Faculty
Candi Hall, Founder and Executive Director (Voice & Hip Hop Instructor)
Candi came to Tacoma from Atlanta, Georgia where she danced professionally with the international Hip-Hop Dance organization Culture Shock. She has been professionally involved the Arts since age 6, and has been dancing [professionally] for seven years. 9;As a child, she began taking traditional dance lessons. However, as a single parent of two active girls, her mother could not sustain the cost of her lessons so she had to discontinue. Her passion for dance and performance never died. Regina Conti, Musical Director for a local theatre house and elementary school teacher, took a vested interest in Candi. From age 6-15, Candi was trained formally in voice. She began winning local talent shows. She went on to perform in several Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, including, Annie, Oklahoma, and West Side Story. She had the privilege to be a featured soloist with the Ft. Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra. Candi has done studio work for some top producers and studio houses in the entertainment field. Including Dallas Austin, DARP, RedZone, Arista and Sony producers and songwriters as well.
In her college years, Candi decided she wanted to give underprivileged youth the same opportunity she had to explore and develop her artistic abilities. Candi worked for 3 years with the City of Atlanta, in the Techwood Housing Projects, as Performing Arts Director. In her time with the kids at the housing projects, Candi watched the self-esteem, self-value, level of respect for others, and especially the academic ability rise within the kids that participated in her program. With Culture Shock Atlanta, she helped develop, coordinate, and execute its Youth Dance Workshops. She also worked with the Eastside Boys and Girls club, choreographing for the dance team and cheerleaders.
Upon coming to Tacoma, Candi took notice of the potential of her younger sister, and began looking for opportunities for her. The D.A.S.H. Center is the birth child of that search. While attending classes with her sister, especially the Hip Hop class, Candi discovered that training was quite lacking for youth whose parents didn’t have real funds to pay for dance lessons. She began teaching classes at local junior high schools and community centers, again noticing the wealth of potential the kids had.
Always being taught that the main way you show appreciation for all the gifts, opportunities, and blessings you have been given is to give them to others when you can, Candi was led to create D.A.S.H. The D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts is a vision of a gift, opportunity, and blessing for a number of Pierce County Youth.
Brenda Garcia-Brown, Director of Community Relations & Outreach Services
Brenda sits on the Board of the DASH Center and has been involved with its creation and growth from the start. Brenda was a dance major at Cornish University. In her early teens, she danced as a member of the nationally ranked Highliners. She has held numerous instrumental positions at a number of community service organizations and shelters in Tacoma. She is a strong part of the community and loves the youth here.
Jimmy Shields, Managing Director (Voice & Hip Hop Instructor)
His stage name "FAME" says everything about him. A superstar, triple threat in the making, Jimmy brings all his talent, drive, and love for the performing arts to the D.A.S.H. Center. Jimmy began training in 1994 at Elk Plain School of the Arts, where he received 5 years of professional dance training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop, acting and voice. Jimmy performed four years with Spanaway Lake Music Company. As a member of this jazz and show choir, "FAME" has performed for the Governor of Washington, at Disneyland, all around the greater Northwest, and Hawaii. Jimmy has had the privilege of working closely with world famous choreographers such as Khai Brackette and John Jacobson and two of music’s greatest composer/arrangers, Kirby Shaw and Roger Emerson.
"FAME" is the Artistic Director of Reality Check Dance Troupe and dances with Zero Gravity.
Janice & Jowanna Hodges (Teen/Adult Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical)
Charles Simmons (Hip Hop)
Charles started dancing as a Freshman in high school. Charles has extensive performance and training experience, as a member of Reality Check Dance Troupe. Charles has also received training from some of the industry's top choreographers including Dave Scott, Chris Jones, and Tessandra Chavez to name a few. Charles has performed on stages across the US in dance showcases, competitions, and musical theatre in Seattle. Charles now brings his enthusiasm for dance and performance to Tacoma!