CARMEL, Ind. — Most people have traditions during the holidays. For one Indiana family, their most memorable tradition takes place while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on WTHR Channel 13.
Brian Daly, 60, of Carmel, is a custom clothing tailor with the Tom James Company in Indianapolis. During the week, Daly is impeccably dressed as he helps clients with their personal wardrobe.
But for two decades, Daly wears casual clothes on Thanksgiving morning and dances next to the television when the Radio City Rockettes perform during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"The Rockettes have been my favorite part," Daly said. "I started a little over 20 years ago. The first mistake was telling my daughters that in my previous life, I was a Rockettes dancer."
Daly started his family performances when his three girls were cheerleaders in school.
"I don't remember the first year because this animated, goofy personality was our every day," Deanna Browning said. "When I cheered in high school, he was in the stands doing the motions. So, one year, he decides to mimic the Rockettes, and I'm like, 'that checks out.' It's hilarious. I didn't expect it to be something that we would expect every year."
Daly is 6'5" tall and weighs 250 pounds. His girls say their dad's Thanksgiving performance is unique.
"It's just completely random," Mannie Daly said. "It's totally unrehearsed. He starts to flail, and it's a lot of twitching. It's so goofy. The whole thing is so dorky and endearing. But, it's so sweet to see this man genuinely put his all into this dance."
"My favorite part is during the kick line, his leg can only come up so far, so his chest goes down," Ricki Myrick said. "So, he's like parallel to the ground when doing the kick line. But, it's our favorite part of the whole Rockettes."
"The irony is you get him on a dancefloor at a wedding or turn on some Earth, Wind & Fire, he has moves and rhythm," Browning said. "But something about the kick line and the formality of that type of dancing and him being so large...he doesn't bend that way. So, when he tries, it becomes a comedy act."
Daly will always remember the year when his Thanksgiving morning performance resulted in an injury.
"It was probably about 18-19 years ago when I did one of my sidekicks, and I kicked the couch and broke my toe," Daly said. "To this day, that is their favorite moment, and they've asked me to duplicate it, and I say, 'That's not going to happen.'"
In 2023, Daly decided to do something new for his performance, which now includes grandkids.
"I brought an outfit into the production last year. So, I dressed up as an elf. Two of my grandkids got up and danced with me," Daly said. "I've asked two of my sons-in-law to consider taking over. Neither of them will. Apparently, I'm doing this as long as I possibly can or as long as they'll let me."
Daly's daughters post their dad's Thanksgiving performance on their social media pages.
"I feel like my earliest memories are when people started reaching out to us and asking to see the footage. That's when I knew it was a big deal," Mannie Daly said.
"We post it on our social because the people require it," Browning said. "I'll be getting messages like, 'Hey, did he do it this year?'"
Daly will do it again this year after his annual warmup.
"I get anxious and nervous about it every time," Daly said. "I'll stretch for about 30 minutes because there's a better chance that I'm going to hurt myself every year. I have to make sure there's a glass of water close by afterwards because I'm pretty tired."
Daly looks forward to his family tradition and the laughter that ensues with every kick.
"One of the things I love is they're laughing the entire time. It's silly. Maybe stupid. It's comical," Daly said. "To see my daughters laugh, it may be at my expense, which is fine. I've learned at 60 years old, I can laugh at myself, and it doesn't matter. It's about bringing family and friends together."