Welcome

Welcome to the Charlotte Junior Cotillion's home page!  

Junior Cotillion is a character education program that teaches middle school students etiquette, manners and contemporary ballroom dancing skills. The goal of the program is to help young people learn how to be confident, kind and respectful in a variety of social situations.

Junior Cotillion typically begins in the 6th grade for Year 1 and continues on in the 7th grade for the Year 2 program. Please see more information below. 

Announcements

2025-26 Junior Cotillion Information

Registration is open for the 2025-26 Junior Cotillion season.  An overview of the program is posted below.  

If you are interested in particpating in the program, you may register online or contact Britton Cohn at [email protected].  

Class Details: 

Cotillion classes are 50% etiquette/manners and 50% ballroom dancing.  All dancing is done in a rotating dance circle to contemporary “top 40” music that has been screened for content and lyrics. Etiquette lessons are interactive and hands-on so students can practice as they learn.

Classes will meet one night a month for 1.5 hours at either Temple Beth El (in Shalom Park) or the South Charlotte Banquet Center (near Stonecrest.) Your child will be assigned to one of these locations based on where you live and where they go to school. You may also request a specific location as well. Classes will begin in September and conclude with a final ball in early March. Finalized class schedules will be emailed in early July along with additional class details. Final ball details will be emailed once the season begins. 

Students are kept in classes with their elementary school peers and if possible their middle school peers too. Each class will consist of 2-4 different schools. This allows the students to participate with their school friends while also meeting new peers from other schools. You may also request to attend with students from a different school too; please let me know. 

If you encounter a conflict on your scheduled class night, your child may switch to another Year 1 class that month so they do not miss the material being taught. Many students balance Cotillion with sports and other activities, and I will do my best to accommodate scheduling needs.

Manners and Etiquette Topics:

*Social Skills and Conversation - First Impressions, Greetings and Introductions, Handshakes, Nametags, Mastering Small Talk, Inclusivity, Kindness and Respect for Others, Empathy, When to Rise and more.  (These topcis are discussed at every class.)

*Manners in the Home, Being a Good Host/Hostess/Guest and Carpool Etiquette - Help with tasks around the house, clean-up after yourself, use indoor voices, respect other people's homes, greet and thank upon arrival and leaving, and more. 

*Table Manners and Basic Dining Etiquette - Teach how to properly use utensils to when to place your napkin in your lap to respectful behaviors like waiting for everyone to be served, chewing with your mouth closed, and saying "please" and "thank you."

*Place Settings - Learn to confidently handle a formal place setting - know your forks, knives, glasses and more and where they all belong. 

*Thank You Notes - Discuss their importance and provide guidelines to help. 

*Sports Etiquette - Discuss having the right attitude whether you win, lose or disagree with a call, etc. 

*Cell Phone Etiquette - Discuss appropriate times and uses for texting and calling. 

*Doors/Coats - Discuss the different kinds of doors, and the proper way to hold them for others. Show how to help someone put on or take off a coat, and the courteous way to hang it up afterward. 

*Serving Line - Teach how to navigate a serving line properly from plates/napkins to use of serving utensils, reasonable portion sizes, saying "please" and "thank you," and more. 

*Sit like Ladies and Gentlemen and Proper Escort Position

*Paying and Receiving Compliments and How to Graciously Receive a Gift

*Importance of RSVPing

Dancing: 

All dancing is done in a rotating dance circle to top 40 music that has been screened for content and lyrics. Each time the students rotate to a new partner, they will introduce themselves and practice small-talk skills. 

Registration: 

You may complete the online registration for the 2025-26 year here: www.charlottejuniorcotillion.com 

***If you are using your computer to register, the link is on the left side of the page. If you are using your cell phone to register, the link will be in the top right drop-down menu.

If you know of anyone else who might be interested in particpating, please forward this link to them: www.nljc.com/chapter/scharlotte 

Tuition:  

Tuition for the Year 1 program is $475.

Tuition for the Year 2 program is $475. 

Tuition includes everything for the year: notebooks, refreshments, prizes, class materials, instruction, Parent Dance (Year 1) or Holly Ball (Year 2), final balls/events, etc.  

You may pay half ($237.50) or full ($475) tuition with your child's registration to reserve their spot. If you pay half tuition, the remaining balance is due by the first class. Payment is accepted via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, check, or cash. While we do not offer discounts, payment plans are available; please reach out if needed. If you prefer to pay by Venmo, Zelle or check, you will receive an email after completing the online registration with those details. 

Spots fill on a first come, first serve basis to keep the boy/girl ratio even. Half tuition is required to reserve your child’s spot.

***I have extended the registration deadline for guaranteed placement with school friends or to honor special requests to Wednesday, June 25th. I can still accept registrations after this date, but I cannot guarantee what classes will have space available. 

**We pair schools together for class based on the boy/girl ratio. There will be no refunds after August 22, 2025 except in the case of extraordinary circumstances such as moving or illness, in fairness to the students who are in the class or who have been placed on the waiting list. Withdrawing last minute affects the class numbers and takes the opportunity away from an interested family who was placed on the waiting list.

Please contact Britton Cohn if you have any questions or if you are interested in receiving more information for the Year 1 program or the Year 2 program at [email protected] or at 803.360.5892.

About Director

Britton Cohn has been the Director of The Charlotte Junior Cotillion since 2013. Britton's journey with the National League of Junior Cotillions (NLJC) began as a student in 1994 when her mother, Jan Cohn, started the Columbia, SC chapter. After completing the program, she began assisting her mom, and has remained activiely involved with the organizaion ever since  - more than 30 years and counting. 

Britton is originally from Columbia, SC. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Oregon and a Masters in Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina. Prior to graduate school, Britton had the amazing opportunity of working as an English teacher in Japan for two years where she taught Japanese students ranging from 2 to 74 years in age. That experience sparked a lifelong passion for exploring new places and understanding different cultures.  She is incredibly grateful for her travels as they have all enriched her worldview, and she loves being able to provide her students with a cultural experience or lesson each month. She has also enjoyed volunteering for the past 12 years with the Mitey Riders organization, a therapeutic horseback riding program that supports children with disabilities. "I see kindness and empathy as the foundation for a life filled with purpose and connection, and I strive to instill these values in the students I teach."

Britton is committed to making manners and etiquette both relevant and engaging, while ensuring the students have fun and leave each session with confidence and a smile. Over the past 12 years, Britton has had the privilege of teaching more than 6,500 middle school students in the Charlotte area. "I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to wake up each day doing what I love. I’m so excited for the upcoming season, and I can’t wait to welcome another amazing group of students." 

For more information, please visit www.charlottejuniorcotillion.com or email me at [email protected]