The Dream Team
Candice Tamakloe
Born and raised in Detroit, Candice Tamakloe began skating at 9 years old with the first and only African American figure skating club in the United States, Renaissance Figure Skater’s Club based at the Jack Adams Memorial Ice Arena.
As a young skater, Candice competed in the Eastern Great Lake Regional Competition representing the Berkley Royal Blades Figure Skating Club and later the Detroit Skating Club at the Intermediate, Novice, and Junior freestyle levels. She has competed through Junior Freestyle and has tested through the Senior Freestyle and Moves in the Field levels of skating. Candice skated with the professional skating company, Ebony on Ice in the spring of 2002 in Chicago as a principal skater. Ebony on Ice was the first show of its kind to highlight a cast of African American professional figure skaters. Candice has also performed as a member of the Harmony Theatre Company in Hartland, Michigan competing at the National and International levels. She was also the figure skating director for the Renaissance Figure Skater’s Club for 7 years while also acting as the ice show director and producer for the annual spring ice shows for the 7 years that she worked with them.
Candice earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education with endorsements in Cognitive Impairments, Learning Disabilities, and English as a Second Language from Wayne State University. When she is not teaching inner-city youth figure skating fundamentals, Candice teaches with the Troy School District where she has served as a special education teacher since 2009. Additionally, she owns an event design company, Gifted Design Events LLC. In her spare time, Candice also serves as a Sunday school teacher, usher, and member of the special projects team at Central Baptist Church in Detroit.
Angela Blocker Loyd
Both a dancer and figure skater, Angela began skating at 9 years old. Whether on ice or the stage, her performing arts acumen has empowered her to travel the country winning various competitions, operate her Detroit-based dance studio, Studio Detroit Dance Center, and even choreograph performances in both fields.
Angela’s skating career began when she joined the Berkley Royal Blades Figure Skating Club and the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA). She quickly began testing, competing and taking ice dancing lessons, but her favorite part was the ice shows. As a teenager, Angela loved helping the younger skaters in the figure skating club, so she began to choreograph for some of the performances in the ice shows–a talent that she continued intermittently through adulthood until she began coaching young skaters at a local after school program in Detroit.
In addition to figure skating, Angela upholds a fruitful dance career boasting an impressively decorated dance resume. She has worked alongside distinguished entertainment industry leaders such as New York “Harlem Nutcracker's” Donald Byrd; actor and choreographer, Savion Glover; singers Mandy Moore and Ginuwine; Dance Theater of Harlem creator, Arthur Mitchell; the late Marcus Belgrave; Bill Summers; Debbie Allen; and actresses Robin Givens & Drew Sidora. Additionally, she has also performed in notable productions including the Cincinnati Ballet Nutcracker; the Univer Soul Circus; a host of stage plays including the Broadway-touring stage play, “Pride & Joy” (The Marvin Gaye Story), where she also served as the Assistant Choreographer. Most notably, she danced as lead principal dancer for the late Aretha Franklin. Angela has earned several industry accolades throughout her career including The Michigan Chronicle recognized her as 40 Under 40 (2018) and recognition for her choreography work for Detroit’s All City Dance Concert, Clark Atlanta University’s Coronations, Miss Georgia & Miss Fulton County pageants in Atlanta and California’s United Methodist Church Women’s Conference.
Angela also serves as the Director of Liturgical Arts at all Triumph Church’s campuses in metro-Detroit and she directs several dance programs throughout the Detroit Public School Community District. However, her strongest point of pride is her award-winning dance studio, Studio Detroit Dance Center, located in Hazel Park.
Crystal Stewart
Coach Crystal began ice skating at age 6, through the Berkley Recreation Department, alongside DDSA Co-Founders, Angela Blocker-Loyd and Candice Tamakhloe. As a teen, Crystal trained at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center, competing in both Singles' skating, and Synchronized skating on the internationally-renowned Dearborn Crystallettes.
When she is not figure skating, Crystal is a dedicated Chemical Engineer, passionate about the technological advancements of the automotive industry as the world transitions to an electrified zero-emissions future. In addition to her figure skating passion, Crystal also enjoys cooking, coloring, and exploring.
Eric Cook
Eric started ice skating at the age of 28, due to the familiarity to rollerblading. He began figure skating at 31 years old, after seeing a community of adult skaters on social media that showed that figuring skating wasn’t just for the young. Outside of skating between cones, sliding on hand rails, or spinning on the ice, Eric is an engineer in the web hosting industry. He helps build and maintain services that make up the backbone of the internet. Over the span of 15 years in STEM, Eric has acquired 13 certifications in the field. Eric also has interests in programming, automation and gaming.
