Spotlight: Giselle Aliancin, professional cheerleader

By Isabella Fernandez de Cueto •

NSU senior and former Sharkette Giselle Aliancin was a cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins in the 2023-24 season.

Aliancin began dancing at the age of 2 but did not start cheerleading until her teenage years.

“I was put into dance from a very early age, but when I got to middle school, I decided to join the cheerleading team while also dancing at an outside studio. I loved both and continued both throughout middle and high school,” Aliancin said.

The West Palm Beach native came to NSU in 2021 and immediately decided to continue pursuing dance.

“I knew I needed to do something with dance when I got to college, so when I found out Nova had a dance team, I had to audition, even though I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” Aliancin said.

Aliancin became the only freshman on the team at the time and was a member of the Sharkettes for two seasons.

“She started off as the baby of the team, very soft and shy. By her second year she had grown so much and completely came out of her shell,” said Shanygne Bitna, who had been coaching the Sharkettes for about a decade.

Aliancin valued her time at the Sharkettes and realizes the impact the team had on her life.

“Being a member of the Sharkettes helped me grow as a person tremendously and helped me meet amazing people who became lifelong friends. I also learned a lot about dance and really got to develop my abilities,” Aliancin said.

Aliancin auditioned to be a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader in May of 2023. The audition process consisted of three separate rounds of auditions followed by a three-month training camp.

“Just within the audition process I saw her really grow and flourish, and I knew she was ready for this opportunity,” Bitna said.

Aliancin persevered through the rigorous process before officially becoming a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader.

“It really helped me for the process to be that long because it showed me just how much work it takes to be in this position,” Aliancin said.

Aliancin performed as a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader in nine home games during the 2023 season. Although she was faced with thousands of people, Aliancin quickly moved past her nerves and thrived in her new environment.

“Dancing in front of all those people was so thrilling and fun that I forgot the nerves that came along with it. I loved seeing young girls excitedly dancing along with us because it’s like I’m inspiring them too,” Aliancin said.

Another responsibility of the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders is community outreach. They regularly visit nursing homes and hospitals, and host and attend charity events. They also throw watch parties with the fans at different local restaurants for away games. This aspect is one of Aliancin’s favorite parts of being a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader.

“Participating in my community has always been important to me, so being able to do this in a big organization means a lot to me because I feel like I can make a significant impact on the people I meet in the community,” Aliancin said.

Aliancin looks forward to dancing with the Miami Dolphins for her second season in 2024.