Hunter Nelson, a student at Stagelight Performing Arts and seasoned performer, has been dancing on stage since the age of 3 and has performed in over 30 theatrical productions since the age of 10– many of which were with Stagelight Productions. Recently, Hunter earned a coveted role in entertainment at the Disneyland Resort, and we caught up with him to ask him all about his experience as a Cast Member.

SPA: What is the most exciting part about working at Disneyland?

HN: The most exciting part about working at Disneyland is helping create the magic the company prides itself on producing. Seeing the joy and enthusiasm on each Guest’s face, and assisting in making someone’s day by performing with some of their favorite characters, makes the late night rehearsals worth it.

SPA: What parts of the job were most surprising to you?

HN: I think I’m most surprised by the people I work with everyday. I know Disneyland is considered the “Happiest Place on Earth,” but the Cast Members I work with really embrace that message.  I never go to or leave rehearsal in a bad mood because the pride and love my coworkers exude, and the joy the job brings to everyone, supersedes any negative vibes. So I would say the people  were the biggest and most pleasant suprise of the job!

SPA: What advice would you offer young performers interested in working for Disney?

HN: If I offered any advice to a young performer who had their eyes set on Disneyland, it would be to keep their training up, and never lose sight of the real reason they’re performing: for the love of the art. Upon coming to the company I found that people my age and twice my age continue to take technique classes to improve upon their skills, so they are always ready for whatever opportunity might come their way. I’ve also found that they genuinely enjoy performing and have let their fears of not being enough, go. But all in all, as long as you continue to exude your love of the arts, you’ll go a long way!

Former student Remi Wedin was recently accepted into the film school at Chapman University, and one of the pieces she created for her portfolio was inspired by a ballet dance she performed in at Stagelight Performing Arts! We caught up with Remi recently to learn more about animation and her future goals.

SPA: How much time did you spend on creating the ballet animation?

RW: The ballet animation took me a few weeks to complete. The initial poses were not difficult to do, but I spent a majority of the time refining the movement. The entire portfolio took me a year to complete and was composed of 2D drawings, paintings, and 3D animations.

SPA: How has your dance training affected you as an artist?

RW: I think dancers have a very unique understanding of motion and how the body moves, which is extremely important when it comes to animating. I was a bit hesitant to animate a dance sequence because it can go wrong very easily. I watched animations of dances on YouTube before I started the project and it was obvious that the animators were not dancers. They didn’t pay close attention to things like turnout and the feet, so as a dancer I knew it was not technically accurate. Having dance training helped me make the animation look graceful and light.

SPA: What are you looking for in a college as acceptance letters continue to come in?

RW: I’m looking for a college that can push my creativity. Anybody can learn how to use Photoshop, a 3D animating software, or even how to draw, but at the end of the day those things are just tools artists use to get their point across. The only thing that matters is how an artist uses those tools. I think the same thing applies to dance as well.  Anybody can choreograph a routine, but not everybody can choreograph a routine that captivates an audience (if that makes sense). My goal as an animator isn’t to move objects or characters – it’s to move audiences, and I’m looking for a school that can help get me there.

We are so proud of Remi, and we wish her the best success in all her future endeavors! #dostagelight

Daphne Stift has been attending Stagelight Performing Arts since the studio opened, and since then, Daphne has continued to grow into quite the performer! Currently, she is in two productions: The Giver and Center of the Universe, both with Phantom Productions. We caught up with her recently to ask about her role as Sparky in Center of the Universe, which tours junior highs and high schools in Southern California.

SPA: What is your favorite part about playing Sparky?

DS: My favorite part about playing Sparky is that she is not one of the biggest characters, but she plays a really important role. She is Maria’s best friend, and when something happens to Maria at the end of the story, Sparky’s role in the story shows how much Maria was loved.

SPA: What has been the most challenging part about this whole experience?

DS: The most challenging part about this experience is that we are the a cast, but we are also the crew. We set up, we take down, and when something goes wrong, it’s all on us. We’re not just performing; we’re doing tech.

SPA: You’ve done many musicals, what do you like about doing a play?

DS: In musicals I feel like you’re spending so much time learning the dances and the songs, but in plays, I can sit down and spend more time on a script analysis to really understand my character and the play.