Centennial High Alum Alex Fan Dances His Way to Philadelphia Eagles

When Alex Fan was a little boy, his family would take him to see The Nutcracker each holiday season at Bakersfield’s Rabobank Theater. By the time he was nine, he was begging his parents to let him take dance lessons at the Civic Dance Center.

“He pleaded for us to let him start dancing, and he loved it,” his mom, Shanna, recalled. “He has danced ever since — locally during the school year and at out-of-town dance intensives every summer.”

That early passion has now carried Fan, a 2022 standout Centennial High School graduate, to one of the biggest stages in sports. Last week, the Philadelphia Eagles announced their 2025 cheerleading team, naming Fan as one of three male cheerleaders on the squad — the largest male contingent in team history.

While his current spotlight shines on the football field, Fan’s foundation was built much earlier in Kern County classrooms. He credits local teachers and programs for preparing him for success.

“I’m so grateful for the incredible teachers I had from kindergarten through high school,” he said. “Their support — in the classroom and through programs like National History Day, Science Fair, and Oral Language — sparked a genuine love of learning in me.

In 2021, Fan became the first student in California to earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement, recognized for his excellence in civic learning, participation in civics-related projects, contributions to his community, and understanding of the American democratic system.

He also won his category in the California History Day competition and went on to capture a top national prize in 2022 before heading to Columbia University with his sights set on both intellectual and artistic goals. Determined to make space for a professional dance career, he finished his degree in just three years.

“Before I even started at Columbia, I knew I wanted to graduate early so that I could pursue a career as a professional dancer while I was still young,” he said. “My long-term plan has always included law school, and I wanted to carve out a few years between undergrad and grad school to dance professionally.”

Alex Fan competes in the Kern County History Day Competition in 2022.

To do so, Fan took on heavy course loads, petitioned to enroll in additional classes, and devoted countless hours to his studies.

“But I genuinely loved what I was studying, and that passion made school a pleasure. Columbia’s professors are leaders in their fields, so learning from them made every class feel like a privilege,” he said.

It was also at Columbia where the idea of professional cheerleading first came into focus. Fan joined the university’s dance team and was mentored by a coach who had been an NFL cheerleader. She encouraged him to audition, planting the seed that would later take root with the Eagles.

“During my last semester, I decided to ‘shoot my shot’ at different opportunities in dance, and the Eagles immediately stood out. After four rounds of auditions, I was honored to be named to the team in June.”

Life as a professional dancer

Fan says that practices are rigorous and layered with responsibilities beyond the field. Cheerleaders serve as ambassadors for their team, making appearances and engaging with the community.

“The Eagles organization drew me in for so many reasons — the success of the football team, the passion of Philadelphia fans, my own family ties to Pennsylvania, and the brand ambassador role the cheerleaders play through appearances and community outreach,” he said. “The team already feels like a family, and the energy of the entire organization is infectious.”

Life as an NFL cheerleader also requires balance. Nearly every squad member juggles another career or full-time pursuit. For Fan, that means commuting from New York to Philadelphia, where he trains and performs with the team, while also continuing to work as a museum educator.

“I love this balance because it allows me to keep growing intellectually while dancing at the highest level,” he said.

Though cheer now fills much of his calendar, Fan remains focused on his long-term goal of attending law school. He hopes to merge his passions for performance and advocacy into a career in entertainment law, and his decision to dance professionally first was intentional—an opportunity to gain firsthand experience in the industry that he plans to carry into the next stage of his career.

“Working with the Eagles has only reinforced that goal and made me more eager to return to the classroom,” he said.

Fan also hopes to inspire students who are just beginning their own journeys.

“At this young stage of life, we have endless opportunities, and there’s no need to have everything figured out right away,” he said.

Photos courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles.