After high school, most students want to be a nurse, a teacher, or a social worker, but not Mylie Shook. After high school, Mylie plans to skate for Disney on Ice! “I have been going to see Disney on Ice since I was little. I have always loved to be a performer when I skate and act out different characters, which made me realize that Disney on Ice was the right place for me,” Shook stated. Shook plans to do online college through Bellevue University and get a degree in sports management, while being on tour with Disney.
The process of the audition isn’t as easy as it may seem. The amount of time and practice on the ice to make sure Shook is ready for her audition is more than what others think- she spends over 25 hours a week training towards her audition. “I started preparing last spring in 2024 by going to an audition camp and meeting different casting directors. I was able to perform a routine for them, and get feedback about my skating,” Shook stated. Last year, Shook did a program from the musical ‘Funny Girl’ to the song ‘I’m The Greatest Star’ . This year, she plans on skating to the popular song, ‘I will survive’.“Although I do all of my own choreography, I have worked with my team of coaches all around the country. My main Coach here has helped me with a little bit of everything. My choreographer I work with over Zoom to put the finishing touches on my programs is in Los Angeles, and my jumps coach up in Minnesota, who I try to visit once every 2 months,” Shook said
All of that happens before she even gets to the audition, which is in Knoxville, Tennessee. Shook said that the audition process is more like a camp. She starts on the first day, learning 5 different group numbers, an opening and closing number, along with 3 other groups, you perform the 3 group numbers for the casting directors, and they put you where you fit best in the 3 options of programs. “You practice all of those programs for 12 hours straight before the day is over. The next day, the skaters perform their group numbers in a mini show for the casting directors. After that, we each perform a solo for them, and get live feedback. Then, within the next few days, you may hear back from multiple different shows with a job offer,” Shook stated.
Having all of this happen so fast can be stressful, especially with school and working many jobs . “I have been feeling a lot of stress, thinking about if my programs are even good enough to get a job with them. I have never handled stressful situations well, so this is going to be a long process for me,” Shook said. It can be nerve wrecking, knowing that once you graduate from high school that you are on your own and independent still at such a young age. Shook said that, “It finally hit me the other day, realizing that in just 6 months, I could be on my own in a different city doing a job that I love. I wish that the training was in Chicago, but knowing I will be doing my dream job has helped me out.” Shook plans to skate with Disney on Ice for as long as she can, and earn a lead role by her second year, then after, she plans to get a job being a choreographer and coach in a big city.
Shook has big dreams, and just like Walt Disney himself said, “If you can dream it, you can do it” and Shook definitely can do it.
