Ridgecrest COTILLION
A tradition of dance, etiquette, & friendship.
Where Confidence, Character, and Connection Begin
A meaningful middle school tradition on the Peninsula that helps students build social confidence, learn timeless etiquette, and create lasting memories.
A Tradition That Stays With Them
Ridgecrest Cotillion offers middle school students a unique experience that blends social development with fun, structured events.
Throughout the season, students attend eight themed dances by grade level, each thoughtfully designed with music, décor, refreshments, and optional costumes. Every event feels special, while still being welcoming and age appropriate.
More Than Just Dances
Confidence
Students learn to carry themselves with ease in
social settings, building confidence that extends
beyond Cotillion.
Social Skills
From introductions to respectful interaction, students
develop skills that support them in school and in life.
Connection
Cotillion creates a space where friendships grow
and students feel part of something meaningful.
A Season to Remember
The season concludes with a special Parent or Adult and Child dance, a memorable evening that brings families into the experience and celebrates each student’s growth.
Intentionally Limited, Thoughtfully Designed
To ensure a safe and high quality experience, enrollment is limited each year.
Support from volunteers through Palos Verdes Assembly helps maintain a balanced and well supported environment for all students.
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and early submission is strongly encouraged. Not all applicants will receive an invitation due to limited space.
Simple, Structured Process
1. Submit Registration Request
Complete the Cotillion registration form here.
2. Receive Invitation
Selected students will receive a formal invitation mailed directly to the home address listed on the application.
3. Complete Membership and Payment
Register for Booster Club, then submit Cotillion payment before the first dance. Payment details will be emailed directly to those who are invited to join.
Starting the Year Together
A required orientation is held at the beginning of the school year. