Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Heiden.
Hi Candice, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hey there! My name is Candice and I’m a So-Cal native, pro skater, and small business owner. I’m happy to say that my passion and commitment to a childhood hobby and dream has brought me to where I am today. My story in a nutshell: I began roller skating at age six and entered right into competitions (roller figure skating) where I fell in love with expressing myself on eight wheels. I competed at the National and World Class level until I was 17 years old, earning a World Games silver medal and 17 US National titles. Post-competitive career, I began coaching and performing professionally live and on screen performing alongside celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, Snoop Dogg and Katy Perry and have had the pleasure of training celebrities like Salma Hayek, Owen Wilson and Kevin Hart how to skate. Five years ago with childhood friend and skate mate Crystal Roseborough, we formed LA Roller Girls Entertainment as a resource to connect roller skating talent with professional performance opportunities. We have continued to grow our roster and our resume as a company, and are proud to be facilitating the connection of trained roller athletes to the event and entertainment industries, to represent high quality roller skating.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some of the challenges we have encountered on the road were associated with effectively carving out a space for trained roller skaters in the event and entertainment industries as legitimate performers and athletes. We found that we needed to establish our value and worth among other highly skilled specialty performers in the industry, and to try and re-define what “roller skating” meant to the layman that otherwise might not see past the 70s or 80s stereotypes, that typically define the sport.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
For new friends…hiiii! I’m proud and so grateful to be a professional roller skater, skate choreographer and coach that specializes in choreography and partnering. My skating has been featured in music videos such as Chet Faker “Gold”, Sigala “Sweet Lovin’”, Alicia Keys “Time Machine”, and Norah Jones “Tragedy”, among others.
Pre-Covid, Angelenos may have caught me in a live skating show at popular local spots like Good Times at Davey Wayne’s, Clifton’s, Lucha VaVoom, or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang!. I’ve been fortunate to have my skating highlighted by brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Spotify, Starbucks, and Google.
Although I love performing on skates, my favorite part of my skating story has been my experience as a coach, and watching others accomplish their skate goals. Teaching has been my connection to the skating community since retiring from international competition and I love furthering my education in styles and technique, most recently working alongside an amazing group of coaches on a small committee for USA Roller Sports, to bring the most advanced international teaching techniques stateside.
Based in LA, I currently teach skating lessons to skaters of all ages and levels, from beginners to Team USA athletes, one-on-one or via distance learning, internationally. Pre-covid, you would catch me teaching lessons most days of the week at Moonlight Rollerway, in Glendale.
Sharing my love for the sport I grew up in, leaves me filled with so much gratitude and has allowed me to feel connected to others as they fall in love with roller skating too!
Pricing:
- $80/hr Private Skate Lessons
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.larollergirls.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/candai
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/candiceheidenofficial
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/candiceheiden
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNI8vZ62EcfGk7HQzv6cT6A?app=desktop
Image Credits
Robiee Ziegler Michael Wise Marshall Garlington Ramon Rivas
