SkiP HappEns Podcast
Skip Clark is a dynamic and captivating podcast host and radio personality who has left an indelible mark on the world of broadcasting. With a voice that can command attention and a personality that oozes charm, Skip has become a beloved figure in the world of entertainment. His passion for storytelling and his ability to connect with his audience shine through in every episode of his podcast and every moment on the airwaves.
Skip’s journey in radio began decades ago, and he has since evolved into a seasoned professional who effortlessly navigates the waves of the media industry. His deep knowledge of music, pop culture, and current events keeps his listeners engaged and coming back for more. Skip Clark's enthusiasm and authenticity make him a trusted voice in the world of podcasting and radio. His dedication to his craft and his commitment to providing quality content continue to make him a standout in the world of broadcasting.
SkiP HappEns Podcast
Skating into Magic: Behind the Scenes with Damian Benint Binkowski of Disney on Ice
Ever wonder what it's like to skate alongside beloved Disney characters in front of audiences around the world? We chat with Damian Binkowski, an extraordinary skater with Disney on Ice, who gives us an exclusive look at his transformation from competitive ice dancer to enchanting performer. Damian shares his favorite moments from the current show, "Disney on Ice Presents Into the Magic," highlighting the thrill of playing a part in Cinderella's magical ball and the unique joy of sharing the ice with his girlfriend. Get ready to be captivated by Damian's passion and dedication that fuel these breathtaking performances, and find out why these timeless Disney stories continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Join us for this enchanting episode as we explore the magic of Disney on Ice and the vibrant energy that fills every rink, no matter how chilly. We discuss the excitement surrounding upcoming shows and why it's an experience that shouldn't be missed. With performances scheduled from Thursday through Sunday, there's no better opportunity to witness the wonder through Damian's eyes. Tune in to hear about the global cast's dedication to bringing these stories to life and the joy they find both on and off the ice. Don't miss your chance to secure tickets and be swept away by the magic and nostalgia of Disney on Ice.
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Skip Clark. This is the Inner Harbor cast, Inner Harbor Studios, beautiful downtown Syracuse. You know we got a great show coming to town. We look forward to this each and every year, and Disney and Ice. And it happens to start like the day after the big holiday, the day after Christmas I think. The first show is 4 o'clock in the afternoon on the 26th, but I have one of the performers, one of the skaters with me and so talented, Damian Benint. You say it Minkowski, Minkowski. There it is yes.
Speaker 2:thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1:Of course you know I was practicing the name before we went on. I said okay, and whenever I do that, that's when I mess it up. If I just look at it and just go with it, everything is fine.
Speaker 2:But, damian, if I just look at it and just go with it.
Speaker 1:Everything is fine, but it was perfect. It's so good to see you, man. Let's talk a little bit about you and the show. How long have you been with Disney on Ice?
Speaker 2:Well, this is my second contract with Disney on Ice. I was lucky enough that last year I was in US North America tour and then during summertime we went to South America, and now we are back to US, traveling on more East Coast.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what was the show in South America? Was that still considered Disney on Ice?
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, of course.
Speaker 1:Very cool.
Speaker 2:So the show we are bringing to town, it's Disney on Ice Presents Into the Magic.
Speaker 1:It's got a lot of beautiful stories.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's very fast-paced, a lot of stories happening. It's six beautiful stories about amazing heroes that dare to follow their dreams and embrace who they really are.
Speaker 1:And we have performers like yourself from all around the world. Where are you?
Speaker 2:from. I've been a competitive athlete for most of my life. I'm kind of fresh to the shows. This is my only second year, but we have a lot of talented people from all over the world.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I've noticed that with every single show that has come to town. It's just amazing to see the level of performers and the talent is just unbelievable and, like you say, they're from all around the world. Have you been competitive skating? Have you been on that side of things for a little bit before you joined Disney on Ice?
Speaker 2:Yes, so I was competing in Ice Dance. I was doing Junior Grand Prix at the age of 13. I went to Junior Worlds at the age of 18 and competed all over the world, and in the age of 26, I was like I really would like to try the shows and that's when I auditioned for Disney on Ice. I didn't want to go back to competing after this.
Speaker 1:The shows are amazing.
Speaker 2:It's so much fun. It's very rewarding Traveling, seeing people really enjoy it. It's just different, but it's beautiful.
Speaker 1:You know you could tell when you go to these shows that skaters like yourself I mean with the smiles and just see. You know every show is pretty much the same, but it's never the same, if that makes sense, because you have a different audience. You're out there, you're skating, you're just getting into the crowd, all the cheers, it's just, it's amazing. It's amazing. Tell us a little bit about the show.
