Courtesy and respect are social skills that are hit and miss at best in today’s society. Summer courtesies might include not flinging sand on your neighbors when you leave the beach. But Fall, glorious Fall brings a return to school or a job for some and preparation for navigating more formal settings. The summer Netflix hit “The Summer I Turned Pretty” brought the idea of attending Cotillion front a center to the modern teen experience. Fall is a perfect time to plan to attend one. This is especially true if you are at an age when you are looking to make a good impression at school interviews, new internship, or grade, or if you are beginning to date and planning to attend a dance or social occasion.
Participating in a Cotillion is not exactly like how it is depicted in the show but pretty close. Cotillions are a perfect place to learn or to better you social abilities in a fun, relaxed environment where your peers are learning the same skills.
Here are a few answers to key questions that can demystify a Cotillion experience.
What is a Cotillion? A Cotillion social education program instructs students about good manners and social graces and uses dance as a tool to teach public and character skills not normally covered in school. That’s really it and frankly the experience is priceless.
Why are Skills Taught at Cotillion Important? Studies by Harvard University, Stanford Research Institute and the Carnegie Foundation indicate that over 85 percent of one’s career success is directly connected to one’s social skills. Learning proper etiquette or comportment like, how to act in a public formal setting, developing a firm handshake, being able to look a person in the eye and holding a conversation are all skills that add up to a worthy investment in your future success. And yes- even navigating the dance floor is an important skill.
Why Should You Attend a Cotillion When You Are a Teenager? Cotillions are a chance to bring a ceremonial rite of passage of growing up to life — to really feel that ritual of aging like different cultures do and in the United States Cotillions are a different ways of marking that moment between childhood and adulthood.
If They are Criticized as Old Fashion by Some, Why are Cotillions Important to Today’s Teenagers? Cotillions are based on teaching courtesy and respect, and that includes appropriate ways to interact in the adult world and with the opposite sex. Through dance and etiquette instruction, Cotillions provide safe situations where members of the opposite gender can talk to one another, interact, smile, make eye contact, dance and practice treating each other kindly without judgement or worry.
Why do Cotillions Focus on Social Partner Dancing? The physical interaction associated with partner dancing provides a unique opportunity to develop teamwork and cooperation skills. Free form dancing, on the other hand, is a unique expression of personal style which cannot be taught. Cotillions often encourage students to use both partner and freeform dancing for their enjoyment.
Whether it is learning how to give a firm handshake or how to dance the waltz, the skills taught in cotillion classes are ones that will come in handy throughout your life.
Why Should I Attend Cotillion if I Could be Doing Other Things? Lessons learned at Cotillion on comportment and other skills can help a young person who participates take advantage of all the economic, social, educational, or even political opportunities of today. All the lessons that are taught help students find friends, keep friends, impress teachers, speak to adults, build in-person bonds, navigate relationships with the opposite sex. And ultimately know how to present yourself, how to network with others, really important life skills that you can use to do what you’ve got to do to be successful and well liked. You garner an amazing sense of accomplishment, though there won’t be a major dance number to perform at the end of the Cotillion like in the TV show you will learn to socially dance, move to music and be confidents amongst peers and adults.
No matter how you feel about Cotillion, it will be an experience unlike any other you'll have in your lifetime. Collecting new experiences is always interesting!