CARLY Q. ROMALINO

COURIER-POST

Grace Deissroth has kept a deep, icy secret for 21 years.

The Washington Township woman — a competitive ice dancer for more than a decade — has been one with the ice since toddlerhood.

When the Winterland Ice Rink opens Friday in Glassboro, the Rowan University student will disclose her true identity — Elsa the Snow Queen, a magical monarch with powers over ice and snow.

Every Friday through February, Deissroth will reveal her regal roots on the ice, performing ice dance routines to selections from "Frozen" and skating with fans of the mega-popular Disney flick.

"I think I've always had a Disney Princess side to me," Deissroth, 21, admitted.

"Elsa was based on me," she said, claiming she's worn a long, blonde French braid long before the movie.

Deissroth wasn't older than 3 when she first put her feet on the ice.

"My dad had me on the ice when I started to walk," she remembered.

"I come from a hockey family, but I just gravitated toward figure skating."

After years of competitive ice dancing took a toll on her body, she hung up the skates and cracked the books. She studies public relations at Rowan, and works part-time as a host in a Philadelphia night club.

From 4 to 7 p.m. on "Frozen Fridays," Deissroth will transform from college student to Elsa, gracefully speeding across the ice.

"I wish I could skate every day. It's why I'm so excited to do the program on Fridays," she said, eager to skate in the Winterland Rink.

Winterland debuted last year as Gloucester County's first outdoor ice rink, drawing more than 40,000 visitors and 19,000 skaters from as far away as New York. This year, rink owner Al Bartolomeo anticipates 25,000 skaters.

"This was a stellar family destination and that's what it will be this year," he said.

"At the end of the day, there won't be another (rink) as festive."

Since early November, Bartolomeo's crews have been converting the parking lot of former St. Bridget's School on High Street into an icy wonderland.

Workers pieced together the rink, building its walls and laying piping to keep the ice frozen.

Glassboro volunteer firefighters used a fire truck Nov. 20 to hoist a 30-foot high evergreen tree upright and set it in place. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 5.

"Seeing the faces and the runny noses and stuff. ... Seeing the children singing the Christmas carols. ... I just want to see people have good fun. Our job is to create magic and memories," Bartolomeo said.

This year, Winterland has a secondary mission — charity.

In December and January, Winterland will hold its "Festival of Charities" to support six Gloucester County organizations: Sketch Club, United Way, One Little Step, TopSports, the Gloucester County Boys and Girls Club and Glassboro Child Development Center.

The groups will receive 5 percent of Winterland's proceeds on a specific day and will have an entire week to sell sponsorship snowflakes to raise money.

"We have a kind heart," said Bartolomeo, whose efforts are supported by sponsors including the Courier-Post and Inspira Health Network.

"Our goal is to bring back some authenticity, a little of what was and have some fun with it."

Deissroth has goals of her own — to control her powers over ice and snow, and teach her fans how to stay upright on the ice.

Kids can skate with "Elsa" after her performance. But they can't ask her to use her powers.

"I don't have control over the powers," Deissroth warned of the queen's magic.

"I might sneeze ice at you."

Reach Carly Q. Romalino at (856) 486-2476 and cromalino@courierpostonline.com. Follow @CarlyQRomalino on Twitter.

IF YOU GO

• Winterland Ice Rink opens for the season on Black Friday and will remain open until mid-February. The rink is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; from 3 p.m. to midnight Fridays; noon to midnight Saturdays; and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays. "Frozen Fridays" with Elsa are held from 4 to 7 p.m. General admission to Winterland is free, but skating prices vary by age. Skate rental is available. For more information call (856) 723-9060.