Minnesota high school dancers perform with Justin Timberlake in halftime show

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Hundreds of high school dancers from the Twin Cities metro got a once in a lifetime opportunity Sunday night as they danced alongside Justin Timberlake in the Pepsi Halftime Show at the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. 

The dancers, and some of their coaches, had started rehearsing about a month ago for the halftime show, but had to keep their involvement in the performance a secret. The dancers and their parents all signed confidentiality agreements. 

Eden Prairie, Lakeville South, Eastview, Wayzata, Maple Grove, Spring Lake Park, Hopkins, Prior Lake, Burnsville and Farmington were among the high schools represented on the field. Fox 9 anchor Tom Butler’s daughter Grace – a member of the Eden Prairie Dance Team – was one of the dancers in the show. 

It was a busy few weeks for the dancers, as the teams were practicing for their Minnesota State High School League sections tournaments at the same time they were rehearsing for the big game. The dancers often would not get home until 11 p.m. on school nights. 

Timberlake was not present for most of the rehearsals, of course. But, the dancers did get to rehearse with him at least five or six times.