‘It’s been a whirlwind of excitement.’ Meet Princess Ariel, of Loomis, in Disney on Ice

Disney on Ice is back at Golden 1 Center for seven performances through Sunday, but something’s different this time around.

Loomis resident Haylie Ferreira, 23, is debuting with the touring show as Princess Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”

Ferreira, who has trained as a skater for 14 years, graduated from Del Oro High School and attended Sierra College in Rocklin. But during all those hours of practice at Skatetown in Roseville, she had the Disney show on her mind.

“My very first coach left after a year … and went to Disney on Ice,” she said. “And so since I was little, I’ve known that this was an opportunity that I could pursue.”

The show features more than 50 Disney characters — other princesses include Cinderella, Snow White and Tiana — but Ferreira won a role that resonates with her.

“It’s one of my favorite Disney movies,” she said of “The Little Mermaid.” “So it was really cool to be able to get that part.”

This story was originally published October 30, 2021 at 5:00 AM.