is currently underway!
the Chesapeake Cotillion
The 2024-2025 season of
Add your family to the Invite List to make sure you receive an invitation when classes are held for your child's age group!
add me to the list
Level 1
Level 2
The social basics: shaking hands, sitting, walking, and talking.
Introducing yourself and others with confidence.
DANCE The 'slow-quick-quick' rhythm of the Rumba and the basic box step.
Conversations, small talk, and interview skills.
Making friends and reading social cues.
DANCE The history and foundational steps of the Carolina shag.
How to Talk to anybody
Carrying Yourself with Dignity
Class One
Here's what we're learning at cotillion:
Level 1
Level 2
Audiences and funerals.
Carpool and public transportation.
Sports etiquette.
DANCE We introduce closed dance position and teach the gentlemen how to lead a rotation and turn.
Understanding dress codes and how to tie a tie.
Gentlemanly courtesies (which are also important for ladies so they are able to recognize a gentleman!)
DANCE We take the basic shag step and learn to add lady turns and gentleman turns.
Dress and Gents
Manners in Public
Class Two
Level 1
Level 2
Phones, texts, and emails.
Selfies and gaming.
Building a noble online presence that isn't all about your follower count.
DANCE We add more moves to our Rumba repertoire.
Polite guests and hospitable hosts.
Giving and receiving gifts.
RSVPs and thank you notes.
DANCE We try our hand (er, feet) at some fancier shag steps like Apple Jacks and the Sugarfoot.
Navigating A Digital World
You're Invited to the Party
Class Three
Note-writing.
Addressing envelopes.
DANCE All dance steps are reviewed in preparation for the ball!
Correspondence Clinic + Dance review
Class Four
"your program blows the others away"
"The more cotillion classes my children attend, the more comfortable they become in formal social settings. As a family that has years of cotillion experience, your program blows the others away!"
The McLamb Family
show this video to your kid!
A lot of kids are nervous about cotillion because they simply don't know what to expect.
This video gives them all the details to help them walk through the door with confidence.
Here's what to expect:
Since 2016, I've been teaching etiquette to middle and high school kids. I intentionally chose this age group because I think they are the perfect age to learn and develop those vital social skills that will follow them to adulthood. My goal with my students (and my own kids) is to foster polite humans who love their neighbors more than themselves.
When I'm not teaching etiquette classes or directing cotillions, I work with my family on our tobacco and soybean farms. My husband, Lee, and I have four kids: Bear, Penny, River, and Galley. We live in Edenton, North Carolina, just about an hour from Hampton Roads.
Sydney dunn is an etiquette instructor from north carolina
Meet The Director
what if my child has allergies?
Please email me prior to the start of the event to discuss any allergies and I will do my best to accommodate as I have for many students in the past. Of course, I cannot guarantee the availability and safety of food items, but I am glad to work together to make sure your child has a plan and feels safe.
refund policy
Refunds are available until September 30th (less a $25 administrative fee). No refunds will be available after September 30th.
phone policy
Phones should not be visible during any part of the class, including the refreshment break.
Policies and Common Qs & As:
I still have a few questions...
do parents attend?
Parents are invited to observe the last 15 minutes of any class (optional) and the last 45 minutes of the ball (highly encouraged!). Parents are also asked to volunteer as chaperones throughout the season. Please indicate on your registration form if you would like to chaperone.
where can i find clothes for cotillion?
For boys, I like Macy's, Land's End, and Belk. For ladies, I like Dillard's, J. Crew, Ralph Lauren, Macy's, and Belk. Check out this Dress Code page that includes more details, photos, and links.
what if my child has to miss a class?
The information in each class subsequently builds toward the ball, but missing one isn't a deal breaker! Your student will be able to go over the missed material in their student booklet, complete the assignment, and watch the online dance lesson corresponding to the missed class so they'll be ready for the next event!
Does my daughter have to wear a dress?
For ladies who don't enjoy wearing dresses, jumpsuits are a great option! Our dress code page includes several non-dress options that still fit within the dress code for their gender.
call, text, or email- whatever's easiest for you. I'll get back with you shortly!
Still have questions?
contact sydney
Copyright 2024 Sydney Dunn Etiquette LLC
TERMS & CONDITIONS | PHOTOS BY LITTLE TUNA STUDIOS
Page designed by em shop
Copyright 2024 Sydney Dunn Etiquette LLC | TERMS & CONDITIONS | Photos by Little tuna studios | Page designed by em shop