Dear Friends,
I am thrilled to share with you that Durham Junior Cotillion will return for a 36th season this fall! After a two year Covid hiatus, I simply cannot wait to see our returning families and welcome new friends to our program.
Durham Junior Cotillion has continued for nearly four decades because manners, kindness, and social savvy prove to be meaningful skills for success. Throughout the years, our dedicated directors have adapted the program to ensure its relevance and continuity. Chesley Sneed has skillfully led Junior Cotillion for the past decade. As we gear up for the 2022 season, Chesley will wind down her time with Cotillion. We will miss her dearly and are truly grateful for her years of dedication.
I am delighted to introduce Mary Lloyd Preble as my new Cotillion partner. Mary Lloyd is a Junior Cotillion graduate herself! She is married to Kurt, mom to Jack, Allison, and Wright, and a dear friend.
Mary Lloyd will be a wonderful addition to the program. Your children will enjoy getting to know her over the coming years. Mary Lloyd and I are already busy planning for the upcoming season. Look for invitations in late April. In the meantime, please reach out with questions.
Thank you for your continued support We look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Margaret Vermillion
Margaret Vermillion
Teaching is my PASSION! It is my goal to reach each and every child who enrolls in our Program. I want them to understand the importance of knowing proper etiquette and manners and the positive impact these skills can have on their lives. I became a director of Durham Junior Cotillion in 2012. I graduated from Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. I am a Durham native. I am married to Drew and we have three daughters. Two who graduated from the Program and one who is currently enrolled. I took some of the first Cotillion classes under the guidance of Mr. Barnes and look back on those times fondly. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to teach your children Cotillion. I am so appreciative of these precious relationships each season!
Mary Lloyd Preble
I am thrilled to join Margaret as co-director of the Durham Junior Cotillion. I attended Durham Junior Cotillion as a middle schooler and still use the lessons Mrs. Rouse and Mrs. Brame taught me daily. I firmly believe manners and etiquette are life skills that, when learned and practiced, enable us to be more prepared and at ease in social situations big and small. My older children, Jack and Allison grew in confidence through Cotillion and I can’t wait to watch my youngest son, Wright, tackle the box step, a firm hand shake, table manners and much more as he begins the program. I am so excited for Cotillion to return in the fall and can’t wait to meet and work with your children.
Our program approaches etiquette and manners as important life skills. We believe that understanding the mechanics of social etiquette builds confidence and gives an edge in interpersonal interactions. Our program is based on exposure and practice. Each year skill work builds in complexity. We cover topics from greetings and handshakes, conversation cues and starters, table settings and mechanics, note writing, cell phone etiquette, dancing, and much more. Our teaching style is laid back, inclusive, and fun. We want students to remember Durham Junior Cotillion as a positive part of their middle school years.
Sunny and Lisa Yu began their professional dancing careers in the late 90’s with the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Durham, NC.
They are both experienced in competition, showcase, choreography and studio management with a client list that includes:
Orange County Schools
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
SAS Institute
Cresset Christian Academy
Duke University
They have been involved in Durham Cotillion at Hope Valley Country Club for many years overseeing the dance instruction and making sure to incorporate interpersonal skill development within each lesson.
In addition to dancing, Lisa operates Paint Savvy, an entertainment management and procurement company and Mr. Yu is the primary instructor at Gracie Durham, a school teaching Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
Click below to view our 2022 Program Info Card.
Durham Junior Cotillion
Copyright © 2018 Durham Junior Cotillion - All Rights Reserved.