MIAMI — For Paige Lillian, it all started with a passion and a dream.
Growing up in a sports-oriented family, she played nearly every sport, but it was cheerleading that stuck.
“I grew up in a sports-oriented family and I played all the sports in the book,” Lillian said. “But obviously, I wanted to do very girly things and do some cheerleading and gymnastics -- cheerleading just stuck with me.”
After high school, Lillian kept that dream alive -- first cheering on the ice for the Florida Panthers, and then taking center field for five years with the Miami Dolphins.
When her time with the Dolphins ended, social media opened new doors.
A local choreographer invited her to appear in a music video, and Lillian found herself performing in the Latin music world. She has spent the past four years dancing for Colombian artist Manuel Turizo, whose social media following nears 15 million.
“It was kind of, like, a culture shock in a way to then move into the reggaeton world,” Lillian said. “So it was a lot of training, intense training, trying to, instead of hitting sharp movements, now I need to be more fluid -- and I also needed to understand the music because that’s not something that I always dance to. So it was quite difficult to transition, but once I did, I fell in love with the Latin culture and the Latin music.”
Lillian has since built her own brand, moving beyond her days as a Dolphins cheerleader. Touring internationally with Turizo, she’s now recognized by fans on the streets of Latin America.
“They’re so welcoming and they tell me where to eat, they tell me where to go. Like now I’m getting all the local insight,” she said.
Dance is physically demanding, and Lillian maintains a rigorous fitness routine. She works out six days a week, combining gym sessions, weightlifting, sauna, and cold plunge or cryotherapy for muscle recovery.
“If you have it in your heart, just go for it because that was me growing up,” she said. “But I didn’t think I had rhythm, and little did I know if I just applied myself and made myself a little bit uncomfortable and sat in that uncomfortable-ness that it would create something so beautiful. Now I feel like this is what I was always meant to do.”
Lillian is hitting the road again, preparing for another international tour and continuing to share her passion for dance with the world.
For more information on her dance journey, visit her Instagram page!
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