Oct. 5, 2004, 11:13PM
Class refines social graces in Cy-Fair youths
Instructor to instill lessons about manners, dining etiquette
By KIM HUGHESChronicle Correspondent
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RESOURCES |
• What: Junior Cotillion classes
• When: Every third Friday at 7 p.m., starting on Oct. 15
• Where: Hearthstone Country Club, 7615 Ameswood. Cost: $120 for members, $140 for non-members
• Details: For more information ,visit the Web site at www.danceartsballroom.com or e-mail Amber Inberg at amber.inberg@ourclub.com or call 281-463-2201, Ext. 218.
• Quick Quote: "Most girls, and even guys, when they look back on the best night of their lives, there was probably dancing, there was probably music. It's all about connecting with people." — Teresa Mason, Dance Arts Ballroom |
Hearthstone resident Allison Wheeler tries to instill good manners into her 11-year-old son, Brad, nearly every day.
"I think chivalry has gone by the wayside," Wheeler said. "My Dad always had wonderful manners and you don't see that anymore in our generation."
Wheeler said Brad is doing fairly well and often opens doors for her.
But she thought it would be more helpful if good manners and etiquette could be reinforced while Brad was among his peers.
That's why she approached Hearthstone Country Club about organizing Junior Cotillion classes. "Brad is going to learn things I don't even know or remember," Wheeler said.
Classes are set to begin Oct. 15 and will take place every third Friday starting at 7 p.m. Topics include handshakes, introductions, thank-yous, RSVPs, tie-tying, table-setting and dining etiquette.
"Good manners and good etiquette comes from a desire to connect to other people," said Teresa Mason of Dance Arts Ballroom. "There's a trend all around the world for things to be automated, which means there's a lack of one-on-one service. Anything that gets a group of people to connect is a very important thing."
Mason will be teaching the cotillion classes at Hearthstone Country Club to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade boys and girls.
"That's a good age to target, before they start going to events, before they start dating and before they get into that first situation that is 'boys and girls'," Mason said. "This will help them find a comfort zone to ease their way."
Also included in lessons will be ballroom dancing, country dancing and line-dancing.
"Dancing is a great, healthy good time, a nonverbal communication to music," Mason said.
Matt Cook, 11, said it will be a new experience for him.
"The only time I danced with a girl was at a wedding and when we had Western Days at my elementary school. I guess there's a first time for everything and you might as well start young," Cook said.
Matt's mom, Jennifer, said she enrolled Matt after a recent dinner outing with another family, who happened to mention the cotillion classes.
"Matt's timing is impeccable," Jennifer said. "Right after we heard about the classes, he picked up his dinner plate and started licking the sauce off it because he likes this particular sauce so much. My husband said, 'We don't even have to discuss this one. He's there'."
As for Matt, he's up to the challenge.
"It will help me be a better person, and help me in my life," he said. "But me being an 11-year-old boy, I don't really like the idea of going. I still feel like eating with my hands sometimes."
Amber Inberg, member relations director at Hearthstone Country Club, said 24 students have signed up and about half of those are girls.
"I wasn't too psyched at first," said Kirbi Cheairs, 11. "But it's okay now. For me, it's the manners. My mother and my grandmother remind me every day to chew with my mouth closed."
Kirbi's mom, Vicki, said she jumped at the chance to enroll Kirbi.
"When I was a kid, we took etiquette classes every year," Vicki said. "I'm still amazed people don't know how not to smack their food or chew gum in public."
As for the dancing part of the class, Kirbi said she's game.
"Dancing with the boys, I'm not upset about that," Kirbi said. "I'm not one of those girls that says, 'Eeeeew, boys.' "
Whether her students are male or female, Mason said the main thing she encourages is self-confidence.
"That's what allows you to reach out to others — to not feel alone in a crowded room," she said.
