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Adrian Cortes
60th Anniversary
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Adrian Cortes
Belle Alums
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Adrian Cortes
60th Anniversary Routine
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Dina Mathews circa 1966
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1987
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1997
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2003
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2017
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"America's Got Talent" circa 2019
Since 1963, the Emerald Belles have been a symbol of Dragon greatness, from competing on nationally televised talent shows to performing for professional league’s halftime shows. By every account, the Belles didn’t just inspire excellence – they cultivated it.
Celebrating 60 years of high-kicking pageantry on Sept. 1 at Dragon Stadium, nearly 200 alums and 76 current members performed a grand halftime show to songs like “Tonight’s Gonna Be A Good Night,” “We Are Family” and “Last Dance.”
Where It All Started
Before there were drill teams, there were pep squads. In the 1920s, over 150 high schools throughout Texas and the Southwest had squads that ranged from 10 to 180 members. Yet in 1929, Gussie Nell Davis of Greenville, Texas, forever changed the concept of pep squads by envisioning a precision dance group performing alongside the band. It was then that the modern drill team was born.
Southlake Carroll took its first steps toward drill team history in 1963 when the Emerald Belles were established. According to Dina Mathews, a member of the original charter, establishing a drill team enabled more girls to participate in Friday night football games and school-spirited activities. They were quickly accepted, receiving overwhelming support and praise from both the stadium’s home side and opposing teams for their precise and eye-catching routines.
What began as a small group of 26 girls wearing their mother’s hand-sewn uniforms while performing to vinyl records burgeoned into a nationally-acclaimed group of 70-100 members following in their bootsteps. Dina likened the phenomenon to watching a child grow up.
Building The Tradition
Over the past six decades, there have been about seven Southlake Carroll drill team directors. The longest-tenured and current Emerald Belles director, Melissa Page, has been with the program since 1997, culminating more time with the team than the previous six directors combined.
Under her supervision, the Emerald Belles performed for the Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruises, Fiesta Texas and Disney World. They also became the only high school drill team to perform a halftime show for the Dallas Mavericks – not once, but three times. Last but not least, the team made it to the quarterfinals of “America’s Got Talent” and appeared on the “Kelly Clarkson Show” shortly thereafter.
The limelight of national television may have given the Belles a new level of exposure, yet their culture has been steadfast since the beginning. Many alums and current members describe a prolific connection rooted in tradition, tenacity and dependability, often attributing their personal success to the fortitude that was instilled at a young age.
“It gave me groundwork for myself to have confidence and to be a stronger person for the rest of my life,” Dina says.
Although the hats, hairstyles, boots and uniforms may have changed, the pride associated with the uniform has always remained. More than 550 current and former Belles from 13 states made their way home to commemorate six generations of sisterhood, proving their combined legacy is more than a show – it’s decades of shared community.
Some may be sisters or mothers, others may be friends or guardians, but more often than not, when the Belles look into the audience, familiar faces are smiling back. In fact, some mother-daughter duos were in attendance, such as Allison Newbury-Odette and Avery Odette, as well as Marion Fielder-Compton and daughters Annette Compton-Marler and Dianna Compton-Moore.
With their classes collectively ranging from 1964 to 2024, these ladies are testaments to the generational evolution of Emerald Belles. Though all Belles may not be blood relatives, they are all still family.
More Than A Drill Team
As a result of 1,500 dedicated dancers and Melissa’s 27 years of directorship, the Emerald Belles have fostered a culture that reaches far beyond the stadium and into the community.
Melissa has taught each Belle to inspire change and lead by example, coining the motto “Be Kind, Be A Belle” in 2018 as a reminder of what the team represents – authenticity.
“The Emerald Belles are more than just dancing on a football field or a contest,” Melissa says. “It’s being aware of how we treat each other.”
In 2023 alone, the Belles committed 3,400 hours of community service locally while continuing to utilize social media platforms to spread their message of kindness and compassion.
As one chapter ends and another begins, the Emerald Belles continue to demonstrate that they aren’t just part of the community – they’re stewards of the community, creating positive reform and paying it forward from one generation to the next.