Where Are They Now - Kelly Tilley

Kelly Tilley: Colts cheerleading head talks about staying limber, choosing the best

Ultimate Cheerleaders

Indy Star
Mar. 26, 2013

New Indianapolis Colts cheerleading manager Kelly Tilley, 29, is on a whirlwind audition for the next Colts Cheer Squad.

Since arriving here March 18, she has jumped right into three weeks of workshops for 49 hopefuls. Cheerleading hopefuls are being compared in the areas of football knowledge, dance technique and fitness.

Auditions conclude when the best of the applicants appear at 6:30 p.m. April 17 at the Hilbert Circle Theater in Downtown Indianapolis. Admission is $10 and fans at home can vote for their favorite cheerleaders via live video stream. The squad members will be announced at the end of the show.

Tilley won’t reveal yet how many women will make the cut.

“We’ll chose anywhere from 26 to 32. I’m looking for the entire package, so it will depend on who ends up with that,” she said.

We caught up with Tilley to learn more about this former Denver Broncos cheerleader, who grew up in Apple Valley, Minn. :

Question: What are your goals for the squad?

Answer: To create one of the most highly respected NFL cheerleading teams in the league. I want little girls to dream about becoming a Colts cheerleader, because we have developed a reputation of an elite group of women who are talented, educated, beautiful inside and out, and are committed to the community.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake a cheerleader (hopeful) can make when she gets in front of the judges?

A: To not be prepared. Applicants should be at the top of their game at auditions, especially when it comes to fitness, dance ability and creating a look that will make them stand out to the judges. Preparation is more important than talent.

Q: What does the Colts cheerleader of the future “look” like — different uniforms, guys and gals? What is your vision?

A: My vision is to look at each area — dance, fitness, uniforms, junior cheerleaders, calendar, community service, etc., and find a way to make it even better. My vision is to strengthen the Indianapolis Colts cheerleader brand. I’m not ready to make any drastic changes until I see what we have and what resonates well with our fans.

Q: You spent the last 10 years with the Denver Broncos — four as a cheerleader and six in the cheer department. Were you a high school/college cheerleader? What was the biggest thing you personally had to overcome? What was your greatest accomplishment?



Kelly was a Broncos Cheerleader from 2003 thru 2007

A: I was part of the Eastview Lightning State Champion High School Dance Team. I was also on the University of Colorado’s dance team, before I was an NFL cheerleader. I was trained as a dancer, not a cheerleader. I always struggled with flexibility because I was more athletic (I also played high school volleyball), therefore I needed to stretch daily to stay at the same ability level as the fellow dancers on the squad. My greatest accomplishment was developing a youth special needs cheerleading team and organizing their halftime performance at an NFL game.

Q: What’s one thing most people would be surprised to know about you?

A: I love sports — I watch ESPN on a daily basis.

Q: You grew up in Minneapolis and lived in Denver — Your preference: Beach or Snow?

A: A beach sounds fantastic right now.

Q: What’s one of the craziest things that you experienced from the sidelines?

A: A blizzard. (The Denver Broncos’ home field is outdoors.)

Q: What’s the last good book you read or movie you saw?

A: “Wreck-It-Ralph.” With my busy schedule, I seem to only find time for kids movies with my son.

Q: Favorite Indy Restaurant (or one that you look forward to trying)?

A: A good sushi restaurant.

Q: What’s your favorite weekend ritual?

A: Watching my 5-year-old-son play hockey and watching football with my husband.

Meet the 2013 Colorado Icicles

Rehannon Crumb	Emily Ullmer	Alyssa Anderson	Kelly Jasper	Brianna Stierle
Lindsey Willardson	Caitlin Templeton	Chelsea Jones	Heather Jones	Ashley Schleiger

Learn more about the 2013 Colorado Icicles here.

2013 Denver Broncos Cheerleaders Auditions

2013 Denver Broncos Cheerleader Auditions begin Sunday April 14, 2013!

Letter from Teresa Shear, Director of Cheerleaders & Game Entertainment:

What an amazing Broncos season! I know that next season will be even more exciting, and that many of you have been anxiously awaiting the release of 2013 Audition Dates! Auditions are coming up quickly and we will continue to offer you great classes to get you prepared so you have the best audition possible!

For 2013, we will select 26 members to the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders. All applicants must be 21 years of age by July 15, 2013 and must have a high school diploma or GED.

The process will be very similar to last season's audition. Our preliminary round will consist of a short combination (4 eight counts) of basic dance technique. A turn, a leap, right and left kicks and simple choreography will be taught on the spot and participants will perform that combination for the judges in groups of three. After all participants have performed, 100 participants will be selected to move on that day to the Semi-Finals.

During the Semi-Final round, the participants will be taught a routine very similar to routines performed on game day by the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders. Again, the choreography will be taught on the spot and the semi-finalists will perform in groups of 3 for our panel of judges. The field will be narrowed down to 60-70 women who will be our finalists.

Finalists will be evaluated over the next week in a series of workshops on either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Finalists will be interviewed, tested on football knowledge, judged on work ethic during rehearsals and observed on interaction with the other finalists during the process.

Don't miss our audition workshop on Saturday, March 23rd. This workshop will give you inside information from former Denver Broncos Cheerleaders and the women that run the DBC program. We will also be hosting a series of dance classes on Tuesday evenings beginning March 5th from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. These classes will focus on technique and choreography. Due to the high demand, all of the prep classes have been filled! We are sorry for any inconveniece! If you would like to still register online for the audition workshop, please click here. Space for the audition workshop is limited to the first 125 that sign up.

We are excited to once again open up our final night of Auditions to the public. Last year, we hosted a sold out crowd of 500 and this year, we expect the turnout to be even larger, so buy your tickets early. The evening is full of entertainment, from the opening group number, to the beautiful kickline sequence, solos by the finalists, performances in groups of 3 on more technical choreography, and a final performance by the new 2013 Denver Broncos Cheerleaders. It is a fun night for all ages!

Please click on the links below for dates, times and more information (PDF) on 2013 Denver Broncos Cheerleader Auditions!

Don't hesitate to call me if you have any questions.

Cheers!

Teresa Shear
Director of Cheerleaders & Game Day Entertainment
720-258-3176

Click here (PDF) to download the information for auditions - dates, times, directions and more!

Click here (PDF) to download a 2013 Denver Broncos Cheerleaders application.

Click here (PDF) to download a 2013 Denver Broncos Cheerleaders audition workshop application.

2013 Denver Outlaws Dancers

Sunday, March 17, 2013, the Denver Outlaws Dancers held auditions to select their 2013 dance team. Congratulations Ladies!