Welcome

Parents,

You are cordially invited to a reception to learn more about the Craighead County Junior Cotillion Program (CCJC).  The parent reception will be held on May 19th at 6:00 p.m. at Harmony Gardens, 4517 E Parker Rd, Jonesboro, AR 72404.  No RSVP is required, and the event is for parents only.  Children from last year's Cotillion class will share some of the clothing from specific Cotillion events.  We will have boys and girls demonstrating typical attire and skills learned during the 2025/2026 Cotillion social season.   An overview of the 2026 through 2027 Cotillion program year will be provided, and questions will be answered.  Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.  We hope to see you on  May 22, 2026, at 6:00 in the evening, at Harmony Gardens on E. Parker Road for the drop-in reception.  Attendance at the reception is optional and provided for the purpose of sharing more about the Cotillion program.  We are honored to continue the great legacy of Dr. Beverly Gilbert, the CCJC director from 1997 to 2025.

Registration must be completed online at the CCJC website www.nljc.com/chapter/craighead.  To register, click on the term Registration on the left of the website home page, or if you are using your cell phone, click on the dots or lines at the top right of your phone screen.        

Please text or call if you have questions, 870.926.2552.  Our email is [email protected].

William and Claire Silas, Owners and Directors of the Craighead County Junior Cotillions                                                                        

 Cotillion Schedule 2026-2027

Registration is Live!

To register, click on the term Registration on the left of this page, or if you are using your cell, click on the dots or lines at the top right of your phone screen.      

We are beyond excited to be able to provide the Cotillion program for Craighead County and the Northeast Arkansas area.  If you are interested in Cotillion and want more information, please email me at [email protected] or contact us via cell, 870.926.2552.   

The Mission of Junior Cotillion is to offer young people instruction and practice in the courtesies that make life more pleasant for them and those around them; to offer training in standard ballroom dance; and to provide opportunities to practice and enjoy these skills at memorable parties, dances/classes and balls, complete with decorations, refreshments, favors and prizes.

Announcements

COTILLION DETAILS: TYPICAL LOCATIONS AND TIMES: 

The Parent Reception is held at HarmonyGardens, located at 4517 E Parker Rd, Jonesboro, AR 72404. All other events are held at  Arkansas State University, Reng Student Union (Centennial Hall Ballroom) 101 N. Caraway Road.  Event Times are as follows: Parent Reception 6:00 p.m. Parents Only;   Back to School Icebreaker (August) 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.  Oct. , Nov., and March Classes 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. December Holiday Class and Instructional Dinner - 6:00 - 930;  Winter Ball, Valentine Class - 7:00 - 9:30, and Grand Spring Ball 7:00 – 9:30. 

TUITION:  Membership dues are $425.00 and include all costs for all training, balls, classes, and the instructional dinner.  We highly recommend that you send in your reservation early, as class sizes are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes are filled according to the date the tuition is received. Tuition may be paid in full with the application or half with the application and the remaining half as soon as possible. Initial payment is due July 1, and final payment must be received by July 31, 2026. There will be no refunds except in the case of extraordinary circumstances. 

APPROPRIATE DRESS:  

August Back to School Icebreaker -  Ladies should wear casual sundresses, rompers, etc.  Gentlemen should wear shorts and a collared shirt or something comparable.  The Back to School Icebreaker is casual.    

All Classes - Starting with the Introduction Class in September, all Junior Cotillion sessions are dress-up affairs for which careful grooming is required. Hair should be neatly combed; fingernails clipped and clean, shoes polished, and so forth. Dancing requires hard-soled shoes; no athletic shoes or flip flops, please. Ladies should wear conservative Sunday dresses or skirts and dress shoes for classes. Gloves are required. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers.

Winter Ball - Ladies should wear knee-length or longer holiday dresses or skirts, short white gloves, and dress shoes. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers or suits.

Grand Spring Ball -The Grand Spring Ball is a semi-formal event for which appropriate dress is required. Ladies should wear formal, white or ivory dresses and white gloves. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers or suits. Black-tie tuxedos optional. 

Parents’ Dip Into Dancing – Parents, Guardians, or special family members and friends are invited to join us for the last hour of our Valentine’s Class for the parent-child dances.  There is a Father -Daughter Dance and the Mother-Son Dance.  

Grand Spring Ball:

Parents, guardians, family members, or special friends are invited to attend the final hour of the Grand Spring Ball to observe the formal student presentations and parent dance. Fathers will dance the waltz with daughters and mothers with sons.  Children completing the Cotillion program will be formally presented at the Grand Spring Ball.  

