Charlotte Junior Cotillion | National League of Junior Cotillions

About the Program

Welcome to Charlotte Junior Cotillion's home page!

Junior Cotillion is a character education program that teaches middle school students' etiquette, manners and contemporary ballroom dancing skills. Our goal is to help young people develop the confidence, kindness, and respect they need to navigate all types of social situations with ease.

Junior Cotillion typically begins in 6th grade with the Year 1 program and continues in 7th grade with the Year 2 program. Please see more information below.

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2026-27 Junior Cotillion Registration

Registration Information

Registration for the 2026–2027 Junior Cotillion season will open in February/March 2026.

If you'd like your child to participate, please complete the registration form when it becomes available, and we'll email you as soon as registration begins.

Tuition for the 2026–2027 season has not yet been finalized. Updated information will be posted once confirmed.

Interest in a Future Season Register For Upcoming Season

Junior Cotillion Information

Class Details

Cotillion classes are 50% etiquette/manners and 50% ballroom dancing. All dancing is done in a rotating dance circle to contemporary "top 40" music that has been screened for content and lyrics. Etiquette lessons are interactive and hands-on so students can practice as they learn.

Classes will meet one night a month for an hour and a half at either Temple Beth El (in Shalom Park) or the South Charlotte Banquet Center (near Stonecrest.) Your child will be assigned to one of these locations based on where you live and where they go to school. You may also request a specific location as well.

Classes will begin in September and conclude with a final ball in early March. Finalized class schedules will be emailed in early July along with additional class details. Final ball details will be emailed once the season begins.

Students are kept in classes with their elementary school peers and if possible, their middle school peers too. Each class will consist of 2-4 different schools; this allows the students to participate with their school friends while also meeting new peers from other schools.

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Manners and Etiquette Topics

Social Skills and Conversation

First Impressions, Greetings and Introductions, Handshakes, Nametags, Mastering Small Talk, Inclusivity, Kindness and Respect for Others, Empathy, When to Rise and more.

Manners in the Home

Being a Good Host/Hostess/Guest and Carpool Etiquette - Help with tasks around the house, clean-up after yourself, use indoor voices, respect other people's homes.

Table Manners and Dining Etiquette

Teach how to properly use utensils to when to place your napkin in your lap to respectful behaviors like waiting for everyone to be served.

Thank You Notes

Discuss their importance and provide guidelines to help students write meaningful thank you notes.

Cell Phone Etiquette

Discuss appropriate times and uses for texting and calling in various social situations.

Doors/Coats

Discuss the different kinds of doors, and the proper way to hold them for others. Show how to help someone put on or take off a coat.

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Dancing

All dancing is done in a rotating dance circle to age-appropriate Top 40 music that has been screened for content and lyrics. As the students rotate partners, they will practice introductions and small-talk skills, reinforcing both social etiquette and conversational confidence.

About the Director

Britton Cohn

Director of The Charlotte Junior Cotillion since 2013

Britton's journey with the National League of Junior Cotillions (NLJC) began as a student in 1994 when her mother, Jan Cohn, started the Columbia, SC chapter. After completing the program, she began assisting her mom and has remained actively involved with the organization ever since - more than 30 years and counting.

Britton is originally from Columbia, SC. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Oregon and a Masters in Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina. Prior to graduate school, Britton had the amazing opportunity of working as an English teacher in Japan for two years where she taught Japanese students ranging from 2 to 74 years in age.

That experience sparked a lifelong passion for exploring new places and understanding different cultures. She is incredibly grateful for her travels as they have all enriched her worldview, and she loves being able to provide her students with a cultural experience or lesson each month.

She has also enjoyed volunteering for the past 12 years with the Mitey Riders organization, a therapeutic horseback riding program that supports children with disabilities. "I see kindness and empathy as the foundation for a life filled with purpose and connection, and I strive to instill these values in the students I teach."

Britton is committed to making manners and etiquette both relevant and engaging, while ensuring the students have fun and leave each session with confidence and a smile. Over the past 13 years, Britton has had the privilege of teaching more than 7,000 middle school students in the Charlotte area.

"I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to wake up each day doing what I love. I'm so excited for the upcoming season, and I can't wait to welcome another amazing group of students."

Contact Us

Get in Touch

Have questions about our program? We'd love to hear from you!

britton.cohn@charlottecotillion.com

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