SKDT Shoot All Access Video

Happy belated St. Patrick’s Day, Kings fans!

Midway through a very busy month, some Sacramento Kings Dance Team members, including me, slowed down Wednesday afternoon to celebrate our Irish heritage. Carly, Gina, Heather, Katie, Kelly and Lisa were at de Vere’s Irish Pub downtown to take part in the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. After the appearance, we had practice, and it was interesting to see all the creative ways SKDT members displayed their green fashion. I hope all Kings fans who celebrated on Wednesday had a fun and safe holiday!

It seems there’s never a boring day in the life of a SKDT member. Recently I’ve attended many community events, so I’d like to share them.

Carly and I worked up a good sweat teaching a dance class to women at California Family Fitness in Elk Grove. As a new Kings partner, it was a lot of fun hosting ‘Train like a King’ class at Cal Fit to promote better health and fitness. We filled the room with dance enthusiasts and had a great time burning calories!

Last Saturday at the Roseville Galleria, we took part in the Kiwanis Carnival to benefit underprivileged children. Ari, Carly, Gina, Kelly and I performed in front of an excited crowd. We took pictures, signed our new SKDT poster and nibbled on some fabulous Kettle popcorn from a local vendor… Mmm, my favorite! It was a beautiful sunny day, and I ran into many of my current students who I teach at a nearby dance studio in Rocklin.

On Tuesday we filmed an all access piece to give Kings fans an in depth look at what we do during home games. Since most fans can’t see what we do beyond the court, the upcoming video feature will take you behind the scenes. It’s up close and personal, so be sure to keep an eye open for it!

Speaking of up close and personal, Maloof Sports & Entertainment hosted its annual Kings Season Ticket Holder Party on March 13. We invited current Season Ticket Holders and guests to the event that left them saying they had a fabulous time. The lower bowl of ARCO Arena was set up with video games, pool tables, dartboards, photo booths and delicious catered food. We were all assigned to different stations along with Kings players to sign autographs, take pictures, talk and play!

I was assigned to the Rock Band karaoke station with Lauren. We rocked out with an electric guitar, a drum set and microphone. I performed a special rendition of my favorite theme song “Eye of the Tiger” before the doors opened. Even after the doors opened, I received rave reviews for my stylistic and angelic vocals. I’m kidding! It was more like a scene from “My Best Friend’s Wedding” with Cameron Diaz. Anyway, I had such a blast singing, grooving and laughing with Kings Season Ticket Holders. I think I had perma-smile by the end of the evening. It’s just one of the exciting advantages of being a Season Ticket Holder! Remember, if you haven’t renewed already, check out Kings.com/commitment for more information.

Kelly, Sasha and I continue to celebrate our birthday month. I even received a special birthday announcement by Kings PA announcer Scott Moak on the KingsVision Jumbotron at the Kings-Lakers game on Tuesday. It was an intense game and it was great to hear ARCO Thunder from the sold-out crowd! It made some of us reminisce for a moment about the Kings former playoff days and made us excited for this young Kings team to get Sacramento back to the postseason in the near future.

Fans throughout Sacramento, the SKDT needs your help again this year! It’s time to begin voting online for the NBA Dance Team Contest, and we want to earn back our former title of Western Conference champions! Voting starts on Tuesday, March 30 when we face the Phoenix Suns Dancers in the first round. Check out Kings.com to cast your vote for your Sacramento Kings Dance Team. Let’s show the NBA how much our fans love the SKDT!

I enjoy sharing tidbits from my life as a member of the SKDT. I hope fans enjoy our blogs and efforts in social media. My SKDT teammate Katie does such a great job at keeping fans posted on Twitter. If you’re not following Twitter.com/SKDT already, make sure to check it out!

Now I leave fans with my blogging tradition, a great quote:

“True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like a desert island. To find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune, to keep it is a blessing.” – Balstar Gracian

See you at ARCO!

SKDT Has More Excitement in Store

I feel so alive embarking on such an adventurous new year! So much has happened since the last time I blogged, I’m happy to catch up with Kings fans again.

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SKDT Blog: The Beauty of Sacramento

Happy December Kings Fans!

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Anticipating ARCO Thunder

Happy November Kings fans!

I cannot believe the Home Opener is right around the corner. It feels like we just had Sacramento Kings Dance Team auditions and summer rehearsals. After five of us returned from Iraq, the dance team went full swing into season preparation.

We were a little behind our normal schedule, but with some hard work and discipline, we’ve remained very focused. Rehearsals have been intense including some practices lasting six hours. Rehearsal time consists of workouts, learning dance choreography, cleaning and polishing choreography, setting formations and going over business for appearances and miscellaneous dance team events. At Wednesday’s rehearsal we went over some of the Kings home opening introduction elements! It got us excited as we diligently rehearsed our piece.

