How much does Junior Assembly Cotillion cost?

Cotillion tuition is $310 for all grades and is due at the time of registration (and by the given deadline). Tuition is non-refundable after May 1st.

6th grade registration: opens January 1 and closes February 1 each year

*interested families will receive information by mail and email regarding our 5th grade parent information sessions and 6th grade registration*

7th-9th grade registration: opens February 1 and closes March 1 each year

*returning families will receive an email on February 1 with registration details*

Where is cotillion held?

We have two locations for cotillion: The Woman’s Club located downtown at 211 East Franklin Street and Fox Hall Clubhouse located in the far west end at 13550 Causeway Drive.

All groups will have their first dance and Holly Ball dance at The Woman’s Club location.

Click here for more specific driving directions.

Where do I park?

There is a small parking lot adjacent to the Woman’s Club, one on the right side of the Woman’s Club accessible from the alley on 2nd Street just before E. Franklin (and gate facing E. Franklin opens on to sidewalk to Woman’s Club), one across the street as well as ample street parallel parking (most are metered spots – check times) and a large parking deck directly across from The Woman’s Club (hourly parking entrance is accessible at Grace and 2nd Streets).  We do not recommend parking in the flat lot in front of Third Street Diner or diagonally across from it, as we hear it is only for monthly parking and you may be towed.

There is a large parking lot at Fox Hall.

A policeman is on hand to assist at both locations.

Do I need to get in a carpool?

We highly recommend having a cotillion carpool; however, it is certainly optional. Being in a carpool not only helps our students feel more comfortable coming in a group, but also helps reduce traffic congestion.  Students enjoy grabbing a bite to eat together before or after their scheduled dance.

We do not organize carpools. You would need to contact someone you know who lives nearby or attends your school, as our cotillion groups are organized by schools.  Should you need help, we are happy to provide a list of students attending from your child’s school.

What do students wear?

Check out our Pinterest boards and Facebook page to see what ladies and gentlemen typically wear to dances.  We post pictures from each of our dances on our Facebook page, so be sure to follow us there so you will receive notifications when new posts or pictures are made.

What do ladies wear?

ALL DANCES: no bare midriffs or skirts/dresses no shorter than 2-3″ above the knee; dress shoes with backs required (note: athletic shoes/sneakers are ONLY acceptable at a CASUAL dance.)

6th and 7th grade girls wear short white gloves to all dances.  Gloves are available for purchase through cotillion, should you choose.

8th and 9th grade girls do not wear gloves.

Semi-formal: short (no shorter than 2-3″ above the knee) or long party dresses; dressy pants and blouse or jumpsuits are acceptable.

6th and 7th: dresses must have strap(s) or a wrap over dress.

8th and 9th: may wear strapless dresses.

Nice casual: appropriate length (no shorter than 2-3″ above knee) skirts or pants outfits. NO jeans, athletic/tennis shoes or leggings with short tops allowed.

Casual: jeans without holes are acceptable. NO t-shirts, skirts or shorts shorter than 2-3″ above the knee. NO leggings with short tops.  Athletic/tennis shoes are permitted.

COSTUMES:  individual or group appropriate, danceable costumes are permitted for the Halloween themed dance only.  Jeans without holes are permitted.  Appropriate means nothing shorter than 2-3″ above knee (shorts & skirts included), no bare midriffs, no inappropriate language on attire. NO FULL FACE MASKS.

What do gentlemen wear?

ALL DANCES:  shirttails must be tucked in.

Semi-formal: blazer/sports coat/suit, dress shirt, slacks, tie and dress shoes.

Nice casual: slacks and collared shirts; NO jeans or tennis/athletic shoes.

Casual: jeans without holes are acceptable; NO t-shirts. Tennis/athletic shoes are permitted.

COSTUMES: individual or group appropriate, danceable costumes are permitted for the Halloween themed dance only.  Jeans without holes are permitted.  Appropriate means nothing shorter than 2-3″ above knee, no bare midriffs, no inappropriate language on attire. NO FULL FACE MASKS.

What does the theme for a particular dance mean?

Themes are generally intended for music purposes at our dances. However, students are welcome to add themed accessories to their attire, should they choose. Individual or group appropriate, danceable costumes are permitted for the Halloween themed dance only.  NO FULL FACE MASKS. *See questions above for specific attire for this dance.*

What do parents wear when observing or greeting?

