Brookfield Native Makes Jets Cheerleading Squad

Brookfield’s Chelsea Janssen joins NFL dance team for 2011-12 season.
By Gina Petriccione
Brookfield Patch
8/10/2011

As football season begins, one Brookfield native will have the chance to watch the games from her very own spot on the sideline. Chelsea Janssen, a graduate of Brookfield High School (BHS) and former BHS Dance Team captain, has earned the distinguished opportunity to dance for the Jet’s Flight Crew Cheerleaders.

Janssen will perform with the Flight Crew at the Jet’s home games this season in front of a crowd of 82,000 people.

“I did so much to prepare for the tryouts themselves that I did not think about what would happen if I actually made it,” Janssen said of learning she had made the Crew, “My first thought was that there is no way this is real.”

Auditioning for the Flight Crew was a lengthy and careful process. In the preliminary round of auditions, the dancers were to “freestyle” in groups of five in front of a panel of judges. In moving to the semi-final round, the dancers each learned a combination and a kickline that was then performed in groups. Finalists were then chosen to perform a 90-second solo as well as the pervious combinations at the Meadowlands stadium.

While these things may sound difficult to most, Janssen says the most nerve-racking part of the audition process was a one-on-one interview with the Flight Crew Director, Denise Garvey.

On April 16, 300 young women attended the open call auditions. Nearly one month and three rounds later, 41 girls were chosen for the 2011-2012 team.

Though the audition process was difficult, Janssen says she knew her hard work was only beginning.

Each Flight Crew member attends a summer-long training camp, as well as three weekly practices that last for three hours or more. Rehearsals for the team include learning choreography as well as routine workouts. The Flight Crew primarily focuses on a style of jazz that emphasizes technique, showmanship and powerful execution.

Janssen served as a BHS Dance Team captain from 2008 to 2010 under the direction of Linda Davies and Deanne Petriccione. During this time, she helped lead the team to two CIAC State Championships in Jazz and contributed original choreography to their hip-hop routines. Janssen believes her time on the BHS Dance Team played a large role in her success in the professional dance world. “I believe it prepared me to pick up choreography quickly and execute the dances to the best of my ability.”

When asked what she is most looking forward to this season, Janssen answered, “I can not wait to be in the tunnel and run out to the field for the first time. It’s going to be the most exciting moment of my life!”

Members of the Flight Crew are a very close-knit group of young women and Janssen believes she has made some life-long friendships through this experience.