LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The George Mason Masonettes Dance Team officially kicked off their 2025–26 season with an impressive performance at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) Camp, held July 25-28 at the University of Louisville. This marked the team's third appearance at NDA Camp, and their commitment to growth and excellence, both technically and mentally, was on full display.

The weekend began with the Gameday Run-Off, where the Masonettes energized the crowd with a spirited performance of the university fight song and a high-energy pom routine—truly bringing the spirit of Mason Nation all the way to Kentucky. View their performance here.

Over the duration of the three-day camp, the Masonettes trained extensively in pom, jazz, and hip-hop. Through this experience, each athlete focused on learning challenging choreography designed to enhance memorization and mental elasticity, execution and showmanship, and athleticism. Each athlete also pushed themselves in individualized technique classes to expand their repertoire and explored their breadth of movement and style knowledge in a hip hop master class led by industry professional Bonita Saldana.

The Masonettes' hard work and dedication culminated in a strong performance that earned them 3^rd place in the Division I Team Routine Competition, showcasing their creativity, endurance, and versatility in a blend of jazz, pom, and hip-hop choreography.

Even more notably, the team was honored as "Most Improved" amongst the entire camp for their growth in both technical ability and team mindset. This recognition came with a Silver Bid to NDA Nationals 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida, the highest bid ever received in program history! View that award winning performance here.
In addition to incredible team accolades, several Masonettes achieved individual honors:

• Lucy Johnson (third year) and Hannah Smith (second year) were named NDA All-Americans for their technical excellence, performance quality, and leadership.
• Niyah Chapman (first year) became the team's first-ever Top Gun Leaps and Jumps Winner, recognized by camp staff for the most outstanding technical skill in those categories across all camp attendees.
• Hannah Bartoo (third year) was highlighted alongside NDA staff in the camp's opening routine performance.

With a strong start to the season, the Masonettes are poised for continued success! They remain incredibly grateful for the constant support of their community and look forward to the continual pursuit of excellence both on and off the dance floor.

To help support the Masonettes, click here to donate!