Opera Omaha Guild Cotillion

Cotillion – French word for formal ball – combines fundraising for Opera Omaha with lessons in social skills “disguised” as a dance class for sixth and seventh graders throughout Omaha. A popular tradition through the 1960’s, Cotillion died out in the 1970’s. The revival of Cotillion began in 1983 and has been popular ever since.

The primary purpose of each class is to provide the opportunity for each student to mature socially. Students learn the arts of dining, ballroom dancing, and how to be a proper guest as well as a host/hostess in a formal setting. Knowing how to meet new people and how to get along with others is emphasized; learning dance steps is incidental.

Cotillion students will attend a dance class at the same time every week. On the Sunday of your choice, your student will attend an additional dinner class before or after their dance class. When enrolling your student, make sure the dinner class time is not the same time as your dance class.

Step 1: Choose a dance class time. Students will attend the same class time every Sunday listed below.

Dance Class Dates & Times:
4:00 - 4:45 p.m. / 5:00 - 5:45 p.m. / 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. / 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.

Sunday, October 6, 2024
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Sunday, October 27, 2024

Step 2: Choose a dinner class time that is before or after your student's regular dance class. Students will only attend this class once. Students are served a full meal and will be guided from the dance room to the dinner room.

Dinner Class Times:
5:00 - 5:45 p.m. / 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.

Sunday, October 13, 2024
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Sunday, October 27, 2024

Both classes will be held at the Omaha Marriott, located at 10220 Regency Circle in Omaha, Nebraska.

Parents are invited and encouraged to chaperone one class. A sign up will be posted here as we get closer to the start of classes.

The Cotillion Graduation will be held at the Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista (12520 Westport Pkwy). Graduation will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. Dress is semi-formal.

Graduation Timeline:
6:00 PM Social Hour
7:00 PM Dinner
7:45 PM Remarks & Opera Performance
8:00 PM Dancing
9:30 PM Event Ends

Classes:

• Girls wear dresses or skirts of appropriate length with dress shoes. No strapless, spaghetti straps, tank tops, or midriff tops. No tennis shoes, sandals, or high heels over two inches. Tights and white gloves are not required.
• Boys wear long-sleeved dress shirts, slacks, and socks. No sweatpants or sweatshirts. No tennis shoes or sandals.
• Chaperones are asked to wear business casual attire.

Graduation:

• Girls wear party dresses of appropriate length with dress shoes. No strapless dresses. Tights are not required.
• Boys wear coats and ties with dress shoes. No tennis shoes or sandals.
• Parents are encouraged to wear semi-formal attire.

The fee of $300* includes four classes of dance instruction, one dinner class that either precedes or follows the dance class, and the Graduation. Refunds are made only for the following reasons:

• Prior to the first class, if a student does not want to participate, the full amount will be refunded.
• After the first class, if a student does not want to continue, the prorated amount will be refunded.
• If during the course a student is unable to continue due to illness or if the family moves out of the area, the prorated amount will be refunded.

Bullying, harassment, and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. There will be no refunds made if a student is asked to leave for behavioral problems.

*This was updated as of July 2024.