National League of Junior Cotillions
Northern Orange County Chapter
About
The purpose of the National League of Junior Cotillions is to offer young people instruction and practice in courtesies that make life more pleasant for them and to those around them; to offer them thorough training in the 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. The Junior Cotillion places as much emphasis on etiquette, manners, and character education as it does on dancing.
Year 1 Students are taught the basic skills of etiquette, such as proper handshaking and introductions, polite conversation, paying and receiving compliments, acknowledgement of gifts, correspondence and the RSVP, manners in the home, rules of proper telephone courtesy, basic table manners and sports etiquette. The students will also be introduced to the basic steps in the Foxtrot, Shag Swing, Waltz, Cha Cha, and line dance.
Year 2 offers an opportunity for students to broaden their skills by focusing on social manners in public places. The curriculum includes, Formal Dinner guidelines and table manners, being a guest in someone's home, hosting an event, party courtesies, first impressions, do's and don'ts of social networking. The skills from Year 1 continue to be reinforced in the Year 2 curriculum. Additional dance steps are added to the Foxtrot, Shag Swing, Waltz and Cha Cha. The highlight of the season is the Five Course Formal Instructional Dinner, where students are guided step by step thoughout the dinner as to proper use of the place setting, how to pass items around the table, proper use of utensils, and proper way to consume food and all the fine dining manners that would be expected. We also compare American and Continental dining styles during instruction.
Dress Code for Classes: Ladies should wear age-appropriate dresses or skirts, dress shoes (heels no higher that 2 inches, sandals permitted if it has a back strap), short white gloves (available at Parents' Reception or the first class, $10 cash or check). Gentlemen should wear Khaki pants, dress shirts, ties, navy or dark blazer and dress shoes (no sneakers please). Dress shirt should be tucked in.