Like Mother, Like Daughter
Celebrating the legacy of the Marching Southerners Ballerinas with stories that span generations
By Brett Buckner
Family is a word often used to describe the Marching Southerners of Jacksonville State University. Within that family exists a sisterhood — a unique bond forged among young women experiencing a pivotal time in their lives together.
“I think the Marching Ballerinas have always been a sisterhood,” said Noelle Stovall, who has served as Marching Ballerina coordinator for 14 seasons. “It is a team you can return to year after year and feel like you belong – like you did something special with your fellow Marching Ballerinas. I think that is even more visible when you share that with a family member – it is something that crosses generations.”
This season, there are three Ballerinas – Coral Church, Ava Nicholson, and Anna Kate Schuler - whose mothers were also Ballerinas. In Ava’s case, her aunt was also a Ballerina. It was the stories they heard growing up of the rich traditions, the honor, the excitement, the hard work, and the enduring friendships that inspired these young women to follow in their mother’s footsteps.
Still, nothing could truly prepare them — or anyone — for the moment they first take the field with 400 instruments roaring behind them and thousands cheering in front.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Stovall said. “Knowing you are doing something you love at a high level among other women who love dancing and love you. We are creating moments that change lives – because each of the current women on the line has a memory of the performance they saw that made them say, ‘I want to do THAT!’’’
Which is why so many choose to pursue their dreams of being a Marching Ballerina, as do their daughters.
“It makes complete sense to me as a mother to want your daughter to experience something that life-changing,” Stovall said, “and to come back year after year for another moment in front of the Marching Southerners.”
The Marching Ballerinas were created in 1956 by Dr. John T. Findley to perform alongside the Southerners. As only the fourth dance line of its kind in the country, Dr. Findley envisioned an auxiliary unit that would add precision and visual flair to the band’s performance.
That remains the Ballerinas’ role to this day. However, under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth Bodiford, the dance line has become a more integral part of the band’s show design by incorporating modern dance, costumes and joining the colorguard to paint a broader visual portrait. It’s a vision that Stovall continues to bring to life.
“My goal is to create choreography that is musical and precise,” Stovall said. “I want the audience to be able to watch the Marching Ballerinas and see what they are hearing.”
‘Always looking to impress’
Anna Kate Schuler and mother, Melanie Schuler
Melanie Schuler (née Bottoms) secretly wished her daughter, Anna Kate, would one day follow in her footsteps as a member of the Marching Ballerinas. But not for the reasons some might expect.
“I hoped that she would join not to be like me, but because it was the most incredible experience,” Melanie said. “When you’re a part of something like that, you want other people to be able to experience it, too.”
Melanie was a Ballerina from 1994 to 1996, with her final performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“The Marching Ballerinas and Southerners programs are grounded in tradition and steeped in excellence,” she said. “Respect for the first and constantly working toward the second are lessons that are non-negotiables in these programs and great life lessons for the kids who are a part of it.”
Melanie joined the Marching Ballerinas as a freshman the same year Dr. Ken Bodiford became director of the Marching Southerners. Now, as Bodiford retires after 32 years, she’s grateful Anna Kate had the chance to work under his leadership for the past two seasons.
“He navigated some rough waters to transition the band, the Ballerinas, and the colorguard to be not only current but cutting edge, while continuing to honor the traditions,” she said. “In order to continue and thrive, change has to happen. While some people may bemoan that Ballerinas aren’t just like they used to be, I would argue that they honor the most important traditions while becoming so much more than they used to be.”
Melanie graduated from Jax State in 1997 with a degree in fashion merchandising and marketing but never forgot her time in the “sisterhood” of the Marching Ballerinas. When she became a mom, she brought her kids to Southerners reunion games, where she’d join alumni on the field at halftime. In the days and weeks leading up to those performances, she knew she had her daughter’s attention.
“Anna Kate watched me practice ‘Quilting Party’ in our kitchen every year,” Melanie said, referring to one of the Ballerinas’ beloved standards. “She tried on my boots and saw all the pictures. When she was younger, she always said that’s what she would do — but I knew better than to push it.”
There was a time when Anna Kate had her heart set on attending Auburn. “But ultimately, she said Jax State just felt like home and made her own choice,” Melanie said. “But just like me, once that decision was made, she knew she would be auditioning to become a Ballerina.”
Now 20, Anna Kate is in her second year on the line, and her mother’s experience is never far from her mind.
“I'm always looking to impress her, of course,” she said, “but she's never made me feel pressured to do so. To see her face in the crowd is the most comforting thing that can happen during a performance.”
Like her mother, Anna Kate started dancing at the age of five. As her passion grew, she couldn’t imagine college without dance— making Jax State the clear choice.
“The Marching Ballerinas appealed to me because my mother was one and loved it so much,” she said. “But more than that, the Marching Ballerinas carry such a strong Southern tradition, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”
While Anna Kate had her mother’s influence, it was Melanie’s high school band director — a former Marching Southerner — who guided her to Jax State. Melanie played the flute in the high school marching band before spending her last two years as a majorette.