The Winter and Grand Spring Balls provide students with a formal environment to practice the etiquette and dance skills they have learned and to enjoy the self-assurance that comes from knowing the proper manners to use. The evenings include special prizes, contests, and dancing. 

SIXTH GRADE PROGRAMS: In addition to the usual courtesies connected with dancing, instruction also includes etiquette, manners, and character education. The social and character education components of the program include rules of cell phone courtesy, acknowledgment of gifts, introductions, receiving lines, participating in group settings, polite conversation, paying and receiving compliments, sports etiquette, first impressions, dress code for all occasions, manners in the home and in public, table manners, formal place settings, American styles of eating, skills involved in being a guest, hostess or host, and many other areas of social behavior. Dance instruction includes steps in the Foxtrot, Swing, Waltz, Cha Cha, and current line dances. The Junior Cotillion setting encourages children to be comfortable together, make new friends, and enjoy themselves. After constant practice in a peer group, young ladies and gentlemen are expected to leave the program with confidence and poise that come from knowing the proper etiquette in any social situation. Instruction in dancing and etiquette is given throughout all sessions and is taught according to grade level. For the 6th grade, highlights of the year are an instructional dinner and the Grand Spring Ball, which provide a formal environment where all students are able to demonstrate learned etiquette and dance skills.

JUNIOR COTILLION SCHEDULE & ATTIRE 

August- Ladies should wear a casual sundress, romper, etc.  Gentlemen should wear shorts and a collared shirt.

Classes - All Junior Cotillion sessions are dress-up affairs for which careful grooming is required. Hair should be neatly combed; fingernails clipped and clean, shoes polished, and so forth. Dancing requires hard-soled shoes; no athletic shoes or flip flops, please. Ladies should wear conservative Sunday dresses or skirts and dress shoes for classes. Gloves are required. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers; suits are also acceptable, of course.

Winter Ball - Ladies should wear knee-length or longer holiday dresses or skirts, short white gloves, and dress shoes. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers.

Grand Spring Ball -The Grand Spring Ball is a semi-formal event for which appropriate dress is required. Ladies should wear formal, white or ivory dresses and white gloves. Gentlemen should wear khaki pants, white dress shirts, ties, and navy or dark blazers or suits. Black-tie tuxedos are optional for gentlemen.  Parents, family members, or special friends are invited to dance the waltz with the students.   

Parents’ Dip Into Dancing – Parents, family members, or special guests are invited to join the children for the last hour of our Valentine Class for dance. Fathers dance with daughters, and mothers dance with sons. 

Monthly Schedule - Classes are held once a month due to busy lifestyles. Studies have shown this to be an effective schedule. We follow the 5-class schedule with 2 balls and the August icebreaker.  Students are more likely to retain skills that are learned over a longer period of time. Etiquette booklets are given to students to take home at the first class.  For each class, students are assigned a “Cotillion Challenge,” which allows them to practice the skills they have learned in class. These booklets are to be brought to every class, but not to the balls. Students have the opportunity to earn prizes for completing assignments. The Instructional Dinner begins with a tutorial dinner focusing on table etiquette, including proper use of napkins, utensils, proper silverware positions, and more. Students are guided with individual attention and instruction as each course is served.

The Winter and Grand Spring Balls allow students a formal environment to practice the etiquette and dance skills they have learned and to enjoy the self-assurance that comes from knowing the proper manners to use. The evenings include special prizes, contests, party favors, and dancing. 

Acceptable Behavior - Members are required to conduct themselves at all times in accordance with the courtesies taught. The director reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any lady or gentleman who fails to show progress in this area. At no time will the students be allowed to loiter around the facilities or in the restrooms. Parents and guests of Junior Cotillion members have a standing invitation to observe Junior Cotillion sessions and may chaperone specified classes during the year. It is a joyous sight to see these young people in action. Parents are encouraged to stress the importance of prompt arrival and departure for each event.

TUITION:  Membership dues are $425.00 and include all costs for the training, balls, and instructional dinner. We highly recommend that you send in your reservation early, as class sizes are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes are filled according to the date the tuition is received. Tuition may be paid in full with the application or registration, which is due on or before July 1.  The remaining half of the tuition should be paid as soon as possible, with a deadline of July 31.  The final date for full and complete payment is July 31, 2026.  There will be no refunds except in the case of extraordinary circumstances. Parents may choose to pay in full or to provide partial payment at the Parent Reception in May.  

About Director

William and Claire Silas are the owners and directors of Craighead County Junior Cotillion.  We are excited to continue the great legacy of Dr. Beverly Gilbert, the former owner and director of CCJC from 1997 to 2025.