Candice Marquiss

Candice started performing from the age of three at Hadley Highstone Dance Academy, where she developed a particular love for tap dancing. Recognising her raw singing talent, her parents enrolled her in private singing lessons where she was classically trained and took singing exams. By the age of nine, she had performed at the Royal Albert Hall with the Raymond Guppy Choir.

Performing soon became a major part of Candice’s life. If she wasn’t in shows herself, she was taking dance, singing, and LAMDA exams. At just ten years old, Candice auditioned for the full-time Susi Earnshaw Theatre School, where she honed her craft until the age of sixteen, achieving all A’s and A*s in GCSE Dance, Drama, and Expressive Arts. Understanding how challenging the industry can be, she chose to attend a Musical Theatre college where she earned a dance teaching qualification alongside a Musical Theatre diploma.

With this extra qualification, Candice has taught Musical Theatre, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Drama, and Children’s Yoga to students aged 3 up to mature adult classes. She also pursued her passion for makeup by completing a short course in makeup for TV and Film at The London Academy.

Candice has been fortunate to gain wonderful opportunities throughout her dance teaching career. She choreographed a fashion show for River Island’s children’s range and has produced and directed many musicals featuring over 300 children. When teaching, she is often inspired by the creative and brilliant ideas children come up with — ideas adults sometimes fail to see. She has a deep passion for working with young talent and building confidence.

Her professional performing experience includes dancing on the cruise liner Costa MSC Musica and playing principal roles in pantomimes, such as Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the Queen in Rapunzel.

In 2009, Candice became a voice-over artist, with work including adverts for the National Trust and Samsung. She enjoyed voice-over work so much that she started workshops in schools where children wrote, directed, recorded, and edited their own radio adverts.

In April 2013, Candice had a crazy idea to start a summer camp — but not just any ordinary camp! One where the leaders would have just as much fun as the children, creating a happy environment where everyone enjoys themselves. The camp offered activities that many others did not, and Candice’s wealth of experience working at other camps helped her add a personal touch. The camp was a great success and continues to thrive many years later.

In April 2016, Candice Conway Theatre Camps became officially registered as an Ofsted childcare service. In July 2018, we were thrilled to achieve an “OUTSTANDING” rating in all areas during our first Ofsted inspection. We remain committed to going above and beyond in our duty of care.

Thanks to encouragement from our holiday camp parents in 2014, we expanded to open the Candice Conway Theatre School, offering weekly Musical Theatre classes. Since opening in September 2014, it has been our dream to teach, encourage, and inspire children and young adults. We are proud advocates of the neurodivergent community and pride ourselves on being an inclusive company.

We have grown from just a handful of students to hundreds, and we continue to expand, offering workshops in schools and nurseries.

We proudly and actively support the British Heart Foundation — a charity close to our hearts. Through our fundraising activities, including holiday camps and theatre school shows, this charity has greatly benefitted. The British Heart Foundation does tremendous work and relies on everyone’s support to provide the very best care for children and their families. You will find collection boxes in the foyer area, and any donations are warmly welcomed.

Candice, Richard, and the team would like to sincerely thank our loyal holiday camp parents — whether you are returning for another year of fun or helping by spreading the word. Your support does not go unnoticed, so thank you from all of us!

Candice is also a fully qualified paediatric first aider and safeguarding lead.

‍

‍