“Once I made the decision to attend Jacksonville State, I knew I wanted to be a Marching Ballerina,” she said. “I loved marching band, and I very much wanted to continue dancing. Several of the majorettes ahead of me had gone on to be Ballerinas, and I really looked up to them.”
In her first year with the Ballerinas, there were eight girls on the line from her hometown of Hokes Bluff, Alabama.
While Anna Kate is still creating the kind of memories her mother now cherishes, both agree that’s there’s one thing about being a Marching Ballerina neither will forget – the practices. Those “hot, grueling practices” that bond all current, past and future dancers.
“Not just within Ballerinas or one section, but with the total band,” Melanie said. “Ballerinas wouldn’t exist without the Southerners, and being a part of that magic is just indescribable.”
Thursday night practices were always Melanie’s favorites, when the troupe performed at pep rallies in the stadium at the end of rehearsal.
“I remember sitting in the end zone stretching,” she said, “with the Southerners warming up, then playing ‘Stars Fell on Alabama’ and thinking that I would never forget the feeling of being a small part of all of it.”
Practice for each upcoming season begins in May and requires a persistent and dedicated effort, but that’s what Anna Kate loves about it.
“At times it can feel like a lot, and I get extremely tired,” she said. “But when you're in the stadium and about to perform, that all disappears. It is more than all your hard work paying off, it is doing the thing you love most with the people you love the most.”
Watching Anna Kate dance is emotional for her mother.
“They get to do a lot more actual dancing than we did, so I’ll admit I’m a little jealous,” she said. “Anna Kate is a beautiful dancer. I think she’s so much better than I was. But people tell me all the time that watching her is like watching me — and I consider that a compliment.
To be a Ballerina is to live with pressure, but Anna Kate knows her mother will be there for her no matter what.
“My mom has been someone that I can turn to in these times of stress,” she said. “I don't know how many phone calls she's received from me crying to her about rough practices or assignment deadlines, but I do know that she's always answered without hesitation.”
Enjoy Every Moment
Ava Nicholson, Laura Nicholson, Jeana O’Bryant
By Brett Buckner
Ava Nicholson knew that one day she’d take the field as a Marching Ballerina for Jacksonville State University. No one could fault her youthful confidence. After all, Ava’s talent for dance spans generations.
Both Ava’s mother, Laura Nicholson (née Gilbert), and her aunt, Jeana O’Bryant (née Gilbert), were dancers for the Marching Ballerinas. According to Ava, Laura and Jeana would “whip out” Ballerina songs all the time. They especially loved showing Ava “The Quilting Party” dance.
“They always told me how much work being a ballerina was and how much they loved every second on the field,” said Ava, a freshman in her first year on the line. “They were very proud to say that they were Marching Ballerinas. They both encouraged and inspired me to audition.”
Ava’s mother, Laura Nicholson, marched from 1999 to 2001 before graduating with a degree in elementary education in 2002. When she was a senior cheerleader in high school, Laura’s mother, who was also a Jax State graduate, took her to see the Ballerinas perform.
“I was amazed and wanted to try out,” she said.
Jeana Gilbert, Ava’s aunt and Laura’s sister, marched from 2004 to 2007, serving as a group leader during her last two years. After graduating in 2008 with a degree in secondary education, general science, Jeana continued working with the Ballerinas as a fitness trainer and graduate student, earning a master’s degree in secondary education, biology.
Growing up, Jeana wanted to be like her big sister.
“I always looked up to her,” Jeana said. “I wanted to follow in her footsteps and be part of something so special. I loved watching her on Saturdays.”
With that kind of lineage, it’s no surprise Ava dreamed of joining the Marching Ballerinas for as long as she could remember. She began dance lessons at the Downtown Dance Conservatory in Gadsden at age three.
“I can’t remember my life without dance,” she said, “and I am thankful for everything dance has taught me.”
But dreams require work. Ava spent countless hours — more than 15 years — training at the Conservatory dance studio. The first time she saw the Marching Ballerinas was at the Midsouth festival her freshman year in high school.
“I was mesmerized,” Ava said. “I always wanted to be a Ballerina, but watching them that day left me amazed. I knew then that I could not give up on this dream. I had to dance on that field as a Marching Ballerina.”
Auditions for the 2025 season were in April, followed by Spring Camp in May and three weekend summer practices. Potential members also had weekly video assignments until Band Camp began on August 1 and went from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. for nearly three weeks.
Having been there and survived, Laura had simple advice for her daughter.
“Being a Ballerina is hard work, and it takes a lot of dedication,” she said. “Make lots of memories and enjoy every moment.”
During Band Camp, the Ballerinas learned choreography for pregame, halftime, and the program’s traditional songs. Once classes started at Jax State, practices were held two hours daily and four hours on Wednesdays.
