Swampscott man part of Disney On Ice show

BOSTON – When Disney on Ice skates into Boston Garden on Dec. 26, a Swampscott man will glide into the arena.Buck Withrow, a 2005 graduate of Swampscott High, is an ensemble skater in Disney On Ice presents “Princess Wishes.”Withrow, who competed in the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in the ice dance competition, started skating when he was 7 years old. He said he started skating because his next door neighbor wanted to skate but wouldn’t go unless he went with her.”I tagged along with her,” he said. “And here I am now making my living as a skater.”Withrow is a member of the Skating Club of Boston, located in Brighton. The club has been home to many skating greats, including world and Olympic champions Dick Button and Tenley Albright. When he was a student at Swampscott High, Withrow got up at 3:30 a.m. on weekdays to make the trek to Brighton, where he started training at 5 a.m. then he headed back to Swampscott to attend school. Despite his grueling training schedule, Withrow was an honor student and band drum major.He trained in Michigan under Igor Shpilband, who is a world and Olympic figure skating coach with more than 16 years of coaching experience. Over the years Shpilband has taught numerous national, world and Olympic competitors. For more than 14 years Shpilband was dance director of the Detroit Skating Club and he currently teaches at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Canton, Mich. In 2000, the United States Olympic Committee named Shpilband the Olympic coach of the year.Withrow said he loves traveling with Disney On Ice.”Things are going very well,” he said. “I have been traveling the world with this company for a few months now and am having a wonderful time. I did two six-month tours of Europe with Holiday On Ice before joining this show.”Withrow said this is the first time in three years he’ll be home for the holidays.”It will be so nice to be home for Christmas,” he said. “I’ll be staying with my family in Swampscott. I can’t wait.”Withrow said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to skate at Boston Garden in front of family and friends.”My favorite part of the show is the ‘Aladdin’ segment,” he said. “There’s a lot of character interaction between all characters on the ice. It is a fun free-for-all. It’s a fun show.”Whether you go to see your favorite princess, the world-class figure skating or the breath-taking special effects, you won’t be disappointed because like previous Disney On Ice productions this one promises to be pure magic.Audiences will be spellbound as they watch Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine and Mulan make their wishes come true. With the help of the magical pixie Tinker Bell, the princesses embark on wonderful adventures to make their dreams come true. Ariel dreams of a life above the sea, Mulan finds her inner strength, Jasmine discovers a whole new world and Snow White finds her one true love.One hour prior to each performance there is a Disney Princess Pre-Show, an exclusive fairy tale collection of gowns and a special appearance by a princess.Disney On Ice presents Princess Wishes will be at the TD Banknorth Garden Dec. 26-29. Tickets range from $25 to $90. Tickets are available at the TD Garden box office, by calling 800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com