Michelle Ford (figure skater)
Encyclopedia
Michelle Ford is an American
figure skater
. Born in Detroit, Michelle grew up in Scottsdale, Az
and began ice skating at 7 years of age. As a youngster she skated freestyle
and pairs
with her brother who was later killed in a car accident at the age of 12.
As a teenager, Michelle began ice dancing
with partner Glenn Parriott, competing for the Skating Club of Phoenix. They became Junior National Champions at the U.S. Championships in 1972
held in Long Beach, CA. After splitting with Parriott, Michelle started skating with Glenn Patterson in 1973.
She and Glenn ranked third in the Nation in 1974, 1975, and 1977 in Senior Dance. With Patterson, Michelle traveled the world representing the United States internationally, competing in places like Moscow
, China
, and England
. The pair were also alternates for the 1976 Olympic Team
.
After placing third in the 1977
Senior Dance competition in the United States, Michelle and Glenn turned professional, traveling as principal skaters in the Ice Follies
for two years. During this time, Michelle and Glenn had their own highlighted dance numbers and they skated the characters Betty Lou and Ernie in the Sesame Street
segment of the show.
In 1979, Michelle moved to San Diego and began coaching ice dancing and freestyle skating at the San Diego Ice Arena.
Returning to competition in 2004, she skated with Team del Sol representing the San Diego Figure Skating Club, which took third place in the Adult Synchronized Team category at the U.S. Synchronized
Team Skating Championships held at the San Diego Sports Arena.
Expanding on her coaching interests she directed the annual Christmas show at the San Diego Ice Arena in 2002 and has choreographed numbers in the show since they began the tradition many years ago. She also created, and produced and directed the ice show at Viejas
Casino in Alpine, CA in 2008 and 2009. Another show is scheduled for November 11 and 12, 2010.
In 2008 Michelle developed a wireless teaching device named Silent Coach. Initially intended as an aid for ice skating coaches, it is also used by coaches in tennis
, ballet
, ballroom dancing
, and other sports.
Ice Dance (with Glenn Patterson)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
figure skater
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
. Born in Detroit, Michelle grew up in Scottsdale, Az
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
and began ice skating at 7 years of age. As a youngster she skated freestyle
Single skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...
and pairs
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
with her brother who was later killed in a car accident at the age of 12.
As a teenager, Michelle began ice dancing
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
with partner Glenn Parriott, competing for the Skating Club of Phoenix. They became Junior National Champions at the U.S. Championships in 1972
1972 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1972 United States Figure Skating Championships were held from January 13–16 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California. The results of the competition were used to select the teams for both the 1972 Winter Olympics and the 1972 World Figure Skating Championships.The competition opened...
held in Long Beach, CA. After splitting with Parriott, Michelle started skating with Glenn Patterson in 1973.
She and Glenn ranked third in the Nation in 1974, 1975, and 1977 in Senior Dance. With Patterson, Michelle traveled the world representing the United States internationally, competing in places like Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The pair were also alternates for the 1976 Olympic Team
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
.
After placing third in the 1977
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
Senior Dance competition in the United States, Michelle and Glenn turned professional, traveling as principal skaters in the Ice Follies
Ice Follies
Shipstads & Johnson Ice Follies was a touring ice show featuring elaborate production numbers, similar in concept to Ice Capades. It was founded in 1937 by Eddie Shipstad, Roy Shipstad, and Oscar Johnson, who also skated in the show. In later years, Olympic skaters such as Donald Jackson, Barbara...
for two years. During this time, Michelle and Glenn had their own highlighted dance numbers and they skated the characters Betty Lou and Ernie in the Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
segment of the show.
In 1979, Michelle moved to San Diego and began coaching ice dancing and freestyle skating at the San Diego Ice Arena.
Returning to competition in 2004, she skated with Team del Sol representing the San Diego Figure Skating Club, which took third place in the Adult Synchronized Team category at the U.S. Synchronized
Synchronized skating
Synchronized skating or synchronised skating, a large and fast-growing discipline, consists of 8—20 athletes skating on ice at one time moving as one flowing unit at high speeds...
Team Skating Championships held at the San Diego Sports Arena.
Expanding on her coaching interests she directed the annual Christmas show at the San Diego Ice Arena in 2002 and has choreographed numbers in the show since they began the tradition many years ago. She also created, and produced and directed the ice show at Viejas
Viejas
Viejas is a San Diego area casino, and outlet center owned by the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. The casino houses 2,200 slot machines, up to 86 table games, four restaurants, a deli, bingo, an off-track betting facility, lounge, concert venues and a poker room...
Casino in Alpine, CA in 2008 and 2009. Another show is scheduled for November 11 and 12, 2010.
In 2008 Michelle developed a wireless teaching device named Silent Coach. Initially intended as an aid for ice skating coaches, it is also used by coaches in tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, ballroom dancing
Ballroom dance
Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....
, and other sports.
Results
Ice Dance (with Glenn Parriott)| Event | 1972 |
|---|---|
| U.S. Championships | 1st J. |
Ice Dance (with Glenn Patterson)
| Event | 1974 | 1975 | 1977 |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Championships | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd |
External links
- San Diego Figure Skating Club
- San Diego Ice Arena
- The Argentine Tango at YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Freedance at YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Silent Coach