Teens, parents learn to waltz in St. Joseph, Mo.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — It was one of the first days with decent weather all winter. Yet on this sunny Saturday afternoon, teenage girls in flip flops and boys in sneakers solemnly file with their parents into a windowless room at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

The chairs and tables were pushed to the outskirts of the otherwise bare room, so the group stands in a ragged semicircle waiting for instructions. Some of the girls begin to fiddle with high-heeled shoes they brought, laughing nervously while making small talk, while a few of the boys gather in the corner, looking anxious to get this over with.

"Congratulations to all of you," says an attractive middle-aged woman wearing a red shirt and blue jeans, in her greeting to the group. "We have a lot to do in two hours. How many of you have had waltz or any kind of ballroom dancing before?"

Only two students raise their hands.

The woman is Joyce Walters, and in the next two hours, she and her husband, Mike, will attempt to teach the group of 20 high school seniors how to waltz with their parents. It is one of the requirements to receive the Cotillion for Achievement (CFA) scholarship, an honor given to 10 boys and 10 girls from schools in Andrew and Buchanan counties for their academic achievements, extracurricular activities and community involvement. In a few weeks, the group will be put to the test by "performing" at the Cotillion Ball, held at the St. Joseph Country Club. There will be no other instruction other than a short review a couple of days before the dance.

"We're going to take our time," Mike Walters reassures them. "We want everyone to understand everything. Enjoy yourselves and have fun."

The couple start the class with a demonstration. Although they volunteer their services for the Cotillion and church groups, they look like professionals as they take their position in the center of the group.

"If we trip and fall, laugh as much as you want," Mike Walters says.

The group collectively laughs, easing some of the apprehension in the room. Then, to the slow, melodic sound of the American waltz, the couple glides through the steps. Everyone applauds.

If the Walterses seem relaxed, it may be due to the fact that this is their eighth year of teaching Cotillion students. Their daughter and son-in-law were Cotillion finalists 10 years ago. The two also have danced in local exhibitions for many years.

They will teach the students and parents the basic box step and three variations. In case they can't remember everything, the routine is posted at the front of the room, and they are all given small paper "cheat sheets."

"Your arms are like you are getting ready to wrestle, only in a straight-up position," Mike Walters explains.

As they add more variations, about half of the group struggles, going the wrong direction and running into each other. Most laugh. A few shake their heads.

"I'm horrible," one mother tells her son. "That's all there is to it."

Alex Eckard is taking it in stride. With long, blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, he dances with ease. It's because he's taken ballroom dancing since he was a sophomore, he says. And he waltzed with his girlfriend at the ROTC military ball. But this is the first waltzing experience for his mother.

"I haven't stepped on him yet," Linda Eckard said. "But just wait."

n

Only two more days before the ball. The group is waiting to have a refresher course in the ballroom at the St. Joseph Country Club. The staff and Cotillion volunteers check out the sound system, lighting and scheduling for the evening.

Annette and William Benton sit at one of the tables with some of the other parents, waiting for the rehearsal to begin. Although Annette Benton admits to not practicing much, she's not worried. Her daughter was a Cotillion recipient last year.

"Everyone was real nervous," William Benton remembers. "You get 40 people on that dance floor, so you're packed pretty close together. Then they all start laughing. It's really an icebreaker for the evening."

Their son, Casey, will be in the Cotillion this year. He got a 32 on his ACT and plans on being an aerospace engineer.

"It hasn't been the most enjoyable," he says, grinning, while talking about the required dance and etiquette lessons. "I sometimes laugh at people trying to be so proper. But knowing what to do and what not to do is important for making a good impression."

The Walterses call everyone to the dance floor to go over the routine. The floor becomes surprisingly small as the group goes through the steps. As predicted, laughing breaks out as they negotiate arms for the underarm turn, making the practice more like a party game.

n

It's Saturday afternoon, and Ashley Zeiler has learned the dance steps and has a teal ball gown she bought in September that she just loves.

"Think of Belle in Beauty and the Beast, only with a beaded top and Belle skirt," Ashley says.

Although neither she or her father had waltzed before, they learned the routine. But she still is a little nervous.

"My father woke up sick this morning," she explains. "I don't know if my Dad will dance or not. So like in an hour, we'll have to decide if I have to teach my grandpa to dance."

———

Dinner is over and the parents line up with their children in the hall as they prepare to take the final walk. As they take their place on the dance floor, a spotlight shines on the student, while their achievements are read. The room sparkles with guests and prominent members of the community dressed in gowns and suits as they show their support with applause.

Then it's time.

"Ladies, will you please join your fathers," calls out Andrea Fischer, president of the CFA board. "And gentlemen, will you please join your mothers for your first waltz."

The waltz music begins, and the parents and their children begin the dance in unison with heads up, shoulders back and arms up high, as if they had practiced all year. Although it's hard to say if it went flawlessly, Linda Eckard does not step on her son's feet. Casey looks impressive. And Ashley, in her teal ball gown, could rival Belle as she gracefully glides through an underarm turn and gives her father a smile.

"Every year it just gets better and better," sighs Joyce Walters. "I think it's great when a mother dances with her son and a father with his daughter. It's something they will always remember."