AUGUST 27, 2009 ISSUE
Register Now for High Country Cotillion 2009-10 Session
Katelin Herman dances with Austin Woodring
The High Country’s most innovative and entertaining social education program is registering students for the 2009-10 Weekend Session. Announcing the lineup of new events for youth in fifth through 12th grades, High Country Cotillion Director Sharon Carlton said, “We have events as diverse as a Mountain Masquerade where students will dress the way they think they will be in 15 years, a Harvest Hoedown contra dance, a Monopoly Mania room-sized game of Monopoly and a Winter Wonderland Waltz planned. Each event provides a fun setting for instruction and practice in dance and social skills that will prepare them to be confident, respectful young adults wherever they go.”
During the 2009-10 season, three classes of fifth and sixth grade, seventh and eighth grade and ninth through 12th grade students will meet one Saturday evening a month at the Broyhill Inn on the ASU campus for a series of eight themed events. Students will learn classic and contemporary dances and will practice interpersonal communication and social etiquette skills in a safe, party environment with their peers.
“High Country Cotillion is coaching students to cope and to excel where they are today and where they are headed tomorrow. Students learn to present themselves well, to speak to their peers and to adults appropriately, to use today’s social technology—telephones, cell phones, texting and internet forums—respectfully and safely, and to conduct themselves courteously in common, current social situations. We address conduct and skills for school, for visiting someone’s home, for public social activities, and more. Our team of Cotillion Leaders—ASU and WHS students—share stories and lessons from their own experiences to prepare students for success. Students truly identify and connect with these positive young role models,” said Carlton. “We introduce our social graces topics at age-appropriate levels through skits, role-playing and games.”
High school students Meredith Whitley and Zack Critcher waltz at last season’s Cotillion
High Country Cotillion uses dance instruction to pro-actively model young lady and young gentleman behavior. “Our daughters need to experience being treated like young ladies from an early age so that their standards are healthy and high. Our sons need to understand how easy it is to conduct themselves like gentlemen—and that the nicest girls in the High Country love it when they do!” said Carlton.
Each year students participate in a Community Awareness project that highlights a local service agency and provides an accessible avenue for students to help others in their own community. Guest speakers from the community provide further motivation and insight for students.
Traditionally, the last event of each session is a three-course dinner dance including guests of honor speakers and dining etiquette instruction for seventh through 12th grade students. Parents are invited for the last half hour to observe students and to participate in a Mother-Son or Father-Daughter Dance.
Last year’s guests of honor included ASU’s Chancellor Kenneth Peacock, who urged students to continue practicing the skills that they were learning at Cotillion. “These are the skills that will take you through life,” he encouraged students. “You only get one chance to make a good first impression. [When you meet someone] great eye contact tells the other person they are important to you, and a firm handshake expresses that you are glad to be there.”
Alisha Wood shares a dance with Edward Oliver
Guest speaker Billy Riddle, Jr., ASU student and founder of the nonprofit organization Why the Woods, urged students to contemplate the kind of people they wanted to be before they head to college. “Set high values for yourself and pursue them passionately…be devoted to being the kind of leader and friend that you want to be remembered as being.” Riddle also challenged students to “surround yourself with good people to help you be the best you can be.”
Carlton said, “I am committed to equipping students with a good foundation of social skills and self-esteem that will prepare them to be good family, business and community leaders, and to making their High Country Cotillion experience enjoyable and motivational.”
“The lessons I learned as a Cotillion student while growing up prepared me to be successful in my career, in my role as a corporate wife and as a volunteer/fundraising Mom. Now I can pass it on in today’s language to this generation, ” added Carlton. “I am so pleased when students or parents tell me that ‘using their Cotillion manners’ is making a difference in their lives!”
The Weekend Session will meet one Saturday afternoon/evening a month from September through April. Limited scholarships are available for worthy students.
To learn more about High Country Cotillion’s new session and/or to register, click to www.highcountrycotillion.com, call Carlton at 828-297-3133 or email sacarlton@skybest.com.
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