Takera Lawery
Takera Lawery is a native Detroiter. She is a dedicated and motivated mother of three. She found a love for skating at the age of 3 having been inspired by her father. Takera was self-taught through the years practicing at Hart Plaza. She eventually joined the Renaissance Figure Skaters Club, which at the time was the only skating club of all African American skaters in the United States, at the age of 11 to acquire the skills needed to become a competitive figure skater. This allowed her the opportunity to participate in over twenty competitions. Takera remained with the Renaissance Figure Skaters for 6 years before leaving to pursue other endeavors. She has received certifications & licensing in skilled trades in the areas of massage therapy and HVAC. She also finds enjoyment in helping others mentally & holistically as a Licensed Massage Therapist and a part-time personal comedian. Takera owns her own massage therapy busines. She also attends Oakland Community College for Construction Management and works part time in retail. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children. She enjoys the evolution of her growth and strives to be the greatest in the development of her potential. Takera is excited to be back on the ice and is excited to share her love of the ice with a new generation of skaters at DDSA.
Kendyll Martin
Coach Kendyll began ice skating at the age of 5 through an after school program at her school. She skated for Detroit skating Club for 8 years competing individually.
Outside of skating Kendyll is a multi sport athlete participating in Varsity Volleyball, Track and Field and dance. She is a senior at Southfield Christian high school and will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall.
Brittney Garrison
Coach Brittney began skating at age 6 after being inspired by a Disney on Ice show at Joe Louis Area. She was a natural on the ice and asked to join a synchronized skating team at the Wayne Recreation Center during one of her early drop-in sessions. Before she knew it, she was an ISI competitive figure skater for 12 years, participating in Solo, Compulsory, Footwork, and Synchronized skating at both the Wayne Figure Skating Club and Southgate Figure Skating Club. Brittney tested through Freestyle 8 (of 10), and enjoyed jumps more than anything.
Brittney graduated from Michigan State University in 2010 with a Sociology degree and works in Human Resources for a Technology Consulting company. She is passionate about helping others start and grow their careers - especially from a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion standpoint.
Outside of skating, Brittney enjoys singing and dancing (although she's much better at skating - her words, not ours), makeup artistry, home DIY projects, reading personal development books, and traveling.
Tamiria Perkins
Coach Tamiria began ice skating with the Renaissance Figure Skaters Club from 2005 to 2010. She was a part of the Learn to Skate, Intermediate, and Competitive program, where she trained under Coach Candice Tamakloe. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2017 and earned two bachelor's degrees in Graphic Design and Arts & Humanities. She is an Art Director at an advertising agency.
When Tamiria is not figure skating, she serves on the board for Michigan State University’s Black Alumni of Oakland County as the Communications/PR Chair. She is active in her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. She also enjoys playing video games, traveling, and loves hanging out with family and friends.
Veronica Stafford
Veronica Stafford began ice skating at age 7 after watching Michelle Kwan compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics. She completed her Learn to Skate program at Farmington Hills Ice Arena and then began training at the Detroit Skating Club where she competed individually for some time before being introduced to the world of synchronized skating. In 2003, she joined Team Elan’s preliminary team and loved being a part of a team and a unique aspect of figure skating. In addition to Team Elan, she also skated with Evolution, Allegro, and the Crystallettes. She earned the title of National Champion while skating with the 2013 Novice Crystallettes. In 2014, she traveled to Rouen, France for the French Cup and Courmayeur, Italy for the World Synchronized Skating Championship representing Team USA. Veronica has tested through the Senior Moves in the Field, Gold Dance, and Pre-Juvenile Free Skate.
Once Veronica graduated high school, she planned to retire from the sport but was recruited by Michigan State University’s Synchronized Skating Team and continued to compete with them for all four years of her undergraduate education, serving as Captain and Vice President of the team. In 2018, she graduated from MSU with her Bachelor of Science. She received an early acceptance to medical school at MSU’s College of Human Medicine and is currently finishing up her medical doctorate degree with plans to practice as an obstetrician and gynecologist.
Outside of medical school, she volunteers with community-based programs in the Flint community, varying from providing mentorship to high school students to providing free medical treatment to the underserved community. In her free time, Veronica enjoys finding new restaurants to explore and traveling.