We request that parents dress for each dance according to the attire requested for the students. Whether parents are driving carpool, observing or greeting at our dances, dressing in the same attire as the students helps set the right tone and mood for the evening.

What about Holly Ball?

Girls provide their own hand-held, small nosegay. Boys wear a boutonnière. No fresh berries please. Check out our Facebook page or Pinterest Boards for a photo gallery of nosegays and boutonnières to get ideas.

In the 6th and 7th grades, only one parent/relative/friend dancing with his or her child may attend due to fire regulations.

For 8th and 9th grade, both parents are invited to attend.

When a parent is not available, an adult friend/relative is welcome to stand in. We also have many junior assistants available to serve as dance partners. A junior assistant is a sophomore, junior or senior in high school who has been through all four years of our dance program and is hired to help us at each of our dances.

As part of our long-standing tradition at Holly Ball, students are asked to earn money to bring as a monetary donation for one of the three local Christmas Mother Funds that we support. These monetary contributions enable the Christmas Mother programs to provide new toys, books, clothing and meals to needy families, seniors and disabled adults in our community.

Where do I buy white gloves?

6th and 7th grade girls wear short, white gloves for all dances.

8th and 9th grade girls do not wear white gloves.

As a convenience to our cotillion families, we sell short white gloves and offer several opportunities to purchase gloves. In addition to selling gloves to fifth grade girl parents at our informational meetings, we also offer glove sales over the summer.  If you have a child who is registered, you will receive an email in advance of all glove sale dates. If you are still in need of gloves and are unable to make any of our glove sale dates, please email info@juniorassemblycotillion.com.

Who is allowed to observe?

All parents are welcome to observe the majority of the dances. We encourage it and hear it’s some of the best entertainment on a Friday or Saturday night! The only time parent attendance is restricted to one parent is at the Holly Ball (6th & 7th grade only). Please do not bring younger siblings to cotillion.

Attire for those observing should be in accordance with attire requested of students that night.

Students may not invite friends who are not cotillion members.

Please do not allow your child to bring a cell phone or gum to cotillion.

Where do I go if my child is missing something he or she brought to cotillion?

There is a lost and found box in the hall at cotillion. Please check the box for missing items. Please label all coats, sweaters, purses, etc. with the child’s name. After a dance, please email us at info@juniorassemblycotillion.com if you are still missing an item.  Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of each cotillion season.

How do I find out about weather cancellations?

We do not automatically cancel events when schools are closed. Cancellations will be announced on our website, via email and on our Facebook page after 12 noon. Please notify your carpools.

What happens if a dance is cancelled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances?

The safety of our students and families is our first priority. If a dance has to be cancelled due to weather or circumstances out of our control, we will make every effort to reschedule the dance(s). However, there are several factors that play into the ability to do so like the availability of our venues. If we are unable to make up a previously scheduled dance, no refunds will be given for the missed dance(s).

What if there is an unequal number of boys and girls at a particular dance?

Our goal has always been to have an equal ratio of boys and girls in each of our groups in order for everyone to have a dance partner. Due to events and absences beyond our control, our numbers may be unbalanced on a particular evening. In order to minimize uneven numbers, we ask that parents honor their child’s commitment to our program. However, there is no need to call and alert us if your child is ill or will miss a dance or two. We respectfully request that if there is a function where a large portion of our students would be absent, please reach out to us.

We always have junior assistant leaders-in-training to help serve as dance partners as needed; however, there may be an evening when we ask parents to dance if our ratio is still off.

How do I enroll my child in cotillion?

We reach families through parent representatives within elementary schools but not from within the school administration itself. We start this process in the fall of a child’s 5th grade year for 6th grade cotillion. The parent representative helps us gather interest among 5th grade students at their school. Invitations to the informational meeting in January for interested 5th grade parents are derived from these interested families or by individual request if space allows. Our goal is to have a close to equal ratio of boys and girls in each of our groups in order for everyone to have a dance partner. If you are interested in involving your child or a group of students from your child’s school or sports team with Junior Assembly Cotillion, please contact us at info@juniorassemblycotillion.com.

For 7th, 8th and 9th grades, we give priority to currently registered students. An email will be sent to all currently registered students in February of each season regarding re-registration for the next season. If you have an older student who is not currently enrolled in cotillion but interested in attending, please contact us at info@juniorassemblycotillion.com to inquire about placement. No prior experience is required.

Who do I contact with further questions?

For all grades, please contact Liz Stanko at info@juniorassemblycotillion.com.