Braeden Gray of Marshall was driving home with his dad after auditioning for the Penn State Lionettes Dance Team in March, when he got the call.
He made the cut.
Gray, a North Allegheny senior, will be the first male to join the team.
The team’s professionalism inspired him to audition.
“They’re a very talented team. I wanted to be part of it,” he said.
The Lionettes originally started as a kickline team before becoming a club sport in 1995.
As a club sport, the Lionettes perform on the sidelines on game days at Beaver Stadium and during other Penn State team events. The group also represents the university in the highly competitive Universal Dance Association Nationals every year.
With a roster of 24, Gray will be one of six new Lionettes in the fall.
“His talent and attitude throughout the audition and recruitment process were a great match for our team, and we are so excited to have him join,” said Jackie Hovis, head coach for the Lionettes.
Gray’s strong technical execution was one of the first things that caught Hovis’ attention during auditions.
“He demonstrated the ability to jump and turn with precise timing in combinations while maintaining proper technique, which is especially important as we prepare for UDA Nationals,” said Hovis, who was a Lionette until graduating in 2023 and then being hired as head coach.
While the Lionettes had male dancers audition in the past, Gray is the first to make the cut, she said.
Gray’s passion for dance was evident in the way he approached every movement with confidence, strength and intention, Hovis said.
“That level of attack is something we highly value on the team,” she said.
Lionette hopefuls audition by video and in person with new members selected by March for the following school year.
As a physically and mentally demanding sport, being part of the team requires commitment, resilience and a strong sense of unity, Hovis said.
“We look for individuals who are motivated, dedicated and genuinely care about those around them, dancers who truly love their craft and are eager to grow, push themselves and contribute to something bigger than themselves,” she said.
Gray, 18, started dancing at age at 10 when his older sister, Camryn, was in the sport. He was competing by fifth grade.
Camryn, a 2023 North Allegheny graduate, is now a junior at the University of Massachusetts.
Dancing is a lot of work, but Gray is used to it. As a member of Intensity Dance Academy in Mars, he dances a lot of contemporary style but also enjoys hip-hop and jazz.
For him, dancing is the perfect combination of art and highly physical work, often featuring various leaps, complicated turns and jumps.
“I really like the blend of athletics and artistry,” said Gray, who plans to study economics.
Gray is excited for the opportunity to perform with the Lionettes at the annual University Dance Association College Nationals, where the team will compete in the pom and jazz categories against some of the top collegiate dance teams in the country.
“I’m definitely looking forward to nationals, and being able to perform at Beaver Stadium is going to be fun,” he said.
The Lionettes perform at basketball games, select wrestling matches and THON events.
During football games, they stay on the sidelines throughout the event, energizing the crowd while also performing a field routine during a media timeout and a team arrival piece at the pregame pep rally. Each game day performance concludes with their signature kickline and jump split, Hovis said.
For now, Gray gets to focus on his upcoming North Allegheny graduation day, June 5.
While he had some “ups and downs,” he said his experience at North Allegheny ended on a “positive note when I figured out my way here. The experience overall was great.”
His parents, Jeff and Tricia, were present for his signing April 1 at North Allegheny’s Baierl Center.
“For him to accomplish what he has, it’s something to be proud of,” Jeff Gray said.
“We were excited. Penn State is a great school, close to home, where we can watch him perform,” his mom added.