Here, there are several types of cotillion. Some you are invited to join and others you just sign up. The starting ages vary as well as your length of membership.
For high school and younger…
The Baton Rouge Cotillion, for example, is an “association” of the area’s high school students. Only X-number from each school is invited and it is for boys and girls. The only way that you can join, if not selected as a freshman, is if someone (girl for girl, boy for boy) from your school drops out. There are lessons on Sunday afternoons throughout the school year, two formal dances and two informal dances. Members stay in until they graduate. One of the reasons that there is a cap on the membership is because of space limitations. In addition, legacies do receive special consideration.
Other cotillions don’t have the school quota issue like BRC but function similarly - Sunday lessons, formals and informals. One here starts in the 4th grade and they have the same sort of activities as the BRC. This one is also affiliated with a national organization. The kids participate in ballroom dance competitions against associated cotillions on regional and national levels. They also take field trips to the opera, symphony, ballet and theatre.
For college age…
Usually, girls only and membership is by invitation only and limited. There aren’t any lessons per se because 9x out of 10 they participated in a younger cotillion. They do have parties and these are geared to the debutante season. (Although, some girls make their debuts while still in HS. It just depends on the club and where you live.)
For after college…
Membership is either single sex or couples. Membership is by invitation only and limited. They have regular parties and once a year, they have debuts for their children/grandchildren. A friend’s parents belong to the Shreveport Cotillion and he became a junior member when he graduated HS. When he turns ~30, he is expected to become a full member.
Quote:
Originally posted by UGAnchora
It seems like Cotillion was voluntary where ya'll are from.
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