CWU dancer follows her talent to the Seahawks Dancers

Presley DeJesus has had her sights set on the Seattle Seahawks dance team since she was a little girl.

The 2026 Central Washington University graduate has always loved to dance, joining the Junior Seahawks Dancers program when she was in elementary school.

DeJesus honed her skills with the Allegro Performing Arts Academy in Kent and with the CWU Dance Team and Orchesis Dance Company in Ellensburg, eventually earning a tryout with the Seahawks Dancers this spring. 

When she learned that she had made the team, she felt like she had fulfilled a lifelong ambition.

“My mom was on the SeaGals before I was born, so I always heard about it when I was growing up,” DeJesus said. “She got me started with the junior dance team, and I loved going out on the field with the Seahawks Dancers during practice. I adored them so much, and it’s been a dream of mine to be on the team ever since.”

KimMee DeJesus was a member of the SeaGals — the previous iteration of the Seahawks Dancers — from 1999-2001. Her passion inevitably rubbed off on her daughter, who started dancing when she was 3 years old and began competing in middle school.

Presley DeJesus explored a wide variety of technical disciplines — jazz, hip hop, contemporary, ballet, and others — while also performing with the Allegro competitive dance team.

She brought that multidisciplinary talent with her to Ellensburg, where she spent the next four years fine-tuning her repertoire, including a trip to nationals with the CWU Dance Team in 2025.

“My mom was a dancer, so it only made sense that I would become one, too,” said DeJesus, who earned her degree in elementary education. “I spent a lot of time practicing and going to competitions, but that’s what I wanted to do. She encouraged me, but it was always my choice to keep going.”

With a strong foundation and some solid connections in the Northwest dance community, DeJesus put her talent to the test this spring during open tryouts for the Seahawks Dancers.

After making it through the open call, she submitted a video of herself performing a scripted routine. That led to her being one of 57 finalists invited to Renton for an in-person tryout, which featured an interview, a solo performance, and a choreography routine.

Then on the last day, the team announced the final 28 selections for the 2026 season — and DeJesus was on the list.

“I was so excited that I cried,” she said. “It was such a huge relief to have my number called. I can still hardly believe I made it.”

DeJesus has been practicing with the team twice a week since late May and is beginning preparations for the Super Bowl champions’ home opener at Lumen Field on September 9.

She feels honored to carry on her family legacy this fall — and into the future.

“I can’t wait to show what I can do,” she said. “I’ve been going to workshops with the dance team for years, and I feel like I really understand the style they are looking for. That’s a big reason why I feel so well prepared for this opportunity.”

When she’s not at practice, DeJesus is working as a leadership facilitator for Girls Rock Math, a program that mentors school-age girls interested in becoming educators.

She’s also starting to look around the Puget Sound area for elementary teaching positions, although she would be content being a substitute for a year before committing to something permanent.

No matter where she ends up, she will always have a place in her heart for CWU.

“I had the best four years at Central,” DeJesus said. “For me, the people really made the place special, and I feel like the friendships I made will last a lifetime.”

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Headline photo courtesy of Saskia Potter/NFL