Nottingham College graduate, Hanyu Wong, has achieved his ambition of performing with Disney on Ice, turning years of hard work and dedication into an international career. The former BA Performing Arts (Dance) student is now touring globally, with a new US tour on the horizon.
Born with a visual impairment that has never held him back, Hanyu first discovered his passion for ice skating during his teenage years. “I was inspired by the Olympic ice skaters”, he explained, “then I first got into the sport myself when I joined the ice-skating programme at school when I was around 16 at the National Ice Centre. I really enjoyed it, so I continued my lessons. To be good at ice skating, I needed to learn to dance well, so I decided to study Performing Arts Dance at Nottingham College.”
Joining Nottingham College in 2017, Hanyu began his studies with Performing Arts Level 3, before progressing to a BA in Performing Arts (Dance) and graduating with a degree in 2022.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, ice rinks were closed to the public, so Hanyu took to the streets and began rollerblading in public areas including Nottingham’s Market Square, as a way to practice his craft. Hanyu was spotted and filmed by members of the public, the footage later shared on BBC News. During this TV interview, Hanyu spoke of his dream to one day perform for Disney on Ice.
Since that time, Hanyu graduated from Nottingham College, continued ice-skating lessons and took up acrobatics, gym classes and more. And in 2025, Hanyu reached for his dream and signed a short-term contract with Disney on Ice following a successful audition. “When I got the call, I was so pleased, excited and proud”, he said, “I have proven to myself that nothing is impossible when you work hard and take opportunities, and that has lifted my confidence to believe in myself more and what I can do.”
Hanyu joined the cast as a member of the ensemble, quickly learning complex choreography and touring across Europe, including performing in Finland, Belgium, Norway, Germany and Sweden.
The ice dancer had achieved his long-desired aspiration, but it isn’t over. Hanyu has been asked to rejoin the cast from August 2026, expecting to tour across the US, performing in the main cast as a starfish, a seagull, and a donkey – all characters from beloved Disney movies.
During his time studying at Nottingham College, Hanyu learned a great deal that placed him on the path to his magical career. “I really enjoyed my time at Nottingham College, I learned a lot about body movements and musicality, and I gained confidence in performing on stage in front of an audience. I even got advice from tutors when producing my Disney on Ice audition tape.”
For Hanyu, his years of training, classes and studies have proven worth the efforts. For those looking to study Performing Arts, Hanyu has some words of wisdom. “My advice is to watch and appreciate others’ performances, to support and learn from each other. It’s also important to believe in yourself, what you can do and what you’re capable of because that will take you to success and to achieve your future goals.”
Nottingham College Performing Arts lecturer, and Hanyu’s former tutor, Nicola Burt, said: “Hanyu demonstrated outstanding commitment and talent throughout his studies in FE and HE, and it is immensely rewarding to see him achieve such success with Disney on Ice. His journey is a testament to his hard work and determination, and he continues to be an inspiration to our students. We wish him all the very best for his upcoming tour across America."