Rising Stars: Meet Chiniqua Jackson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chiniqua Jackson.

Hi Chiniqua, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We started with a youth football team that we felt was not as concerned with the cheerleading/dance portion. We decided the best move for us was to branch off from that team and we started a social club based on cheer, dance, and step team. Most of the young ladies followed us and we started the Platinum Diva Princesses.

As the years progressed, we cheered with another team and found that the girls/boys enjoyed the dancing so we researched and brought in some of our skills from childhood. We found that the girls/boys really enjoy dancing so we built a dance entity that soon became Platinum Divaz and Gentz Dance Company. Over the years, we have grown drastically and the children have been able to participate in some amazing things as well as travel.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth ride. We have been down in numbers questioning where we were going to get the funding from to cover the basic needs let alone the extras we needed for the basic safety of the team. Where are we going to practice? What are they going to wear, making midnight runs to the store to find matching outfits to fit all the girls in many different sizes.

Not to mention the pandemic hit how are we going to keep the children engaged when we can’t physically see them. Questioning if they are okay and their families. How are we going to handle what we need to when the world is in chaos? How are we going to pay the bills and keep our doors open?

Its been a struggle and we were able to continue but now with the pandemic getting worse again and us moving into a bigger space, we are back to worrying again about keeping our membership numbers and making enough to pay just the basic bills but so many parents are struggling to cause them to be late in paying their dues, or not able to pay at all.

We try to work with them so the child can stay active but it’s so hard trying to maintain and keep positivity in your mind and heart. We just pray and hope for the best knowing God will make a way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Stanisha is an insurance agent for JCS insurance and has been working in insurance for 15 years. Chiniqua is a government employee of 10 years.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Being able to adapt to all situations. Working with many different children of all colors, ages, ethnicities, and talent levels. Motivation to make a change and be that change.

Pricing:

• $85 monthly per child
• $30 registration

Contact Info:

• Email: pp.divaz2013@gmail.com
• Website: platinumdivaz.org
• Instagram: platinumdivazdancecompany
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/platinumdivazdanceco
• Youtube: Platinum Divaz Dance Co. Denver