Ballroom dancing is one part of Cotillion lessons.
Cotillion blends instruction in ballroom and popular dance with lessons in etiquette and manners, while helping students gain self-confidence and character building skills which can define them for the rest of their lives.
Courses will return to Fredericksburg this fall for its second year.
Instructor Ward Sear of Denver brings over 25 years of professional cotillion instruction experience to the class. Sear has taught cotillion all over the United States to a variety of ages, and has taught cotillion at the San Antonio Country Club for 23 years.
“Having a male instructor, particularly one as funny and personable as Ward, was effective, particularly for the boys in the class,” said Elizabeth Harris, Fredericksburg Cotillion coordinator. “When he talked about classes he had taught at the Naval Academy and for large corporations, it made them realize that etiquette and dance really are pretty masculine things to know about.”
Harris said last year was the first year cotillion was held in Fredericksburg. The inaugural course had more than 70 participants.
Each week, the class focuses on a different aspect of etiquette, all incorporated under the umbrella of social dance. Topics such as making a good first impression, conversation skills, meeting and greeting others, sportsmanship and teamwork, social media etiquette, and dining etiquette (complete with a seated, formal meal) are discussed.
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