Speaker 2:The show. Sometimes we have repeating stories, depending, but this show has six stories. We have stories that are for all types of people. We have more classical stories that are absolutely pleasure to watch it's Belle and Cinderella. We do have, of course, elsa, so people can sing along their favorite Let it Go song, which is wonderful to see when everybody's singing along with Elsa skating on the ice. We have Miguel for dancing. We have Moana and modern stories like Rapunzel, so with incredible effects. So I really recommend coming and enjoying.
Speaker 1:So what part do you play in Disney and Ice?
Speaker 2:So I am part of an ensemble group and I'm lucky enough that I get to be in a couple of numbers and participate in different parts. My absolutely favorite that you can see me in it's during the beautiful ball of Cinderella. I'm one of the pairs that skates around.
Speaker 1:Very, very cool.
Speaker 2:They're having a beautiful moment together where they finally find each other.
Speaker 1:I love that. Now, do you know who the person that you're skating with? How well do you know that person?
Speaker 2:So we rotate a lot with with skating, so I usually have designated partner but I actually the person that I usually skate with. It's also my girlfriend in ball.
Speaker 1:That makes it easy.
Speaker 2:It makes it easy. It's. It's always wonderful to you know, to be with someone and enjoying the show.
Speaker 1:So I mean, this is somebody you've grown attached to, and I'm sure the other way around as well, all because of the show. So there's, that's what Disney is. It's all about the magic.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that's what Disney is. It's all about the magic, yeah, so I grew up watching Disney movies. Maybe that was one of the main reasons I was so excited to audition. So the Disney magic that is in every movie and I think that's what we always try to bring in every story that we're telling. And the first time I watched the show when I joined Disney, I was given an opportunity to watch it before I joined it. It really lets to remind every single one of the stories, like what's the main point of magic, the where, the feeling and the whole thing is so well structured that the sixth show. It's just a wonderful experience to see it live and go through every story, like a real reminder of the first time we watched the movie and seeing it on the ice. It's an extra feature that I've never seen before. I'm so glad to be part of it. People are putting so much of themselves out there.
Speaker 1:It's an incredible cast Singing on the ice, you said.
Speaker 2:So we are People enjoying the sounds, the voices that they know and love. So the audios are pre-recorded, so people know the princesses and they can follow exactly the voices they know, so they can sync together.
Speaker 1:Do you when you visit all these cities and, like you know, I don't know where you're coming from, but I know the show rolls in the town over the holiday and do you get a chance to spend christmas with at least some family or anything like that?
Speaker 2:or so my, our cast and crew is incredible the, the group I'm joined. Everybody's so wonderful. We are gonna have a christmas dinner together, which is gonna be really nice. So during the holidays, basically we, our cast, is our family and crew so this is nice feeling, and then between the tours we get a longer break. So I, for example, before coming on this tour, I did we did joke with my family that we are spending christmas in july because that's when we are all together yeah, no, yes, but yeah but we are getting like.
Speaker 2:It's also very rewarding to travel during those times because you get a chance to go home during the break?
Speaker 1:do you go back to poland? Yes, I do go back to poland for for a couple weeks well, your family's got to be so proud of you and what you've accomplished. Are you the only skater in your family?
Speaker 2:Yes, but I'm coming from a family of sports, so my brother did basketball and my sister did volleyball. I tried the ball and I just really stick to skating. It's just the artistic outlet in it. It was what I was missing in some other sports that are also wonderful.
Speaker 1:Because you're in this show, Feld Entertainment, Disney on Ice, you know, celebrating the magic of courage, love and adventure into the magic rather, You're able to do that. And there's a lot of dancing. Have you always been like a dancer as well, as well as skating?
Speaker 2:I know they kind of go together. So if somebody is interested in learning to skate, there are a couple of categories of skating. We have ice dancers that are mostly focused on skating together and focusing on edge work and smoothness. We have purse skaters that are more lifts and jumps. And then we have solo skaters that are mostly jumps. So from the very beginning I was also doing ballroom. So the moment I started skating I was right away put into ice dance to skate with the girl. I love it and I absolutely enjoyed it, loved it. And then, at the age of 20 I'm 28 now at the age of 26 when I decided to join shows, there are specific elements for shows that are just very spectacular. We call them a darjeel lift. That is something I had to learn.
Speaker 1:It's just been a journey um, but you get out there, you dance on ice. It's a very expensive sport as well. I would assume that you got to keep your skates, uh, in top notch. They probably will be sharpened before every show. You know, I'm going to be honest. You, I put a pair of figure skates on. Once. I used to play hockey. They made us wear figure skates. When I hit that toe pick, it was all over. I was like face first on the ice. It's kind of crazy. If somebody wants to do what you're doing getting into these shows and performing for great audiences like you're going to have here in Syracuse with Disney on Ice what advice could you give somebody?
