The new Sharkettes coach, Shanygne Bitna, has relaunched Nova Southeastern’s Sharkettes as a full performance dance team. Bitna earned both her undergraduate and master’s degree at NSU. She started dancing when she was in middle school where she learned classical Indian dance and soon after did all-star cheer and hip-hop. Once she came to NSU, she learned the groundwork of different dance genres and technique, and was a member of the Sharkettes for four years prior to becoming the assistant coach for three year before finally becoming the coach.
“In 2015 Amanda Smith and Jennifer Goetzel started a club and it was named the Sharkettes. When we started off, we were definitely just a club. It was the students coming together to do whatever they could to make this club thrive and be fun,” said Bitna.
Following the creation of the club, the members reached out to the athletics department and became the official dance team for the university. Prior to the pandemic, the Sharkettes were a cheer and dance team.
“It was definitely a challenge because cheer and dance are two different skill sets,” said Bitna.
The Sharkettes are now only a dance team and Bitna said that this transition was to “keep the brand of the Sharkettes” in hope to bring more school spirit to NSU, as they were traditionally a dance team. Bitna also hoped to eventually have a cheerleading team to have a “full community of spirit on board.”
When choregraphing dances, Bitna said, “We definitely take into consideration where we live. In South Florida, we are very much inspired by Uncle Luke and Latin Caribbean influence of music.”
This year, the Sharketetes will perform at soccer games where Bitna describes that the style as a “more pro-dance pom type of feel. Very big, very elaborate… something like what you would see from the NFL dancers.”
Sharkettes rookie, Nina Lozovnoy, said, “I like being on the team and getting to know more people on campus and feeling very connected with the campus to share my shark pride with the rest of NSU.”
Sharkettes senior, Kimberly Hoff, described the Sharkettes as “a spirit squad to go to sporting events and cheer on our athletes.”
“We will do appearances around campus to raise moral and get the campus excited for upcoming events,” Hoff added.
Hoff also said that the change in leadership this year has been significant.
“Coach Shay has been with the team since she was on the team. Her experience with the Miami Dolphins cheer team also brings a new perspective and gives us a new fresh face lift,” Hoff said.
“I encourage you to support the Sharkettes as much as you can and to come out and see us. We’ve definitely stepped up our game,” Hoff concluded.
The Sharkettes host auditions once a year in the fall, so if you are interested in auditioning for the Sharkettes next year contact nsusharkettes@gmail.com.
