When Agota Zakany-Szabo skates out onto the ice at McKenzie Arena this weekend, she will be joined by the man of her dreams - in make-believe and in reality.
She will be skating the character Ariel as part of "Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment." Skating beside her will be her husband, Bertalan, who will be skating as Prince Eric.
"It is wonderful to be together," she says.
If you go
› What: “Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment”› Where: McKenzie Arena, 720 E. Fourth St.› When: 7 p.m. Oct. 18-20; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21› Admission: $17-$84› Online: www.utc.edu/mckenzie-arena/
The two have been skating together with Disney for the last eight years since leaving their home country of Hungary.
Zakany-Szabo has been skating since she was 7. In Hungary, she skated for medals, finishing fourth in the Hungarian Junior Championships in 2003 and second or third each year from 2004 to 2008.
Once her competitive career was over, however, she performed in a few small ice-skating productions around the country, and then she heard about the Disney on Ice productions.
"I love being able to travel and it is a much bigger and more professional production."
For her, the real thrill comes when she skates out onto the ice and sees the faces of the young people there to see their favorite Disney characters. The show features skaters in character doing high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen or Mater or the crew of "Cars" racing across the ice, Ariel and Prince Eric from "The Little Mermaid's" undersea kingdom and Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the "Toy Story 3" gang escaping from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare.
Zakany-Szabo says the show has a special opportunity for four lucky kids who get to ride around in a special vehicle during the "Under the Sea" performance.
"It's really cool and it's new," she says.
Zakany-Szabo was always a singles skater until joining Disney on Ice. She says having her husband with her helps keep her from being too homesick. She takes a long minute to think about what she might be doing back home in Hungary were she not part of the Disney show.
"That's a good question. I guess I would have a normal job and a normal life. This is such a good opportunity to travel and see the world, and I'm really looking forward to being in Chattanooga. I've never been there."
BY THE NUMBERS
4: Hours it takes to tear down the production
6: Number of computers utilized by management
10: Number of 53-foot tractor-trailers needed to haul equipment
12.5: Hours it takes to set up the production
70: Number of gobos (special lighting patterns)
79: Number of different paint colors on the show
114: Total number of lighting fixtures
200: Number of performances per year
500: Total number of hours of rehearsal by skaters
Costumes
2,000: Yards of fabric used to make costumes
200: Number of costumes in the show
3: Number of costumes per cast member: 3
3: Number of washer-dryer sets that travel with the production
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.