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Candice was introduced to ballet at the age of three; her passion for the art was instantaneous, her background includes ballet, hip hop, acro, lyrical, jazz, tap and modern. She has trained at the Joanne Chapman School of Dance for the past 16 years where she has had the opportunity to work with many professionals such as Dee Caspary, Mandy Moore, Ray Leeper, Nick Lazzarini and Kim Wolfe. Candice holds full teaching credentials as A B.A.T.D member in both Stage and Acro and attained membership RAD exam Advanced 2. She has won numerous awards throughout Canada, Europe and the U.S.A., including: Regional Dancer of the year at American Dance Awards 2006, Senior Grand Champion of Dance U.S.A., 1st place overall of Dance, Dance, Dance USA, New York City Dance Alliance Scholarship, Jump V.I.P at Jump Dance Convention 2005/2006, West Coast Dance Explosion scholarship and recently returned from Italy as a member of the Dance USA Team. Candice has recently graduated from Mayfield Secondary School with honors in the performing Arts. During the summer, Candice performed in the opening numbers of Dance U.S.A, Dancers Responding to Aids (DRA), Showstoppers National Competition in Myrtle Beach and New York City Dance Alliance Nationals. Candice Holdford currently holds the reigning title of Miss Dance of America 2006. |
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> Biography of
Candice Holdford
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Date of Birth May 22, 1987
Canada, Ontario
Nationality: Canadian Speaks Both English and French
Residing in the city of Brampton for the last 16years lives a star by the name of Candice Holdford. Just recently, as Miss Dance of Western New York Chapter #8, Candice went on to compete in Nashville, TN in Miss Dance of America Scholarship Competition 2006.
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Through her heart-felt ‘Phenomenal Woman' dance piece she won the hearts of the audience and judges and was crowned Miss Dance of America 2006. With this new well-deserved title, Candice has been invited to various occasions in which she shines that bright light as a great dancer for others to witness. One of these invitations has lead her to New York where she danced for a benefit concert for DRA (Dancers Responding to AIDs). DRA is a program of Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDs (BC/EFA). BC/EFA draws upon talents, resources and the generosity of the community to raise funds for AIDs and other health-related causes across the United States. The journey did not start here nor will it end here. Candice has won numerous awards throughout Canada and the U.S.A, including Senior Grand Champion of Dance U.S.A, 1st Place overall of Dance Dance Dance USA, NYCDA Scholarship and many more. She has recently returned from Italy as a member of Dance USA team. Graduating with honors from a performing arts school, Candice is a well-rounded dancer and person.
She dreams to continue to live the life she was born to live as a dancer and that is something that we are proud to say she excels greatly in. Along with sharing her great talent through dance she always teaches and encourages others to excel in their own inner greatness. She dreams on
expanding her knowledge
and experience in French in university as she has shown to shine in dance.
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Local dancer wins
Dance America
Champion dancer quick to thank friends, family, teachers for success
Brampton's Candice Hamblett-Holdford recently won Miss Dance America 2006
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TINA DEPKO, Staff Writer
Candice Hamblett-Holdford lives and breathes dance. Not only does it occupy her every waking moment, but she dreams about it too.
The 18-year-old Brampton woman, who graduated from Mayfield Secondary School this spring, has been dancing since the tender age of 3. Her passion and dedication to the art form was recently rewarded when she was crowned Miss Dance of America 2006.
The title is one of the most prestigious awards offered by Dance Masters of America, an international organization of certified dance educators. |
Hamblett-Holdford said the award will likely have a substantial impact on her dream of dancing professionally with the Alvin Ailey company in New York.
"A lot of studios are part of Dance Masters of America, so this should help me," she said. "It makes me want to go and dance even more, especially with a company. It is so exciting just thinking about going out there and dancing in front of the world."
Hamblett-Holdford qualified to compete in the regional competition in New York in April as her dance school, Joanne Chapman's School of Dance, is a member of Dance Masters America. The regional competition for Miss Dance of America 2006 had a format similar to a beauty pageant, with different categories. In this case, the categories were ballet, jazz, acrobatic, tap and solo performance.
There were more than 50 dancers competing for the coveted title of Miss Dance of America 2006, but the stress did not get to the competitors' heads, according to Hamblett-Holdford.
"I was expecting everyone to be in their own zone and that no one was going to be friendly," she explained. "But it wasn't like that at all. Everyone was so nice, even the judges."
Hamblett-Holdford gave her all in the five categories, taking top prize in the tap category. Her lyrical dance solo to a poem called Phenomenal Woman also garnered a standing ovation from the judges. Despite these two indications, the announcement that she had taken the competition still came as surprise to her.
"I didn't hear my name at first, but I started freaking out when they said a student from Joanne Chapman's had won," she said. "Everyone started jumping and screaming. I was totally shocked."
Hamblett-Holdford is taking the next year off to fulfill her duties as Miss Dance of America. She will be performing at benefit concerts, teaching dance classes and making guest appearances across North America, with invites already to Texas and Minnesota. She plans to continue taking jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatic, modern, lyrical and hip hop classes six times a week at Joanne Chapman's School of Dance, as well as teach junior classes.
The dancer said she wouldn't be where she is today without her dance instructors, Mayfield teachers, mom and dad, and especially her three little brothers Juwan, Jalen and Jaleel.
"When I haven't been in a good mood, everyone has still stuck by me, especially my brothers," she said. "They don't get to do what they want because they are always following me around. I love them so much."
Hamblett-Holdford is well on her way to making her dreams of being a professional dancer come true. She has words of inspiration for younger dancers chasing the same dream.
"It is important to have a positive mind and always try your hardest," she said. "Don't let anything hold you back. When you have a bad day, block it out and push yourself as much as you can. You have to remember that it is one day and you will get over it." |
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