A seven-month formal program for 6th-8th grade ladies and gentlemen to practice their people skills, experience the tradition of partner dance, and skyrocket their social confidence.
announcing the
2026-2027 season
of the
WILSON
cotillion
i'm ready to register!
SEVEN EVENTS OVER SEVEN MONTHS
4 etiquette/dance classes
+ 2 instructional meals
+ 1 semi-formal ball
WHO 6th-8th grade ladies and gentlemen
LOCATIONS for this season are To Be Announced. Historically, we have held events at Wilson Woman's Club and Wilson Arts Center.
WHEN Once a month from October through April, mostly on Monday evenings. Class times are to be announced as they are based on final registration numbers (tentatively planning in the 5:00pm to 9:00pm range).
TUITION $315-375 per child depending on Early Bird vs. standard fall registration and if you register with a buddy.
Payment plans are available!
Or read on to learn all the things.
Quick Details
Calendar of Events
Big Changes for 2026-2027!
- One season delivers a complete, connected curriculum
- Fits busy middle school schedules and simplifies planning for families
- Adds Emotional Intelligence, an additional instructional meal, and new hands-on activities
- Enhances events with opportunities for more family and friend participation
During this transition year, returning students will see some review of previously learned skills. Please review the full program details to ensure it’s a good fit for your family. To thank families for returning—and to account for the review of some material—returning families were emailed a 15% discount code.
- Early Bird period
- Boy-Girl Pairs
- Standby List and Wait List
- Discounts and Payment Plans
- Schedule
- Refunds
WATCH: Everything you need to know about how cotillion registration works
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
"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
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
they aren't just improving their manners and dancing the Rumba. They're building CONFIDENCE to help them navigate the awkward middle school years and learning LIFE SKILLS that will follow them into adulthood.
- introduce themselves properly
- carry on conversations with peers and adults
- give a solid handshake
- dance with a partner
- represent themselves well online
- balance their digital life with in-person interactions
- be a welcoming host
- write a thank you note
- and tie a tie,
Why join a cotillion?
When middle schoolers learn to:
...plus a few surprises
here and there!
10+ HOURS of group instruction in etiquette, manners, and social dance at a wonderful venue.
2 INSTRUCTIONAL MEALS - a tea AND a dinner. Let's give them practice in a formal dining setting before they get to the real thing.
SEMI-FORMAL BALL - a grand social event to culminate the season! An opportunity to show off their dance moves and make some quality memories with both their buddies and mom and dad.
ETIQUETTE REFERENCE GUIDE - professionally bound and customized to the lessons taught at cotillion. Your family can refer back to all the material for years to come.
REFRESHMENTS - every class. Always. The punch and cookies are serious business, y'all.
Tuition includes:
Sign us up!
Early Bird registration is open to rising 6th-8th grade ladies and gentlemen until March 31st. Registration will reopen during our standard fall period around Labor Day.
Standby Lists are possible even during the Early Bird period.
Boy-Girl Pair
how does this "Boy-Girl pair" thing work?
REGISTER
Payment plans are available. Use the code PLAN during checkout to pay 50% now and 50% in December.
Siblings enrolled in the same season receive a 10% multi-child discount applied automatically at checkout.
each
Individual
REGISTER
There are two ways to register:
$315
$345
Early Bird rate thru 3/31
Early Bird rate thru 3/31
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, 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! 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.
call, text, or email- whatever's easiest for you. I'll get back with you shortly!
Still have questions?
contact sydney
I'm ready to register!
"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
Your child is a 6th-8th grader and you're willing to drive (or carpool!) to Wilson, North Carolina seven times between October and April.
Your core family values include kindness, courtesy, and showing respect to others.
You'd appreciate some reinforcement while navigating these socially awkward tween and teenage years. Someone to come alongside you who can reiterate the social lessons you're teaching at home.
Your child is a bit shy and could use a little confidence boost.
Your child is a social butterfly and needs a place to shine or fine-tune some soft skills.
You are looking for social connections- an opportunity to network with families in your area.
The Wilson Cotillion is likely a good fit for your family if
Not quite ready?
Add your family to
The Invite List to be notified of future programs
request an invite now
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
boy-girl pair discount!
1. Find a buddy of the opposite gender.
2. Have your buddy register ASAP and note each other's names on your registration forms.
3. Save $30 each and skip past any Standby Lists!
Boy-girl pairs are solely for the registration discount. They will not be permanently partnered during the actual cotillion.
take advantage of the
CLOSE
Save
$30