With the success of the SELLOUT 2009 campaign, having sold out the first game and knowing tickets for the second game are going fast, it made for a detail-oriented rehearsal. With Mayor Kevin Johnson’s leadership and support, we’ve participated in multiple events to help with the campaign.

Last Monday we had a special appearance at the Kings Tip-Off Lunch at Memorial Auditorium. It was dedicated to businesses that purchased tickets and many of the attendees were able to rub elbows with our very own Kings players! Along with the players, coaches and Mayor Johnson, Slamson and members of Sacramento Breakers also joined us.

We had the opportunity to perform before the audience and give away some Kings merchandise including the new-look Kings paint items. The Sacramento Team Store has some great new items and gear, so be sure to check it out at ARCO Arena or online!

Now that the countdown is on until the lights go down (or shall I say up) for Monday’s Home Opener, my nerves are tense. Having experience on the SKDT dating back to 2004, I remember the roar of ARCO Thunder! The excitement of performing in front of a sellout crowd is intense!

I want Kings fans who have been a part of a sellout to know they’ve given me goose bumps while performing. Nothing compares to hearing Kings fans loud chants echo throughout the arena! I want to be able to experience that again! I want our newest members of the SKDT to have the opportunity to hear our 6th man!

I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone at Monday and Wednesday’s games. It’ll be very exciting!

Until I see you at the games, have a safe and spooky Halloween!

Now as Ralph Waldo Emerson states of inspiration, “No great man ever complains of want of opportunities.”

Destination Iraq

Happy August Kings fans!

I feel extremely honored and privileged to have the opportunity to share the latest Sacramento Kings Dance Team news. Five of us – Ari, Becca, Carly, Jenn and me — will join Pro Sports MVP to participate in a Dance Team Goodwill Military Tour in Iraq and Kuwait!

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The Low Down on SKDT Auditions

Happy Summer Kings Fans!

As the temperature heats up Sac Town, so does the competition as prior members of the SKDT prepare for auditions this Saturday and Sunday at ARCO Arena. It’s been another off-season dedicated to resting, working and vacationing which will soon quickly change for those that make it back on the team again.

If you’re not familiar with the audition process, let me walk you through it. Each year, every member of the SKDT must re-audition to earn their spot back onto the team! With each year completed by a veteran, earning a spot back becomes more stressful than you’d think due to what’s at stake. You may have been thinking that some were “Grandfather’d” in, but surely that’s not the case. What I like to enforce with people who beg to differ on this process is explaining how much more we appreciate our job once it’s earned. Think about those who had to earn every dime of their allowance as a kid!

There may have been something special you were saving up for. With every job completed you gained a sense of self worth and work ethic. People are more likely to have an appreciation of what they’ve earned and value it more versus something that was just given to them. It’s lessons like these that teach us more about life and help build our character.

Character building. Now here’s an understatement for what I’ve experienced with my journey with the Sacramento Kings Dance Team and Maloof Sports & Entertainment. As I prepare to earn my spot back and dance for my life this year at auditions, words can’t describe what I am going through physically and mentally. I am very excited to get out there and show the judges why I feel I deserve to be a part of the team again, yet nervous about the process as well. How will I do? How will my teammates do? Will I have enough energy? Will the choreography be hard? How will my solo go? How will I do in the interview? Will my costume look good on the court? Will I sweat off all my makeup? Will my eyelashes stay on? Hahaha, etc. Yes, the list goes on!

As of now I feel as prepared as I can be. My headshot is printed, my costume is layed out, my resume is complete and I’ll be back at the gym tomorrow for a last workout. I am trying to keep a relaxed mindset, maintain low stress levels and remain passionate about auditioning for another season. Nothing in life is ever guaranteed, and there are no shortcuts to this process.

So I am going to do what works best for me; take a deep breath, smile and give it a 110 percent of my heart and soul in dancing for a spot on the new 2009-10 SKDT!

Now let me leave you with some inspiring words by Eleanor Roosevelt

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.”

A Call for SPF 1,000

Aloha Kings Fans!

What seems like years since my last real vacation, I’ve returned home from a week stay in Oahu, Hawaii. Along with some other members of the dance team, we basked in the sunshine and each others’ company. It was a long and busy season, so it was a much-needed vacation for us. We spend so much time together during the season, it’s comical how well we know one another.

