The Disney Performing Arts programme
Before a step by step look at a day leading up to a performance of Let’s Sing Christmas – the show that brings together the most loved Christmas carols with Mickey and his friends on the Videopolis stage in the heart of Disneyland Paris – let’s take a closer look at what the Disney Performing Arts programme is all about.
The programme’s aim is to give groups of amateur performers the opportunity to take part in professional-level stage productions – with a touch of magic. The performances can be anything from dance, to instrumentals to singing, or even musicals. Organisations need to apply to participate, and the programme team – made up of professionals from the performing arts world – is responsible for the selection process. The participants come from a wide range of countries!
This allows these amateur performers to benefit from professional guidance and exposure to visitors from all over the world.
Within the resort, Disney Performing Arts functions like a small, independent agency. The team possesses a strong artistic identity – among the Disneyland Paris Cast Members who supervise the groups are a former opera singer and a former ballet dancer. This expertise allows them to immediately grasp the project’s requirements and the performers who bring it to life.
Their greatest strength lies in their ability to take initiative. ‘We manage everything from A to Z’, they explain. The team takes care of everything, from the various bookings to all the logistics related to the performances. This is all done in harmony with the various teams at Disneyland Paris.
A day like no other …
It’s 10 am, and this morning, Sue, the manager of the Disney Performing Arts programme, and her team welcome the young performers from Eltham College who will be singing on the Videopolis stage that afternoon. They come straight from the suburbs of London. But before their two upcoming performances, the group heads backstage to rehearse the show with a professional vocal coach.
The rehearsal room comes alive with the joyful energy of the festive season. Under the guidance of their vocal coach, shy children grow into confident performers. Over the course of two hours, they rehearse the show, balancing focused discipline with bursts of laughter. But the Disney Performing Arts programme team isn’t worried – the children have been rehearsing the songs planned for the performance for almost a year. This rehearsal is essential, as the songs are performed in both English and French, making pronunciation practice crucial.
During this part of the rehearsal, Sue and her team make way for the vocal coach, but they are never far away, and always available to answer the group’s questions if needed.
The work is demanding, but for Sue and her team, the desire to share their knowledge takes precedence.
At 12:30 pm, rehearsals end and it’s time for a well-deserved break before heading out on stage!
1:45 pm. Even before slipping into their costumes, the performers must complete the mandatory safety check, which is the crucial moment when the group discovers the stage and backstage areas. The technical team teaches them how to walk in line to access the stage, where to stand on the platforms, and how to spot the floor markings. By putting safety first, the team creates the conditions for the magic to come alive.
Once the safety check is complete, it’s time to head to the dressing rooms, where the air is almost electric. The children use this opportunity to let off steam. This is the moment the Disney Performing Arts team uses to build connections: chatting and joking with the young artists to turn their stage fright into energy. This is also a unique feature of this programme: it’s one of the only places where you can meet guests behind the scenes. Impressive logistics are put in place to ensure a fully immersive experience.
Just minutes before the performance, the stage curtain remains drawn. Before the show begins, the group takes the stage for sound checks, the last technical step to guarantee flawless sound for their performance. The other vocal artists in the show join the children to sing together before the big moment. The Disney Performing Arts teams carefully observe the results of several months of hard work. Suddenly, faces light up: Mickey and Minnie make a surprise visit to encourage the performers. They will be sharing the stage with their friends and the children in just a few moments!
It’s showtime!
Five minutes before the start, the control room launches the pre-show, and all the seats in the Videopolis theatre are occupied. At 2:45 pm sharp, the curtain rises. The young artists faced an impressive crowd: over 400 people seated in the theatre, and nearly 1,300 in total when counting those in the adjoining restaurant and standing spectators. The Disney Performing Arts programme gave this amateur group the opportunity to shine on stage.
Behind the scenes, the programme team and the children’s chaperones kept their eyes glued to the monitor.
Even after the curtain comes down, the programme’s work is far from over. The children are greeted as they leave the stage, congratulated and given some tips. For many of them, the pressure suddenly drops and some are moved to tears, and the performers all receive reassurance and support, carrying with them unforgettable memories of their experience.
For the Disney Performing Arts team, the day ends with a sense of accomplishment, proud to have passed on their knowledge to future stars of the stage.
Fun facts
The Disney Performing Arts programme produces approximately 500 events per year, including stage performances (in the theatre and along the parade route).
Disney Performing Arts teams welcome over 17,000 participants each year!
Groups from 20 different countries performed in 2025.