Pynk Diamondz In The House, Representing Cincinnati, Ohio

Hey DDS Nation! Let me introduce you to one of the hardest working Dance Teams in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Pynk Diamondz. The PD's Director is Ms Tamera Coates. Tamera is a Coach, as well. PD's, Co Director & also Coach is, Lashay Kennedy. Tamera and Lashay founded the Pynk Diamondz 1 year ago, June 10th. Both Tamera and Lashay graduated from the Performing Arts High School in Cincinnati. Tamera's younger sister, Kellye Coates also coaches at PD. Jayvonte Stanford is the choreographer who brings the sync and flair, to the amazing dances the Pynk Diamondz perform.

Tamera told us, the Pynk Diamondz, chosen form of dance is majorette, though they teach all kinds of dance. Majorette style dance offers many opportunities to incorporate other dance styles into the program, such as hip-hop. Just like the Dancing Dolls, they strive for creativity and versatility in their routines.Tamera said  "Dance of all kinds is beautiful and we want to capture as much of that beauty, that LIFE, as possible".

Pynk Diamondz have a full program of 50 dancers, ranging from 6-19. As with all activities, there are kids graduating or moving and then there are tryouts that either lessens or adds to the team. The PD attend competitions throughout the Cincinnati Metro area and across the Tri-State area, which includes Kentucky and Indiana. They are hoping to travel down South, to their first competition, down in our part of the world, later this year.

Just like all true organizations that work hard to provide activities for kids, money is always an uphill climb. They have to raise money to travel and get costumes and every other detail that comes up. But Tamera's faith and hard work is something that pushes the Pynk Diamonds to keep going and to keep on keeping on. Tamera told us, "Funds are limited but, in due time and Lord willing, it will happen."

We wanted to know what the Coaches thought, Dance brought to the lives of their team. Tamera told us, "Dancing has brought so much life to these ladies, since we started the Diamondz. The girls transformation has been amazing. The turn around, their perseverance, and their determination is nothing short of amazing, as well."

She told us that the Pynk Diamondz have kids, whose parents have been lost, to violence, siblings to horrible illness and currently have an amazing young lady, who has cancer, that dances beautifully. Her cancer is in remission but through all of her chemo and treatments, she refused to feel sorry for herself or allow anyone else to feel sorry for her.

Tamera told us though she was limited in her ability, to practice normally, she never stopped. Now, with the cancer in remission, she is dancing Harder Than EVER! "Dancing gives life and it can SAVE LIVES too," Coach T told us. She has seen grades get better, behavior get much better and definitely a great improvement in attitudes.

Kids who previously were asking, "What Future?" have become young women who are now saying..."Any future I WANT!" Tamera said, "This is the values we want to and feel we have instilled. They all have beautiful BRIGHT, FULFILLING FUTURES." She said that traveling and meeting people from other places, gives them a broader view of the world. They see that no matter how DIFFERENT folks are, there are things that connect us all, that are amazing. Being involved gives them discipline and responsibility, she told us. She also said, "We encourage, Faith, Family, Friends, Self Worth and Personal Strength." A combination, we know builds strong women.

The Pynk Diamondz Captains are: Monique Kannler, Sr. Head Captain, Monjae Sanders, Sr. Captain, Shaunai Frazier also, Sr. Captain and Kourtney Lee is Jr. Head Captain. Hey from DDS Nation Beautiful ladies!

Of course, you are wondering about Baby PD...lol...yes we asked that too. And yes there is a Baby team. They are called the Diamond Minnies! They are 6-10 years old. But Coach T was quick to let us know, just like our Baby Dolls, that Baby part, means nothing. She told us the younger girls feel they have something to prove to their older sisters, so they are always working twice as hard as the older girls. She said, "Don't let the name "MINNIE" FOOL YOU...BIG THINGS COME IN MINI-SIZED packages...LOL..Yes maam, we certainly understand that.

Our last question to the Pynk Diamondz was, would they like to compete with the Dancing Dolls? We loved her answer. She told us, " We would LOVE to compete against the Dolls!!!" She said they had answered the call, when the Dolls were looking for other teams, interested in competing. She said, they did tryouts, but were not chosen. Another team that the Pynk Diamondz beat, was chosen instead.

Tamera is faithful to her belief that hard work pays off. She feels that their team needs to focus on getting better, all the time. She knows they are a young team still and her hope is to keep working and practicing and maybe down the road, the Pynk Diamonds will get their chance to stand toe to toe with the Dancing Dolls. She knows it would be the experience of a lifetime for them. But until then, she said, they will keep watching the Dolls and loving what they do. They are all huge fans and follow the Dolls, as a part of DDS Nation.

We loved doing this interview with Tamera Coates. She is smart and loves her dancers. Her and Lashay's dedication and love to their mission of teaching dance and teaching life lessons, is something that shines in their team. We look forward to following the Pynk Diamondz on their journey. Check out their FB page and say hi to them from our DDS Nation. Thanks Tamera and Lashay...We love you guys...Keep on doing what you do! We will be watching your success!