The National League of Junior Cotillions, Saline County Chapter, recently
held its annual Holly[more] Ball at the Center at Bishop Park in Bryant.
Dressed semi-formally, the students participated in the evening, complete
with dance cards, contests, prizes, corsages, and boutonnieres.
The ballroom was decorated with lighted garlands, topiaries, and red and
gold metallic bows. Ornately wrapped gifts and holiday topiaries adorned
the tables clothed in white with red and green napkins.
The Holly Ball gave these cotillion members the opportunity to put into
practice all the dances and etiquette that they learned during the past
half year in classes. They danced the night away doing the foxtrot,
cha cha, swing, and cha cha slide.
Refreshments consisted of triple chocolate cake and sparkling citrus
punch. The punch table was decorated in silver, gold and white with an
antique silver punch bowl and silver candelabras.
Prizes were awarded to Preston Wilson, Kate Weston, Ben Ray, and Alex
Bozeman for the foxtrot contest; Chloe Morgan, Mason Hart, Walker Bowden,
and Riley Wells for the cha cha contest; Grace Oullette, Luke Weaver,
Jack Bethel, and Madison Langley for the Swing Contest.
Winners of the
Snowball Contest, which required dancing the foxtrot and cha cha while
holding a ball between their heads, were Kara Lynn Wake, Kassy Huey, Gary
Storment, and Abby Penn. Katie Morrow, Claire White, Sam Bettis, and
Haley Schrader won the Jingle Bell Elimination.
Prizes were National
League of Junior Cotillions Class of 2013 t-shirts.
“The members and parents, as well as the director, all had a great time,”
according to Susan Humphries, director.
Parents who chaperoned for the evening were Susan Bowden, Angie Dennis,
Tracy Williams, Ginger Schrader, Alishia Jacuzzi, Mike Morrow, and Marla
Penn.
The local Cotillion began in 1993. The seven-month program gives sixth
through eighth-grade students instruction in etiquette, proper manners
and social dances. Skills taught include table manners, correspondence,
proper introductions, good first impression skills, good posture, paying
and receiving compliments, opening doors, assisting with coats, and the
like.
“The program gives these middle school students the opportunity to learn
and practice in a structured, yet fun, atmosphere with their peers,” said
Patrick Humphries, husband of the director, who also helps with the
program. “We know the self-confidence that they gain helps them to
withstand negative peer pressure.“
Membership is open to any interested sixth- to eighth-grade student in the
county. For information, or to get your child on the list for the
2013-2014 season, call Humphries at 501-262-5054.