All the exhaustion disappeared the moment Ava stepped onto Burgess-Snow Field in AmFirst Stadium. “The countless drops of sweat are finally worth it,” she said. “The feeling of stepping on the field is like no other, and I would not trade it for anything. When we perform, the crowd takes the atmosphere to another level. The excitement rushes through my body, and adrenaline kicks in. I will cherish every memory I have made so far and the ones to come.”
Looking back to her audition, Ava admits that there was additional pressure. She couldn’t help but worry - what if she didn’t make it after both her mom and aunt did?
“But that thought just encouraged me to work even harder,” Ava said. “Knowing that they were both watching me perform ‘Quilting Party’ for the first time was so exciting because I had finally earned my Santa suit and boots after seeing theirs for all those years.”
When Ava made the line, Laura was proud but also excited for the experiences to come.
“When I see her in her Santa suit and watch her dance,” Lauren said, “especially when she does the same dances I used to do, it brings back lots of wonderful memories.”
Ava’s aunt was never worried.
“I always thought she would be a Jax State Ballerina,” Jeana said. “Her mom and I stood at the top of the stadium watching her perform on the field for the first time, and our eyes filled with tears of joy.”
For Ava, the experience has been everything she hoped for — and more.
“This line brings me so much joy,” she said. “I love every single girl on the line with my whole heart. We perform the way we do because we have a bond that is so strong. We love and lift each other up every day.”
Being a Ballerina has already taught Ava countless lessons, and she knows she didn’t get here alone.
“This dream would not have come true on my own,” she said. “I will forever thank Jesus for this opportunity to dance at the next level. I am extremely blessed Christ has placed me on this line as a Marching Ballerina.”
Cherished Bonds of Friendship
Coral Church and Amber Church
“Cool” isn’t a word daughters often use to describe their mothers — unless, of course, they find out that their mom was once a Marching Ballerina.
For Coral Church, that realization hit in high school, when she began to fully understand what her mother, Amber Church (née Manning), had accomplished.
“That’s when I began to really realize what an honor it was to be a Marching Ballerina,” said the 20-year-old junior from Pell City, “and what an esteemed legacy she was part of.”
Now Coral is part of that same legacy. She’s in her third year as a Marching Ballerina and currently serves as leader of the Tall Group.
“I love to show people side-by-side photos of my mom wearing the same Santa suit that I now wear,” Coral said. “It is also so much fun to get to know alumni and then realize that they actually danced on the line with my mom.” Among them is Anna Kate Schuler, whose mother, Melanie, performed alongside Amber.
Coral, practically a dancer from birth, knew in high school that she wanted to continue dancing after graduation. But academics were her top priority, leaving Coral to worry that she wouldn’t be able to dance and maintain her grades. That changed for her during her junior year, when she saw the Marching Southerners perform at the Midsouth Marching Festival.
“I couldn’t take my eyes away,” she said. “I decided in that moment that I had to at least try out for the Marching Ballerinas. I couldn’t let such an amazing opportunity pass me by without giving it a chance.”
One person never had any doubt.
“Coral was always a performer,” Amber said. “By her early years in high school, I felt sure she would pursue becoming a Marching Ballerina. When I found out she made the team, it was pure joy. She worked very hard preparing for tryouts. I knew she would be an asset to the team because she has an incredible work ethic.”
Amber marched as a Ballerina from 1993 to 1994 and still remembers the excitement of gameday — taking the field and the roar of the crowd. But those weren’t all her favorite parts being a Ballerina.
“I also cherished the bonds I made with the other girls,” said Amber, who graduated from Jax State in December 1995 with a degree in social work. “I still talk to my ‘Mommy’ Ballerina on a regular basis, and we remain good friends.”
Coral and her mother share another unique connection. Amber was a Marching Ballerina during Dr. Kenneth Bodiford’s first year as director of the Marching Southerners. Now, as he prepares to retire after 32 years, Coral dances during his final season.
“He is such an incredible man,” Coral said, “and he has made a permanent impact on the Marching Southerners and Jax State.”
Coral already appreciates what it all means, both now and in the future. “Being in the Marching Ballerinas has been an abundant blessing in my life,” she said. “It feels like just yesterday I was in my high school band room practicing for my first year of tryouts, and now my senior year is in sight. The people you meet as a Marching Ballerina make all the difference.”
Much like the exhibition performance she saw in high school, Coral knows that what she does now could inspire someone else.
“I was completely enamored, and that one performance changed the trajectory of my life,” she said. “I keep that in mind when I am performing now. I could be changing someone’s life with this performance.”
Coral doesn’t feel any added pressure knowing her mother is watching from the stands.
“While she is proud that I am carrying on the legacy, I don’t think she holds me to a more critical standard because of that,” Coral said. “She is there to cheer and support me no matter what.”
In all aspects of her life, Amber is her daughter’s best friend.
“Ballerinas are just another thing that I can talk to her about,” Coral said. “She appreciates the art and the hard work as someone who has been through it, but she also appreciates it from the perspective of a mother watching their kid’s hard work pay off.”