The Penn State Lionettes Dance Team was originally founded as a kickline team before becoming a club sport at the University in 1995. In 1997, Sue Sherburne became the dance team advisor, and along with former academic advisor Don Ferrell, helped the team to gain campus-wide recognition at athletics and community events. Most notably, the two advisors helped the Lionettes move from the stands of Beaver Stadium to the sidelines during football games. Sherburne also led the Lionettes to three consecutive National Championships from 2012-14 at NDA Nationals.

The Lionettes were student run and a club team until 2015 when Julie Berardi, a former Lionette and nationals choreographer for the team herself, became the first coach of the Lionettes. Berardi coached the team from 2015-21 where she oversaw the team’s move from competing at NDA Nationals to UDA Nationals in 2018.

Today, the Lionettes are continuing to hold the tradition of the famous Lionette kickline at performances while also proudly representing Penn State at UDA Nationals under the coaching of Jackie Hovis and guidance of spirit coordinator Curtis White.

Thank you for your interest in being a Penn State Lionette!

For the 2025-26 team we will be doing a hybrid of recruitment videos and an open in-person audition. To start, please fill out our Recruiting Form. The recruitment video process will happen prior to the in-person audition and is the strongly recommended path for auditions this year. There will be approximately 4 different video audition rounds, which are listed below. Rounds may be added if needed. There will be cuts made after each round. If you do not get an invitation to be on the game and you made it to the 4^th round of the video audition, you may also attend the in-person tryout. Also, if you decided that you wanted to try out late and missed the video deadlines, you may attend the in-person tryouts. You must receive a letter of acceptance from the university in order to be on the team and to attend the in-person audition. You may start the video process without the letter, but it will be needed when the offers are sent out. The sooner you apply, the sooner you get the response! Applications begin as soon as August 1.

There are many ways to support the Penn State Dance program!

Follow us on social media!

Donate to our Excellence Fund! Any amount helps! To donate to the Lionettes Excellence Fund, click here. 

Join the Booster Club or support one of their events like the annual Golf Tournament! Learn more about out booster club here!