Isabelle Vigil, a University of New Mexico graduate and longtime dancer, has earned a spot on the Seattle Seahawks dance team, fulfilling a dream years in the making.“I’ve been interested in dance my whole life,” Vigil said. “I didn’t start actually dancing until I was 11.” She trained at Triple Threat Performing Arts before joining Albuquerque Dance Collaborative and later dancing for the UNM Lobo dance team throughout college. Vigil said her interest in the Seahawks began after attending a dance convention where she met members of the organization. “They just immediately had this energy about them,” she said. “They were very classy and kind, and they were all super encouraging.” That impression stayed with her, and when it came time to audition for a professional team, Vigil said Seattle was the clear choice. The audition process included multiple rounds: a solo submission, a choreography video round, and finally an in-person finals event at Lumen Field. “I completely blacked out,” Vigil said. “I remember holding my pom-poms and thinking, ‘There’s no way this is real right now.’” Now, after orientation, Vigil is preparing to begin practices later this month as the team gets ready for preseason. “That’s one of the big things that drew me to Seattle,” Vigil said. “Seahawks is a very dedicated, very loving fan culture.” Vigil is also one of three UNM dancers to make NFL teams this year, something she said reflects the strength of the Lobos program. “I think it just reflects that the UNM dance team are athletes,” she said. “We deserve to be respected the way that all athletes are respected.” For young dancers in New Mexico, Vigil hopes her story sends a message that where you come from does not limit what you can achieve. “As long as you have the dedication and the hunger and the passion for it, you can really do anything,” she said.

Isabelle Vigil, a University of New Mexico graduate and longtime dancer, has earned a spot on the Seattle Seahawks dance team, fulfilling a dream years in the making.

“I’ve been interested in dance my whole life,” Vigil said. “I didn’t start actually dancing until I was 11.”

She trained at Triple Threat Performing Arts before joining Albuquerque Dance Collaborative and later dancing for the UNM Lobo dance team throughout college.

Vigil said her interest in the Seahawks began after attending a dance convention where she met members of the organization.

“They just immediately had this energy about them,” she said. “They were very classy and kind, and they were all super encouraging.”

That impression stayed with her, and when it came time to audition for a professional team, Vigil said Seattle was the clear choice.

The audition process included multiple rounds: a solo submission, a choreography video round, and finally an in-person finals event at Lumen Field.

“I completely blacked out,” Vigil said. “I remember holding my pom-poms and thinking, ‘There’s no way this is real right now.’”

Now, after orientation, Vigil is preparing to begin practices later this month as the team gets ready for preseason.

“That’s one of the big things that drew me to Seattle,” Vigil said. “Seahawks is a very dedicated, very loving fan culture.”

Vigil is also one of three UNM dancers to make NFL teams this year, something she said reflects the strength of the Lobos program.

“I think it just reflects that the UNM dance team are athletes,” she said. “We deserve to be respected the way that all athletes are respected.”

For young dancers in New Mexico, Vigil hopes her story sends a message that where you come from does not limit what you can achieve.

“As long as you have the dedication and the hunger and the passion for it, you can really do anything,” she said.