Walt Disney Entertainment has begun to see Hawai‘i as a gold mine of dancing and singing talent, nearly on par with places like New York and Los Angeles, says a Disney auditions manager.

"Hawai‘i is becoming one of those places. We make sure we hit Honolulu once a year," said Darla Hancock, auditions manager for Walt Disney Entertainment.

Disney, which has held open auditions at least once a year for the last few years, will conduct a weekend of auditions next week.

The audition is for roles at Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Tokyo Disneyland Park and the new Tokyo DisneySea, a new park that opened this year.

To try out, you must be 18 years old or older. Bring a resume and a headshot that Disney can keep. Here is the audition schedule:

March 3 in the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Tapa Conference Center,

Honolulu 1 and 2: Dancer auditions at 10 p.m. Singing auditions at 1 p.m.

Dancers in every style "from classical to hip-hop" are needed, Hancock said.

Singers should come prepared with 16 bars each of their best ballad and up-tempo songs.

March 4 in Hilton Hawaiian Village, Mid Pacific Conference Center, South Pacific rooms 1 and 2: Female Polynesian dancers at 10 a.m. Male Polynesian dancers at noon. Samoan fire knife dancers at 2 p.m.

Kumu hula Sonny Ching will present the Polynesian audition routines.

Hancock recommends that all participants arrive early to register.

Call (407) 397-3220 for questions and information.

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