Dan Belisle doesn’t fit the stereotypical profile of a cheerleader and he’s never been a part of a “squad”—but at 43 years old he’s his daughter’s biggest cheerleader—literally.
After joining the parents’ team at his 12-year-old daughter’s club a few years ago, he became so good, he was encouraged to try out for the University of Calgary’s competitive team.
“Which I thought was a little bit crazy because I’m a lot older, but I tried out and I made the team,” Belisle said.
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Dan’s teammate and his daughter’s former coach said he showed a lot of promise.
“He obviously had a more athletic build and active lifestyle,” Ethan Smith said.
“We get a good reaction,” Belisle said.
“A lot of people are surprised that I’m on a team. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a great way for us to bond and spend time together.”
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Belisle’s daughter, Kendra, loves having such a convenient cheer partner to practice with.
“He came and wanted to see some stuff that I was doing and wanted to work the stunting. Then he got so good,” Kendra said. “It’s amazing. I love it so much because he teaches me so many different things and spots me.”
The father-daughter duo are bonding two hours a night, four days a week over back flips and routines.
“My dad is super good at standing-back-tucks,” Kendra said.
“A lot of people say it’s pretty cool, because not a lot of parents join a team at my dad’s age. A lot of people say that they wish their dad or mom were in the sport.”
Belisle’s cheer team is constantly using his spirit as an example, showing you’re never too old to try something new.
“We say, ‘look, this guy is 43 and he’s still pushing everything. He’s been injured a few times but he gets over it quickly, heals up and just gets back on the horse,’” Smith said.
It’s a way for Belisle to stay active while trying to understand his pre-teen daughter by experiencing what she goes through.
“I step back and I think, ‘wow, that’s actually pretty cool’ because not a lot of cheerleaders get to have their dad in the sport,” Kendra said.
Once Kendra turns 17, she’ll be able to enter competitions with her dad, who will be pushing 50 by then.
“If my body holds out, absolutely yes, I’d love to see that someday,” Belisle said.
There are teams around the city that parents can join at all levels of cheerleading.
Contact Calgary’s Premier Academy Cheerleading for more information. You don’t have to have a child on the team to join.