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Wilson Cotillion
The 2026-2027 season of the
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Hello there! I'm Sydney Dunn and as a cotillion director, my goal is to come alongside parents to help grow their children into kind, capable, respectful, and socially-confident adults. Cotillion provides the perfect opportunity to practice those face-to-face interactions and social skills that will follow them the rest of their lives.
I've been teaching etiquette throughout eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia since 2016. After many years in Wilson, I’m excited to support my dear colleague, Chelsea Bowen, as she continues to bring this program to the families of Wilson.
My husband, Lee, and I live in Edenton and have a farm and four children. As you can imagine, our life is never boring!
Sydney dunn
Director
Meet The Leaders
Hi, I’m Chelsea! I am thrilled to partner with Sydney's vision and continue this phenomenal program in Wilson County.
I’m originally from Roper, NC, and moved to Washington in 2012 after marrying my high school sweetheart, Andy. Today, I’m a stay-at-home, homeschooling mama, and part-time wedding planner. Since 2023 I’ve been honored to lead cotillion programming for families in Washington under Sydney's guidance. I’m thrilled to now bring that experience to the Wilson program.
We live in a world where the word “social” is most commonly associated with the word “media” and communication most often happens behind a screen and via thumbs. I believe, now more than ever, it is imperative that we intentionally cultivate social and communication skills in our students by presenting opportunities in which they are compelled to learn and grow. And that, my friends, is what cotillion is all about.
I look forward to meeting your children and hope they leave their time with us feeling more empowered and ready to engage the world with tremendous poise and purpose.
CHELSEA BOWEN
Lead instructor
what we're learning at cotillion:
Navigate a formal, full-course dinner, including proper fork and knife technique
Handle spills or social mishaps with composure
Interact well with peers, adults, and servers at the table
Demonstrate (and acknowledge) gentlemanly courtesies
REAL TALK Handle embarrassing moments with composure and help others do the same
Formal Dining & Gentlemanly Conduct
Dinner
FEBRUARY
Dress appropriately for different social situations
Manage their appearance independently, including tying a tie
Use phones, texting, and video games with discretion and self-control
Represent themselves positively online
REAL TALK Use good judgment online in posts, comments, and reactions
DANCE Line dance and how to spin a partner
Personal Appearance & Digital Life
Class Three
JANUARY
DECEMBER
Conduct themselves appropriately in public such as performances, sporting events, and while traveling
Act as a polite guest and a considerate host
Respond correctly to invitations, gifts, and RSVPs
Demonstrate respect and adaptability toward people of all abilities and backgrounds
REAL TALK Address and repair conflict with honesty and maturity
DANCE We introduce closed dance position and a new line dance
Public Spaces & Community Life
Class Two
NOVEMBER
Start and maintain polite conversation using appropriate questions
Use polite words, phrases, and greetings
Listen without interrupting and respond thoughtfully
Recognize inappropriate topics and redirect politely
Set a place setting and use basic table manners
REAL TALK Disagree respectfully while showing empathy
DANCE Line dance the Rumba box step
Conversation & Table Manners
Afternoon Tea
october
Greet adults and peers confidently with proper posture and eye contact
Use a refreshment or buffet line politely
Introduce themselves and others appropriately
Sit, stand, walk, and move with confidence
REAL TALK Set personal boundaries clearly and follow through
DANCE Line dance and the 'slow-quick-quick' rhythm of the Rumba
First Impressions
Class One
Recognize when someone needs to be celebrated or encouraged and choose a thoughtful way to acknowledge them
Write appropriate thank-you, sympathy, and congratulatory notes
Address envelopes correctly
Demonstrate appropriate conduct at funerals and other reverent moments
Show respect for the American flag and military service, culminating in a student-led Missing Man Ceremony
REAL TALK Know when to speak up, let it go, or listen
DANCE Line dance, Rumba crossover breaks, and review of all dance steps for the ball
Honor, Gratitude, & Correspondence
Class Four
MaRCH
This full-course instructional dinner is held at a local restaurant, giving students hands-on practice navigating a formal meal with confidence. We’ll cover place settings, seating and menus, bread and soup, Continental fork-and-knife technique, interacting well with tablemates and servers, phones at the table, and handling the inevitable dining mishap with composure.
The evening also focuses on gentlemanly courtesies—with gentlemen practicing thoughtful ways to show consideration and ladies learning to recognize and acknowledge those courtesies graciously. Students wear Cotillion Semi-Formal attire and put their skills into practice throughout the meal.
Parent tickets may also be available for purchase, as space allows.
February
Formal Dinner
Instructional Meals
The Afternoon Tea gives students hands-on practice with conversation and basic table manners in a relaxed social setting. Over tea and light refreshments, they’ll practice starting and maintaining conversation, asking thoughtful questions, active listening, reading social cues, using a place setting and napkin properly, fork-and-knife technique, and traditional tea etiquette.
Students wear Dressy Casual attire, with ladies wearing a dress hat or fascinator and gentlemen wearing a dress hat.
If space allows, students may also invite a friend to join them for the afternoon (RSVP required).
November
Afternoon Tea
The Celebration Ball
The Final Event
The Celebration Ball is the grand finale of the cotillion season—a chance for students to put their skills into practice, enjoy an evening with friends, and make some special memories with their families.
Dancing, games, refreshments, prizes, corsages and boutonnieres, and optional professional portraits make for a memorable evening. Students wear Cotillion Semi-Formal attire for the occasion.
Parents are asked to join us for the final 45 minutes of the ball to watch the students in action and learn the Waltz with their child.
APRIL
watch this video with 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.
What to Expect at Cotillion
what if my child has allergies?
Our allergy plan is shared with families before the first class and again prior to our dining events. We are also happy to discuss any additional safety measures a parent may request to help ensure your child feels safe and prepared. Please reach out if you have specific questions.
refund policy
We understand that committing to a program months in advance, before class times are finalized, can be challenging. We have taken this into account when creating our refund policy. Class times will be announced by September 25 giving families time to review. Refunds are available through September 30, minus a $25 administrative fee.
phone policy
We kindly ask that phones 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 kindly asked to attend the last 45 minutes of the ball (required) and are welcome to observe the last 15 minutes of any event (optional). Chaperones are also needed at each event- please note your interest to chaperone on the registration form.
where can i find clothes for cotillion?
For boys, we like Macy's, Land's End, and Belk. For ladies, try 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! Students can review the booklet, watch the online dance lesson, and complete the assignment to catch up. They may also attend the same class at a different location if desired. See the full schedule for alternate dates and options.
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.
"He danced enthusiastically"
"My son definitely has an appreciation for dressing up now. After cotillion, our family attended a funeral and a wedding. At both events, he had no complaints about wearing a jacket and tie. Also, at the wedding, he danced enthusiastically, even if it wasn’t ballroom dancing."
The Belvin Family
Copyright 2020-2026 Sydney Dunn Etiquette LLC
TERMS & CONDITIONS | Page designed by em shop
PHOTOS BY LITTLE TUNA STUDIOS unless otherwise noted
Copyright 2020-2026 Sydney Dunn Etiquette LLC | TERMS & CONDITIONS | Photos by Little tuna studios unless otherwise noted | Page designed by em shop