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IT?╟╓S DIFFICULT TO MISS THE SPEC- tacular billboards for the Tropicana?╟╓s '?╟úFolies Bergere.?╟Ñ It?╟╓s even more difficult to miss the beautiful lady featured in the picture. Her name is Candace Hager; and she is lead showgirl in the resort?╟╓s latest edition of the longest-running show in Las Vegas, ?╟úThe Best of the Folies Bergere... Sexier Than Ever.?╟Ñ Hager discovered what she wanted to :fdo when she was very young. Instead of sending her to kindergarten, Hager?╟╓s father enrolled her in dancing classes: She has loved dance ever since. When she was in Sigh school, she wanted to be a cheerleader. Her mother said she couldn?╟╓t do both, so Hager took a year off from dancing classes but then went right back to dance. When she was 19, Hager made the big trip from her small hometown in North Carolina, to Las Vegas. Her dance teacher had suggested she audition for a show, so with her dad?╟╓s blessings, arrangements were made for Hager and her teacher to rjfty to Las Vegas. Within two weeks, Hager was cast as :!a dancer-ice skater in the Flamingo Hilton?╟╓s ?╟úCity Lites,?╟Ñ a show that enjoyed a long rEn before closing a few years ago. There was one hitch, however. Hager had never ice skated in her life. Fortunately, she had two weeks before she joined the show in which to adapt her roller-skating ability to the ice. , Nine months later, Hager earned a part in ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ at Bally?╟╓s, where she stayed for two and a half years. After a brief time-out in Japan, Hager returned to the show at Bally?╟╓S,' In her free time, Hager and a few of her fellow performers put together a Madonna act, which earned them a spot on ?╟úStar Search.?╟Ñ However, when she accepted a feature spot in Jeff Kutash?╟╓s ?╟ fSplashgat the Riviera, Hager had to leave the up- and-coming independent Madonna players. Then love paid Hager a call. After two years in ?╟úSplash,?╟Ñ she quit the show, got married and moved to California. But, it wasn?╟╓t to be. About 18 months ago, Hager decided to move back to Las Vegas, after auditioning and landing a spot in the ?╟úFolies Bergere?╟Ñ at the Tropicana. A few months after her return to show business, the Tropicana began to audi- tion performers for the new edition of the ?╟úFolies.?╟Ñ This time Hager was select- ed for the coveted role as lead showgirl, a position she cherishes. ?╟úI get to do a lot of different stuff in the show,?╟Ñ Hager said with a smile. ?╟úI love it. I enjoy it so much^fg! Hager puts her dancing background to good use in the ?╟úFolies,?╟Ñ thanks to the show?╟╓s incredible director, Jerry Jackson. ?╟úHe gives entertainers what they need,?╟Ñ Hager continued. ?╟úEntertainers, most of the time, will work for free because their heart?╟╓s in it. He feeds your heart. He supports us*; He?╟╓s sitting out there with a smile on his face. It means so much to us. I?╟╓ve worked for so many pro- ducers where you?╟╓re a nervous wreck because you never know what they?╟╓re going to do. But, with Jerry, it! s a plea- sure to be around him and have him watch the show. I?╟╓m never nervous with him.?╟Ñ Not only is?╟újFolies?╟Ñ being called one of the best shows in town, it?╟╓s a pleasure to see the cast really doing what they love, what they do best) They are the best. They?╟╓re the cast of ?╟úThe Best of the Folies Bergere ... Sexier Than Ever.?╟Ñ ?╟úFolies Bergere?╟Ñ ?√ß Where ?╟≤ T ropicana ?√ß When ?╟≤ Fri.-Wed. ?√ß Information ?╟≤ 739-2411 72 March 8, 1998/SHOWBIZ