Speaker 2:So, to for sure, enjoy it, because there could be always a setback. Me myself, I had a knee injury that I thought I'm not going to be recovering from for skating and then today, like I'm stronger than ever, than I ever thought, I'm doing elements I never thought I would be able to do. So if something feels discouraging, something doesn't work, I would say just enjoy the process and if there is any drink, any place you have a chance to skate or do any sport, it's just there to try it. You know, just just enjoy it and how much fun.
Speaker 1:I know I hear you how much fun, though I can tell you love what you do. Now this show Coming to Town, as I mentioned, disney on Ice Celebrate the Magic for Courage, love and Adventure, as Disney on Ice presents Into the Magic and it begins on the 26th of December. We're going to be watching it for you, and how are we going to know it's you? Because you're going to be all in the glitter and glam and out there doing your thing.
Speaker 2:How are we going to know it's going to be you? Yes, we look for. We have beautiful costumes, the the show is the special effects, the costumes, the lights, the music everything really comes together in place. I think we're coming the first show we're having on thursday right at 4 pm. We're going to be in town all the way to sunday yes, yes and I think there is a lot of shows we're doing, so there should be a time slot for anyone available, but the best place to find it is disneyonicecom.
Speaker 2:yep look for, for a good, for for the best times that works for everybody absolutely and when it comes to me. It's easy to find me because I am the tallest cast skater it's me, it's good okay so if you ever see someone taller than yeah, that's, that's probably gonna be me. I got your brother.
Speaker 1:you know, damien, thank you for taking the time to tell us a little bit about what you do and, uh, disney on ice. We so excited to you know, number one, that you're a part of this great show. You've got a great personality. I can tell that you brought out there Love seeing that and you know, and it's also good for you because you know it's like a family to you now and you're so far from home. But really you've got a family with your crew and that's pretty cool because I keep looking at the holidays and you know I'm thinking I don't know what I would do without my family. But you've got your family, so you've got your family, so to speak.
Speaker 2:And I am super excited. I've never been to Syracuse. I'm super excited to go.
Speaker 1:What have you heard about Syracuse? Anything. Have you looked it up? Do you look at different dates in different cities and go geez. I wonder what this place is like.
Speaker 2:So because we're switching city every single week, it could be a little bit overwhelming. So, unless I'm going on a travel day on Sunday and that's when I try to look for a new city, see where I can go on days off and see what cool places and areas are worth to see, I can go on days off and see what cool places and areas are worth to see, and every single city we try to see the best, the most recommended places and attractions that there is to offer.
Speaker 1:Well, we have Syracuse University. We have Syracuse University up on the hill and that's where the JMA Wireless Dome is and all the big games are there. That's a place to take a ride and a lot of great restaurants right down, probably close to where you're going to be staying, so for sure we'll have to try them out. Check out armory square. Just remember I told you that it's a lot of fun. Just you know, always go with somebody and have a good time and just kick some butt. On that I said damien, damien, thank you, uh, so much for chatting thank you so much for having.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's so good to see you Now. You know it's nice to put a face with. Now you can't see me, you just see a webcam utility sign. But yeah, but it's so good to see you putting a face with a skater and all that. You're very talented.
Speaker 1:To be honest, I'll let you know a little bit of secret about me, but I was a Zamboni operator for a lot of years I was the guy that went out so, and if it wasn't, I always wanted to drive one of those. They never let me. They should, they should do a promotion and have you out there. It's so easy and it's so much fun too. I know you think people are like wow, wow, that's so cool.
Speaker 2:But it's just like you're just out resurfacing the ice growing up I was obsessed, was obsessed with Zambonis coming out to the ice. I could watch them. It's just so satisfying to see.
Speaker 1:You know, I used to be the same way. Then I got a gig doing that on the side and I did that for a lot of years and you know, even in the ice, cold temperatures of some of the rinks up here in the northeast during this time of the year, but we still did it. It was still a lot of fun. So, anyways, enough about that, damien, it's so good to see you Nice putting a face with a skater. We're going to see you. We've got a great show coming. Like he said, disney on ice presents into the magic Thursday, the 26, at four o'clock, and then a couple of shows on Friday, saturday through to Sunday at four o'clock. That'll be the final show. Make sure you get your tickets. It's Feldenkrais. I'm sure you can Google Disney on Ice and get yourself all hooked up, damien. God bless you, my friend.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me. It was such a pleasure.
