Welcome to Tracey Arnold.com
Welcome to the 2011 Skating Season!
Welcome to the 2011 skating season and my 16th year of coaching!!!
The skating season is approaching quickly, so new programs will be getting under way soon.
I would also like to welcome back a few of my associate coaches: David Hicks (Oakland) and Gilley Nicholson (Fremont). I am very excited to be working with them and have found that they are great assets and compliments to my teaching style; I encourage anyone interested to let me know about taking lessons with them.
Last, I want to send out my congratulations to Emmilea O’Toole for passing her Senior Moves-in-the-Field test and to Sarah Sinizer-Hopkins for passing her Junior Moves-in-the-Field and Juvenile Freestyle tests! Great job girls!
Best Wishes for a great season!
Coach Tracey
Tracey Arnold figure skating
Coach Tracey Arnold-Dispensa offers the highest quality figure skating training in the San Francisco Bay Area. Private lessons are available for basic skills, freestyle, choreography, moves-in-the-field, power, and off-ice conditioning. In addition, Tracey's students can also work with a number of her highly trained and certified associates for on and off ice training, nutrition, and sports psychology.
Tracey believes figure skating training goes beyond the ice. She can help skaters set a foundation for a successful future, gain confidence, and build a healthy life style. Each of her students are treated with respect, encouraged to do their best, and are provided every available resource to reach their goals.
"Together we can create Champions."
So who is Tracey Arnold?
Born in California, Tracey Arnold-Dispensa began figure skating at the age of ten. Prior to figure skating, Tracey trained with a professional dance company in tap, ballet, and jazz. For twelve years she performed in local and national dance shows and competitions.
After fulfilling a successful childhood in dance, Tracey turned her interest and experience to figure skating. Within one year of skating Tracey, with coach Kevin Peeks, had quickly advanced and was competing and testing with the United State Figure Skating Association (USFSA). During that year, Tracey also joined the Golden Synchronized Ice Skating Team coached by Candy Goodson. From 1992 on Tracey competed in national and international figure skating and team competitions including becoming five-time ISI (Ice Skating Institute) World Synchronized Dance Champions.
By 1995, Tracey took her first job at the Ice Centre of San Jose (currently known as Sharks Ice at San Jose) as an Assistant Coach for group lessons. In 1996, Tracey took a part-time private coaching role with Ice Chalet in Cupertino, California.
Tracey auditioned for Disney on Ice and was offered a role on The Little Mermaid and One Hundred and One Dalmatians on Ice in 1998. At this same time she was also accepted into the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. In 1999 Tracey started college and decided to officially turn pro and took an independent contracting position and Pro Shop Manager at the Yerba Buena Ice Skating Center. In conjunction with Tracey became an Assistant General Manager for Willy Bietak Ice Show Productions (based in LA) running the seasonal Embarcadero Ice Rink in San Francisco.
In 2003, Tracey graduated from the Academy of Art University with a B.F.A. in Illustration and 2D Animation. October 2003 she joined DreamWorks Animation in Redwood City, California. Since then she has worked on multiple feature films: Shrek 2, Madagascar, Shrek 3, Madagascar 2, Shrek 4, and How to Train Your Dragon. She also worked and illustrated for the television special, Shrek the Halls. Currently, Tracey is the FX Production Supervisor for Madagascar 3.
Tracey has been coaching for over sixteen years. Today, in addition to DreamWorks, she is coaching with Sharks Ice in San Jose, Fremont, and Oakland in California. She is finishing her USFSA ice dancing tests and working towards her Gold Medal. Tracey also performs, designs props, and choreographs in local ice shows.
Tracey's Credentials Include
- United States Figure Skating Member and Silver Medalist
- Peninsula Figure Skating Club Member
- Professional Figure Skating Member
- Ice Skating Institute Certified Gold Level Judge and Member
- 16 plus years professional coaching experience
- Going on 10 years with Sharks Ice
- Insured Skating Instructor with SportsInsurance.com Inc.