Débutante
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 "début" presentation. 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. Débutantes may be recommended by a distinguished committee or sponsored by an established member of elite society. In the Southern United States, débutantes are also referred to as Southern belles. The male equivalent of a débutante is a "beau".
Début presentations vary by regional culture and are also frequently referenced as "débutante balls," "cotillion balls" or "coming-out" parties. The male equivalent is often referred to as "beautillion ball". A lone débutante might have her own début, or she might share it with a sister or other close relative. Modern débutante balls are often charity events: the parents of the débutante donate a certain amount of money to the designated cause, and the invited guests pay for their tickets. These balls may be elaborate formal affairs and involve not only "debs" but junior débutantes, escorts and ushers, flower girls and pages as well.
American débutante balls
A Cotillion (see "Notes" below) or débutante ball in the United States is a formal presentation of young ladies, débutantes, to "upper class" or "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. Many cities such as Dallas and Atlanta have multiple balls in a season. Dallas, for example, is home of the traditional Idlewild Organization, as well as more modern organizations such as The Dallas Symphony Orchestra Presentation Ball and La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, both of which benefit charities. In New Orleans, Louisiana, a débutante is usually presented during the Carnival season. As an alternative to a ball, and more commonly in the North, a young woman might have her own "coming-out party," given by her parents. Unlike a collective ball, which would be only held at a certain time of the year, such a party could be at any time of the year, but might well be scheduled around the débutante's birthday. In theory, the only women who could be invited would be those who had already made their débuts, thus affording a sort of rank-order to the débutante season. These "old-money" families of the South also often send their preteen sons and daughters to dancing classes, called cotillion. When these girls are twenty-one they have a deb ball.
Note
In American usage, a cotillion is a formal ball, often the venue for presenting débutantes.
See also [ Rites of Passage ]
Chat rooms • What links here • Copyright info • Contact information • Category:Root