Social Graces Sunday

Ms. Henri Price.  Mama always said she was the prissiest little lady in Augusta.  She was the first person to teach me social graces.  An institution in Augusta, Georgia, Ms. Price and Ms. Mary Davis (who scared the living daylights out of me) operated Henri Price Academy.  I attended tap dancing with them when I was just a little girl and in the 8th grade I started Social Dancing classes with my partner Thurmond Norville, Jr. (Of course our parents got us together).  I didn't know then that I would spend four years in Social, go on to Cotillion, and then to be an Assistant to Ms. Price.  

Ms. Henri Price

We started Social at an awkward age and the girls were seated on one side of the studio and the boys on the other.  White gloves, closed-toe shoes, and stockings were de rigueur for the girls and neckties and sport coats were a must for the boys.  We learned standard ballroom dancing...how to waltz, fox trot, and cha cha cha (just in case we might ever appear on "Dancing With the Stars")!  We also learned about the importance of good posture and other social graces.

From the start of each season, we trained for the Christmas Formal and the traditional Spring Formal, which was held at the gigantic-to-me-then Bell Auditorium.

 Dance cards were given to ladies to record the name of gentlemen to whom they had promised dances.  The little cards were attached with ribbons and we wore them around our wrist.

White gloves were worn to also disguise our damp, nervous palms!




Ms. Price and Ms. Davis have both passed away but I think it's wonderful that today the tradition is continued by one of her former students who now owns and operates Social, Inc.  

Photo property of Social Inc.

The National League of Junior Cotillions also offers social dancing and etiquette programs.

These programs teach young people the importance of social graces...life skills they will use for the rest of their lives!