Although the Kings season came to an end and we’re in our tweener stage, Kings fans can still catch a glimpse of us around Sacramento. We’ve had multiple charity appearances over the past few weeks. With the weather reaching warmer temperatures, it means extra sunblock application for my exposure at outdoor events! Let’s just say, if I organized a “Pale People Unite” group, I would be the head chairperson! Speaking of warmer weather, it reminds me of a funny story.

Last summer, five other members of the dance team and I attended an appearance on a scorching day. It was a surprise birthday party held outside at a park in Folsom. We were set to perform two routines on the basketball court, which was black pavement.

Did I mention it was one of the hottest days of the summer?!

As we ran up a small hill to the location, our names were announced and it made us laugh because it felt like a running scene straight out of an episode of “Baywatch!” As we gathered in our first formation awaiting the sound of our music to begin our routine, it became clear there were some audio problems. Meanwhile, the bright sun was beating down on us. After 10 minutes passed, seriously, and the audio crew struggled to figure out the issue, I heard Jeannie say, “Candace you’re burning!”

It was so hot, I was literally getting sunburned!

We all started laughing because of the sweltering circumstance, and more so because I had sunburn lines after being in the sun for just 15 minutes!

Finally, the music came on and we performed through the sweltering heat. Even though we were all flushed and dripping with sweat, all the kids were so excited to meet us and take pictures. Needless to say, we performed our two dances in the scorching sun after technical difficulties and took pictures with the kids, despite not feeling picture pretty, and it made for a very memorable appearance!

Like me, I’m sure you all have funny stories, but the moral of this story is — always wear your sunscreen!

In case any of you were wondering, yes, I did get sunburned while in Hawaii!

Is there an SPF 1,000?!

So, until I see you again, I’ll make sure to lather on the sunblock.

The SKDT will also be hosting a series of pre-audition dance workshops, so make sure to keep checking back for more information, if you or someone you know is interested in auditioning for the 2009-10 season!

Last but not least, I leave you with a favorite quote of mine from Anthony J. D’Angelo:

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.

Summer Routine

Hey Kings Fans!

I can’t believe this season has already come to an end. The season flew by quicker than any other season I’ve ever experienced! It feels like all the momentum of the season kept building and building… and now it’s over?!? I can speak for the entire dance team when I say it’s been the most fulfilling year!

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A Month to Celebrate

Happy belated St. Patty’s Day!

March is one of my favorite months. Not only do I get to celebrate my birthday, but I get to celebrate my Irish heritage as well. The weather also becomes more welcoming as we have days of warm sunshine to bask in.

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A Dance of Inspiration

Happy February Kings Fans!

My tummy is still recuperating from all the chocolate I enjoyed over Valentine’s Day weekend! What can I say? A girl loves chocolate. My favorite is 80 percent cocoa!

There’s been a refreshed vibe in Sacramento, maybe from all the rain, while the Sacramento Kings Dance Team has had a bit of down time this month. The excitement generated by Chris Webber’s #4 jersey retirement resonated feelings of nostalgia that left us chattering. And it seems within the past few months, more fans have become familiar with the members of the dance team.

Every member of the SKDT lives a separate life outside the Maloof Sports & Entertainment world. Everyday I cross the paths of very interesting people who happen to share my passion for the Kings. A few weeks ago I was recognized at a restaurant by a fan who said I was his favorite dance team member. He expressed how much he appreciated our hard work and how much he enjoyed the high-caliber entertainment we put on each game. We were able to carry on a very enriching conversation and I was pleased to learn more about him.

Time and time again, I run into adoring and kind-hearted fans, and I must say, it’s refreshing to feel recognized for the talents of the SKDT.

I also teach at a dance studio part-time. My youthful protégés are a constant reminder of how far I’ve come and how hard I’ve worked to be where I am today. They say, ‘those who care teach,’ and I try to instill in them with every class, not only the fundamentals of dance, but the fundamentals of life. I remind them to set the bar high for their goals, to prove you can accomplish anything you set out to do. Sounds cliché, right? It’s not!

I’ve also found the closer you get to your goals, the harder the challenge becomes. Training with my fitness coach becomes a struggle when I train six days a week, which doesn’t include teaching dance classes or SKDT practices. Everyone tells me I work out too much! I admit I have a busy fitness schedule, but I have a huge fitness convention I’ll be working at within the next month for a nutritional supplement company. So my momentum to keep going strong will have to last at least until then!

I’m really looking forward to the remainder of the season. My birthday is coming up as well — another year of lessons to be learned! We have some fabulous games headed our way and I can’t wait to perform. Until then, I’ll see you around Sacramento!

I’ll conclude my blog with one of my favorite quotes by William Arthur Ward — “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”

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