Two young ladies believed in their vision and started a youth dance team in Langston Oklahoma. The Golden Legacy Lioness was founded February 9, 2016 by Starr Johnson, a former member of the Golden Feline, and Diamond Stearns, a continuing member of the Golden Feline dance team. This summer, these ladies hosted an informational for a little girl squad, ages 7 to 11, to receive and inform potential members. The dance team was created to give those girls in Langston, OK a chance to do what they love with the help of those who have been in dancer’s shoes.
“My expectations for the Golden Legacy Lioness are to not only develop dance and life skills, but a passion so they will be aspiring to pass it down to the next generation,” said Diamond Stearns, G.L.L coach.
The coaches were able to receive two more helping hands with building this dance team into what they wanted. Jeanese Outlaw is their finance manager for fundraisers or any donations they may receive. Veniqua Hubbard is also a coach and a travel agent for the dance team. Veniqua, stepping in as a dance coach, expressed what she would want the young ladies to take away from being a part of G.L.L. on a daily.
“I want the girls to be able to grow out of their shells, stand up for society and know that they are beautiful queens,” said Veniqua, G.L.L coach.
Starr, Diamond and Veniqua physically and mentally developed six girls into dancing queens.
“Our mission is to keep it classy. We serve to be queens and nothing less through various styles of dance,” said Starr Johnson, G.L.L coach.
Starr also said that with being on this dance team, we want the girls to love what they are doing and learn life lessons about being a woman in this world through bonding activities. For almost a month, each girl dedicated their summer and time preparing themselves for the revealing of The Golden Legacy Lioness dance team event.
“At this revealing, just expect to see the girls show some of the things they have learned and witness who will be the very first captain of the little girl squad,” said Starr.
The day of the revealing, G.L.L entered in with a style of walking to Formation by Beyonce, with the switch of music to YaBoyBigChoo Adele Hello ft Denisia (Bounce Remix) to begin the routine and ending the dance off to Who You Wit by Lil John and the East Side Boys.
Their intro routine consisted of Historically Black College University marching style, prancing and bucking, a form of HBCU auxiliary dancing. The girls also threw stand dances that could be used for battling in the near future. Coming to the end of the event, three girls stepped up to try out for the captain and co-captain spot.
Each girl had the opportunity to use their creative moves to come up with their own dance routine, demonstrating how they would lead the squad and also showing their battle moves.
“They have worked extremely hard. We just want them to have fun doing what they love and we show them it’s not just about winning, but working as a team,” said Starr.
As of right now, they are in the works of starting a teenage dance group for ages 12-17.