Alexis Vázquez, a professional dancer and actor of Puerto Rican heritage, spoke with Out about being his experiences as a backup dancer for Bad Bunny's 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, sharing behind-the-scenes details of the casting process, long waiting periods, and intense rehearsals.
Vázquez, an out gay man married to filmmaker Jorge Xolalpa, is best known for starring in Strangelove and dancing with huge stars like Teyana Taylor, El Alfa, and Deborah Cox. Now, helping Bad Bunny make Super Bowl history can also be added to his credentials.
Xolalpa, an Out100 honoree and Vázquez's husband, shared a statement with Out that reads, "These last couple weeks leading up to the Super Bowl were a roller-coaster of emotions. Seeing my husband, Alexis, on the biggest stage of the world with the biggest artist in the world, it was hard not to be emotional."
"I am so proud of him," Xolalpa adds. "I'm proud of the show they put together, because it really spoke to the Latino community as being united, powerful, and beautiful. And I'm proud of him for accomplishing his dreams."
Read Alexis Vázquez's interview with Out about dancing alongside Bad Bunny during this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Alexis Vázquez dancing at the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Out: Congratulations on a fantastic performance! What was your experience auditioning for Bad Bunny's 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Alexis Vázquez: It started early December when I got the first email from my agents. I had no idea what it was for; we were told it was just a private call that worked for a month. Between January and February, I was really confused about what events could possibly be coming up, including the Grammys, the World Cup, and the NBA All-Star game. So I went to the audition a couple of days after that email came through, and I realized what I was signing up for: this was the Super Bowl, and the artist that we were going to dance with was Bad Bunny.
That's when it all clicked. We did the first round after seeing over 200 dancers. We did day one, and then we waited a couple days to see if we had a callback. About a week later, I got another email saying I got the callback. [At that point,] when I entered the room, there were fewer than 50 of us. It was a huge cut between the first audition and the second audition. I went in prepared and ready to give it my all, knowing that it was only up to me to book. So I did my best, and I left feeling very confident.
And then the holidays passed, and Christmas passed, and New Year's passed. It was just a waiting game of desperation [Laughs.] In early January, I got the final email saying, "Congratulations, you're booked for the Super Bowl."
Alexis Vázquez
Lee Gumps
When did you first learn that you were going to perform at a historic event like this?
Once we returned for rehearsals, I realized, "OK, we're about to go do something serious for the Super Bowl."
And we already knew Bad Bunny was performing at the Super Bowl, so a huge light bulb went off in my head. I was like, "Game on!"
How long was the rehearsal process?
After receiving the confirmation email that I had booked the Super Bowl, I knew that our start date was January 19. We would then keep going all the way through February 8. We rehearsed pretty much every day. We only had one day off.
It was a lot of work, many rehearsals, and [a schedule of] six to eight hours every day. Sometimes, even more. It was a very in-depth process because there were so many moving parts, but it was a beautiful journey.
Alexis Vázquez
Lee Gumps
Did you guys interact with Bad Bunny during the rehearsal process?
He came in ready to learn his track and collaborate on making a great show. He did give us our props. He was very happy. Collaborating with him, and creating a masterpiece, has been a dream come true.
What was the general vibe between the other dancers who will be featured in this as well? Was everyone nervous, excited, or feeling any type of way? There was a lot of support, as well as intense criticism, from day one of the announcement that Bad Bunny would headline this Super Bowl. How did you and the other dancers navigate that chaotic rhetoric?
Everyone was been great. We were all excited for the project. I can only speak for myself, and not the other dancers, but I know that I was having a great time. The energy was amazing in the room. I believe that everyone knew this is bigger than all of us, as far as what message would come across.
How did you feel, in the rehearsal process, to be attached to such an amazing moment?
It's been a dream come true. It's such a huge, huge blessing. It was an opportunity and a project that I don't take lightly. With everything going on in the world right now, it feels humbling and an honor to be a part of such a major project that will go down in history.
What message do you hope this performance will send to general audiences watching the Halftime Show?
Ultimately, the biggest message, as cliché as it sounds, was unity: everyone coming together. There's so much separation in the world right now. So the biggest takeaway is that we're stronger together.
Alexis Vázquez
Lee Gumps
From a personal standpoint, what's it like to be featured in a performance that's sent such a bold message?
It feels like alignment. I strongly believe in frequency, and when someone of Bad Bunny's caliber is in the same room working on the same project, it creates a powerful alignment.
It's alignment. It's frequency. It's affirmation and confirmation that this was where you're supposed to be, no matter what your background is.
(Editor's note: Vázquez's husband, Xolalpa, shared an adorable video in which Vázquez is seen chatting with his mom and getting emotional.)
