Founder
Candice Tamakloe
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Candice Tamakloe began her figure skating career at the age of nine with the Renaissance Figure Skaters Club, the first and only African American figure skating club in the United States at the time, based at the Jack Adams Memorial Ice Arena in Detroit.
Candice went on to become a competitive figure skater, where she represented both the Berkley Royal Blades Figure Skating Club and the Detroit Skating Club. She competed at the Eastern Great Lakes Regional Championships at the Pre-Silver, Silver, and Pre-Gold Singles levels and tested through Gold Singles and Skating Skills.
In 2002, Candice was selected as a principal skater of Ebony on Ice in Chicago, Ill. a first-of-its-kind professional skating show featuring an all-African American cast of professional figure skaters. She also competed as a member of the Harmony Theatre Company in Hartland, Michigan, competing on their senior team at both the national and international levels. During her time with Harmony, Candice along with her team became the 2013 National Theatre on Ice Champions as well as earning a silver medal in 2013 at the Nations Cup in Logrono, Spain.
Candice has spent much of her career creating opportunities for skaters both on and off the ice. She served as Figure Skating Director for the Renaissance Figure Skaters Club for seven years, where she also directed and produced the organization’s annual spring ice shows. As well as coaching skaters through pre-silver singles and silver skating skills.
In 2022, Candice co-founded Dream Detroit Skating Club & Academy, continuing her commitment to expanding access to figure skating for youth in Detroit and surrounding communities. Since its founding, she has created, directed, and produced seven Dream Detroit ice shows, bringing together skating, music, storytelling, and Detroit culture. Her productions include the sold-out 2025 “The Wiz on Ice” and the 2026 production “Soul of the City: A Motown Revue.” She has also choreographed Dream Detroit’s performances for the Detroit Tree Lighting in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 and performances for the Black History Month Skate Night in South Bend, Indiana.
As a coach, in just 4 and a half short years, Candice has guided Dream Detroit skaters from beginning levels through Silver Skating Skills and Pre-Bronze Singles, helping athletes develop their skating skills, artistry, confidence, and competitive abilities. Since the founding of Dream Detroit, her skaters have earned top four placements at numerous local and national competitions. At the 2026 Excel National Festival and Final, three of her Dream Detroit skaters earned 1st-place finishes, one earned 2nd place, and another earning 8th place out of a group of 24 competitors. She has also coached a skater to a 14th-place finish in the Midwest and 26th-place finish nationally among approximately 400 skaters in the Preliminary Plus Excel Series.
Candice’s work as a coach, choreographer, and producer extends beyond competition. She participated in the documentary Dear Black Woman Athlete, Episode 2: “And Still, We Glide,” directed and produced by Detroit filmmaker Tori Carroll, which highlights the experiences and contributions of Black women in athletics and figure skating. The documentary premiered at the 17th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival of Atlanta, Georgia in August 2026.
Beyond the rink, Candice is an educator of 19 years earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Special Education from Wayne State University, with endorsements in Cognitive Impairments, Learning Disabilities, and English as a Second Language. Since 2008, she has worked as a special education teacher in the Detroit metropolitan area, where she is committed to helping students recognize their strengths and reach their full potential.
Candice’s career reflects a unique intersection of education, competitive figure skating, coaching, choreography, and creative production. Through Dream Detroit, she continues to use figure skating as a vehicle to inspire young people, celebrate Black culture, and create opportunities for youth to see themselves represented and thrive in a sport where representation has historically been limited.
Coach Candice is currently accepting privates.
