‘It made me feel empowered’: Performers reflect on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show

The Super Bowl LX halftime show was one of the most talked-about moments from this year’s big game and not just for music fans but also for the performers who brought Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny’s vision to life on the Levi’s Stadium field.

For the many dancers, field team members and guest artists involved. The experience was more than just another performance; it was emotional, cultural, and in many ways, empowering.

Hard work and heartfelt preparation

Unlike many large-scale productions that rely on digital effects, Bad Bunny’s halftime show used hundreds of real performers to create the stunning visual backdrops that became a hallmark of the performance. One of those was Lauren Schall, a 30-year-old from the East Bay who was part of the field team dressed to represent tall sugar cane grass.

Schall said she was immediately drawn to the opportunity after seeing the casting call on TikTok and believed she was meant to be part of the show.

“I don’t know Spanish,” she said, “but when I listen to his music, I’m like, ‘Yep, I’m aligned. Whatever we’re saying, I’m for it.’”Her sentiment was echoed by fellow performer Antonio Reybol Jr., a San Francisco resident and longtime fan of Bad Bunny. Reybol said being involved was not only about music but also a chance to make a statement during a charged political climate.

“I just felt like I had some sort of impact,” he said, describing how meaningful it was to be part of the halftime show’s message.

Preparing for a spectacle of this size is no small feat. Performers including Schall, Reybol Jr., and Manik Sethi spent up to two weeks in rehearsals, with sessions lasting from four to 12 hours. They were paid around $18.70 an hour, plus a show-day bonus and while the work was tiring, the shared goal helped keep morale high.

Celebrities at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show

The halftime show featured a large group of dancers and field performers, alongside several celebrity guests. Special guest appearances included Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, who joined Bad Bunny during key moments of the performance.

Other celebrities spotted during the show included Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, Cardi B, Karol G, Young Miko and influencer Alix Earle.Behind the scenes, however, it was the hundreds of dancers and field extras who helped transform the stadium into a visual tribute to Puerto Rico.For many of them, the performance will remain a once-in-a-lifetime memory. As one performer put it, standing under the bright lights during the closing moments, “It made me feel empowered.”