Above Jillian and the 2009 NCL Debutantes and their Dads at the Fairmont Hotel in Orange County.

Debutante Balls are exciting rites of passage for high school senior ladies and their families. I have had the pleasure of being involved with both the Assistance League and the National Charity League in many areas of Orange County as a dance instructor and choreographer for their Father/Daughter dances. (And I was a Ticktocker myself, in Upland, as a young girl!)

The Father/Daughter dance does not have to be a difficult dance but I would recommend at least four rehearsals with some rehearsals in the venue so dads can get used to leading on the exact size of dance floor they'll be dancing on for the Ball.

Debutantes should wear heels about the same height as they'll be "presented" in and dad's should wear leather soled shoes to simulate their formal footwear. At the rehearsals in the space, the ladies need to wear their gloves so the dads can get used to the more slippery feel of the lead and follow. I recommend that the Father/Daughter dance be choreographed although I have, at the request of the participants, simply taught figures to the dads and daughters for them to improvise with during the dance. The reason I do not recommend this is because there will be a lot going on that day and maybe that's just a bit too much pressure for dads! Also, I think a choreographed group dance just looks more professional visually to the audience than a mixture of dance figures and dancing. And after all it is a big day and everything is being done to make it absolutely perfect!

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The St. James bow is also a must for the debutantes to learn and execute well at their Debutante Ball. I would allow some time in the venue, separate from the dance instruction rehearsals, to get the ladies familiar with the bow as well as how to accomplish the "meet and greet" with their parents and "handoff" from escort to dad. All these little details can be challenging for excited debutantes on their big day already full to overflowing with fun and frenzy if they're not handled in advance.

DANCE MUSIC

Music for the Father/Daughter dance is usually a waltz and usually between two and three minutes. "Moon River" was a recent excellent choice by the National Charity League and the dads found it pleasant and easy to dance to and the debutantes did not think it was too old fashioned. ;-)

Sometimes classical music is used but beware since a great many "classical waltzes" are actually Viennese waltzes and not regular slowish waltzes and can be very fast and be difficult for dads to dance with their daughters.

Sometimes foxtrots are used that are pretty and perky instead of a waltz. If you are considering a foxtrot please email me for more information. Foxtrot dancing can be a bit more rehearsal intensive for dads and debutantes.

Below are some sample waltz songs to consider. You can listen to them at this web page. Keep in mind there are renditions of the songs with words in this list available without words if you prefer and of course they've been recorded at various different tempos. A good rule of thumb is if the waltz is too slow it will be uninteresting but if it is too fast it will be difficult to learn to dance to for novices.

Waltzes: Moon River, Unchained Melody, Sunrise Sunset, Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet, Fascination, Three Times A Lady, Greensleeves, From My First Moment, Ocean Waltz, You Light Up My Life, The Gymnopedies, She Moves Through The Fair, Theme From Papillon, Under The Bridges Of Paris, Reprise From Spirited Away, My Cherie, Ilia's Theme, Hushabye Mountain and Main Title from Crazy World.

WIKIPEDIA DEFINITION OF DEBUTANTE AND DEBUTANTE BALL

A débutante (from the French débutante, "female beginner") is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her "début".

Originally, it meant the young woman was eligible to marry, and part of the purpose was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select upper class circle.

This traditional event varies by region, but is typically referred to as a débutante ball if it is for a group of débutantes. A cotillion or débutante ball in the United States is a formal presentation of young ladies, débutantes, to "polite society".

Débutantes are usually recommended by a distinguished committee or sponsored by an established member of élite society. Wearing white gowns and satin or kid gloves, the débutantes stand in a receiving line, and then are introduced individually to the audience.

The débutante is announced and then is walked around the stage, guided by her father who then presents her. Her younger male escort then joins her and escorts her away.

Each débutante brings at least one escort, sometimes two. Many débutante balls select escorts and then pair them with the debs to promote good social pairings.

Cotillions may be elaborate formal affairs and involve not only "debs" but junior débutantes, escorts and ushers, flower girls and pages as well.

Every débutante must perform a curtsy also known as the St. James Bow or a full court bow. This gesture is made as the young woman is formally presented.

Débutante balls exist in nearly every major city in the United States but are more common and a larger affair in the South.

Email or call Jillian at 949.400.7347 to talk about your Debutante Ball dancing needs today!