LIFE IS NICE ON AND OFF ICE MISSION HILLS SKATER AND DESIGNER RETURNS HOME TO STAR IN DISNEY PRODUCTION.

Byline: Semhar Debessai Staff Writer

After four years of performing double axels on rinks around the country, Michael Kuluva skates into his hometown with the production of Disney on Ice -- just in time for the holidays.

``I'm so excited,'' said the 23-year-old Mission Hills resident turned professional skater. ``This is my first show at home.''

And home is where it all started when, at the age of 8, Kuluva stepped foot on the ice and, seemingly, never got off.

``I just picked it up quickly ... I liked that it was very challenging for me,'' Kuluva said with excitement, as if this were all still new to him.

But Kuluva was far from a novice in the skating game. Before joining Disney, he skated competitively for 10 years, taking third place in the 2004 Major League Figure Skating World Professional Invitational Championship.

His former personal choreographer Cindy Stewart (now main choreographer for Disney on Ice and formerly of Stars on Ice) introduced him to the not-so-small world of Disney.

After three years skating with Disney's Jungle Adventures, Kuluva was offered the role of Dash Parr, the supersonic member of the wildly popular Disney/Pixar superhero family, ``The Incredibles,'' (a new addition to the show).

Patty Vincent, director of Disney on Ice, describes Kuluva as having great energy. ``It's not just in his skating. It's his personality ... perfect for the role of Dash,'' said Vincent.

Kuluva stepped up to the challenge of showcasing Dash's only real superpower: speed.

``I'm the only one without special effects (to show powers),'' says Kuluva. The solution? ``I do really fast spins.''

Not unlike his on-ice character, Kuluva refuses to slow down -- or even limit himself to just skating. He is also the designer and seamster of Crown Prince Couture (www.crownprincecouture.com), his clothing line that launched in 2004.

``I try to work on it on my days off ... I like to knit and have knitted wool scarves for the winter (line).'' Celebrities such as Jessica Simpson, Ricky Martin and Ryan Seacrest (who sported the line's Metrosexual Shirt) have taken a liking to the unique, handmade looks.

A role in the direct-to-video ``Cutting Edge 2'' has also sparked an interest in acting. Looking to the future, he says, ``I'd like to finish out the show (after four or five years) ... stay in L.A., work on the clothing line ... (and) do some acting and modeling.''

For now, even with a Christmas Day performance, he's just happy to be home.

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(1 -- 2) Michael Kuluva (above, and as Dash, below)