The National League of Junior Cotillions, Hot Springs-Arkadelphia Chapter, held its annual Holly Ball on Friday evening, Nov. 30, at The Hotel Hot Springs & Spa.
Dressed semi-formally, the sixth- through eighth-grade students participated in the elegant evening, complete with dance cards, contests, prizes, corsages and boutonnieres.
The Holly Ball gave the Cotillion members the opportunity to put into practice all the dances and etiquette that they learned during the past half year in Cotillion classes. They danced the night away doing the fox trot, cha cha cha, swing, and several elimination games, a news release said.
Refreshments consisted of chocolate gâteau and red citrus punch. The refreshment table was decorated with an antique silver punch bowl, silver candelabras, lighted garlands and topiaries. Ornately wrapped gifts and topiaries adorned the tables clothed in white with red and green napkins.
Prizes were awarded to Ella Zoll, Ben Williams, Sophia Oseguera, Ty Braziel, Jaycie Bright and James Elgas, for the fox trot contest; Maddie Kinder, Caden Krauss, Makayla Haywood, Aaron Abernathy, Zavery May and Miles Parker, for the swing contest; and Ally Petro, Grant Foshee, Brailyn Koller, Luke Erwin, Annabel Sarver and Braxton Fairchild, for the cha cha cha contest.
Winners of the Snowball Elimination Dance, which required holding a ball between their heads while doing the fox trot and cha cha cha, were Megan Dyberg, Jack Krauss, Emily Mays and Elliot Lockwood. Alyssa Nugent, Avery Ilenfeld, Caitlin Covey and Michael Ball won the Jingle Bell Elimination. Prizes were National League of Junior Cotillions drawstring backpacks.
"The members and parents, as well as the director, all had a great time," said Susan Humphries, director.
Parents who chaperoned were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Will Owens, Jennifer Elgate, Brianne Norton, Amy Stone, Genevieve Townley, Lisa Schoultz, Mary Latham, Marsha Gibson, Whitney Ritter, LeAnne Nugent, Danna Strozyk, Alex Mouton, Mr. and Mrs. Robbie Ball, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith, Tina Chastain, and Micah Castleberry.
Serving as the program's assistants for the year are Hot Springs High School students Montana Cramer, Ian Hollis, Kendell Goff, Lauren McMillan and Katherine Calandro, and Jamie Kelley, of Magnet Cove, and Arkadelphia high school students Camille Jones and Caroline Derby.
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.
"It's designed to train students in the courtesies that make life more pleasant for them and those around them," Humphries said. "In just the three classes for this year, I have seen these ladies and gentlemen grow in poise and self-assurance. And our second-year students are becoming very mature ladies and gentlemen."
"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, her husband, 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-, seventh- or eighth-grade student in the county. For more information, or to place a child on the list for the 2019-2020 Cotillion program, email [email protected], or visit http://www.nljc.com/chapter/hotsprings or http://www.facebook.com/nljc.hotsprings.
Society on 12/09/2018