Cotillion

My 8 year old has been going to JDW Cotillions as part of the 3rd & 4th grade group.  My understanding of cotillion was that it consisted of social etiquette and manners.  I was pleasantly surprised that it was much more than that.  Yes, there is a dress code, girls where white gloves and flats or low heels, boys where pants, tie and jackets.  They learn how to introduce themselves and others, dining etiquette and dance steps like the Waltz, Box Step, Foxtrot and Swing Hustle.  The 5 part series will culminate with an event at the Brown Palace Hotel.

I never took part in any type of etiquette class or social skills development and feel that it is a shortcoming of mine.  In fact I used to shovel food into my mouth before it was pointed out to me how to hold a fork in college.  I don't know any dance moves and was socially quite awkward as a teen and into adulthood.  I am hoping that by exposing my kids to Cotillion they can avoid some of my limiters and gain some of the experience that other kids get in private boarding schools or finishing schools.

Who knows, maybe we can do once a week formal dinner at home with some dancing in the dining room afterwards.