater for Disney on Ice.

How did you feel when you were chosen as a member of this tour team?

I think I was probably the most excited I’ve been in my life. Skating for Disney on Ice has been a dream of mine for probably 13, 14 years. As I got to learn more about this show and what it was about, my excitement was out of the world. It was very special. 

Is this your first time in Japan?

Yes, my first time, actually. My mom skated for Disney on Ice and she was in Japan. So my goal was actually come to Japan and kind of like recreate her pictures that she’s taken in some of the places that she's been to. And the hotel that we're actually staying at currently here is the same hotel that she stayed at when she was here. So, it's been really cool. Just to see the same things that she did and create that for myself, too.

How did you like Japan?

I try to get out as much as I can. Even with being tired from shows, we are constantly on the go like checking it all the temples. it’s been amazing. Architecture of the gardens, everything is just so beautiful. It's a different type of beautiful than what I'm used to. I love it.

What do you think for you is the best part of being part of Feld Entertainment?

It's really cool to have a second family and a second home like this. When you're around this, you develop really close relationships and friendships with everyone and it’s nice to have a home away from home and if they're experienced all of these things together.

What was the hardest part of during the rehearsal and how did your manage it?

It was pretty hard on our body. So I found myself sore quite often, and with that, I just want to get myself to relax and reset between all of our rehearsal period especially when they have a camp. That was very high physical demands so a lot of sleep lol. It’s about our aerial acts that we have in the show. We have to do with workouts for them and then leading up to our actual on ice rehearsals. We do a lot of fun, aerial practice and then workout backstage and everything. So you get pretty sore pretty fast.

What do you think is the key highlight of the show?

It’s very interactive.  I love how much we get audience involved in everything, especially the Toy Story 4 number. I love how we can actually get up in the crowd and dance with people and we can feel their energy even more when you're actually like right in.

Is that also your favorite part of the show?

I would say so. I really like Toy Story 4. I also really like opening number though. I feel like it really sets the tone for the show. It’s just big and exciting and there's so much going on. There’s for probably ten seconds in the whole audience is clapping along with us and it's so much fun.

Do you have any message to those who haven't seen it yet, but interested in watching it?

I highly recommend coming to watch the show. it's a very magical experience and something that I think is really special to share with your family and your friends.

Do you have messages to Japanese fun?

Thank you for being so supportive and it makes our skating so much more fun to see everybody enjoying themselves. And so involved in what we're doing, It's really special for us as skaters to be here and especially on hard days when we have three shows. You guys make it worth. So, thank you.

Photo Credit:[Feld Entertainment]

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