If you’re watching a Detroit Pistons home game this NBA season, keep an eye out for Brooklyn Vandenbogaerde.
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If you’re watching a Detroit Pistons home game this NBA season, keep an eye out for Brooklyn Vandenbogaerde.
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The 18-year-old from Chatham is now a member of the Detroit Pistons Dancers who perform throughout home games.
Vandenbogaerde loves dancing and wasn’t about to give it up as she headed into her first year of the University of Windsor’s criminology and law program.
“Growing up in All That Jazz (dance company), I loved dancing and definitely wanted to continue doing it after I graduated,” she said.
Vandenbogaerde said she was looking for different opportunities to continue dancing when she heard about the tryouts for the Pistons dance team.
“I’ve been dancing my whole life and I found a love for hip-hop in particular and it’s one of the most common dance styles on the team,” she said.
“I’m also a huge basketball fan, so I thought with the location and the fact that I love basketball, it would just be the best fit for me.”
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Vandenbogaerde took prep classes in June to find out what the dance team was looking for before auditioning in July.
“I honestly thought it was unlikely,” she said.
Vandenbogaerde noted that during the audition at the Pistons Performance Center, the judges said they still weren’t sure who they wanted, so they started calling out the numbers of several dancers to rehearse a dance.
“At that point I was a little panicked, because my number had been called,” she said.
Vandenbogaerde said that when they finished the dance, the judges said, “Just kidding, welcome to the 2024-25 team.”
“Honestly, it was just a huge relief for me,” she added.
Lisa Lester, founder and former owner of All that Jazz, said Vandenbogaerde started dancing at the studio when she was two years old.
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“Even at a young age, it was clear that Brooklyn had a special gift for the stage,” Lester said. “She always gave 100 percent to all genres of dance, excelling particularly in hip-hop, jazz and acrobatics.”
Vandenbogaerde has won numerous dance awards over the years, “with judges consistently recognizing her incredible performance abilities and undeniable passion,” she added.
“She is a strong, athletic dancer who loves to challenge herself and learn new things.”
Vandenbogaerde took on new challenges during her tryouts for the Pistons dance team, including taking high heel classes and pushing herself to the limit, Lester said. Being one of 18 people chosen out of 400 for the team “speaks volumes about her dedication and talent.”
“Chris Rich, myself and all of her dance teachers over the years are extremely proud of her,” said Lester. “We look forward to seeing her shine in this next step of her journey.”
Vandenbogaerde is looking forward to performing in the Detroit Pistons’ home opener against the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 23.
“It’s usually sold out, so it’ll definitely be the biggest crowd I’ve ever been in front of,” she said.
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