Remember Toto in The Wizard of Oz? Dorothy spent much of the story chasing after and trying to protect the Cairn terrier. For the first time, visitors to the Genoveva Chavez Community Center this weekend will experience the magical children's story — on ice — from Toto's perspective.

Toto has always played a pivotal role in the story, according to Susan Johnson, the show's director and the ice-skating instructor at the community center. In fact, it's because of Toto that Dorothy is swept up by the tornado in Kansas and winds up in Oz. Dorothy then follows Toto down the yellow brick road, encountering the Tin Woodman, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion, who's even afraid of the little dog.

Evil winged monkeys capture Toto and take him to the Wicked Witch's castle. Once again, Dorothy must rescue the pup. And, it's because of Toto — when he jumps out of the hot-air balloon gondola to chase a cat — that Dorothy almost is stuck in Oz, until Glinda the Good Witch tells her how to get home. With a click of her heels, and holding Toto tight, Dorothy is transported home.

"We chose the theme to be from Toto's perspective to give the show a different spin on a beloved classic," Johnson said. "In addition, with so many young kids involved, we thought it would spark a fun and exciting atmosphere ... especially since Toto has his own dog party in Oz at the end, to the song "Who Let the Dogs Out," which the children love."

The hourlong show is adapted from L. Frank Baum's original story, which evolved from a children's book in 1920 to a Broadway musical, then several short silent films and, finally, the 1939 blockbuster movie that can still be seen on television. Johnson and her assistant director, Martin Levy, assure "our production promises to delight the entire family."

In a departure from earlier holiday ice-skating shows produced by the Santa Fe Skating Club, this year's show is produced by the center and its ice-arena staff. And for the first time, the skaters will wear professional costumes. In past productions, they provided their own clothes.

As in previous shows, recorded music — ranging from pop-rock to classical, featuring a variety of artists — will keep the characters moving. Approximately half the 30-member cast is under 12; a handful of teenagers are out there, too. Among the youngsters are Ashley Callaway as Dorothy, Krista Keay as both Mrs. Gultch and the Wicked Witch of the West and Mia Gabrielle Madera-Font as the Cowardly Lion. They all participated in the regional skating competition in Colorado Springs, Colo., in early October and are members of the Santa Fe Skating Club.

An extensive on-ice set will feature "a scary castle," the Emerald City, dark forest and the Kansas countryside, according to Thomas Fagan, executive producer of the show and ice-arena manager at the Chavez center. "This is our big show of the year, and we have a set to match," Fagan said.

Tom Miller, show producer and skating-rink coordinator, said he expected the family-friendly show to attract both locals and out-of-town guests, including families visiting Santa Fe for Thanksgiving. "We plan to do holiday ice shows every year, and this show will help us determine our future in terms of dates, numbers of shows, themes and costs as well as expenses."

IF YOU GO

What: Paws on the Yellow Brick Road , theater on ice

When: 2 and 6 p.m. today, 4 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Road

Tickets: $8 per person; kids sitting on parents' laps admitted free. For more information, call Tom Miller at 955-4031 or e-mail temiller@santafenm.gov. Go to www.santafeskatingclub.org for information about the Santa Fe Skating Club and its programs.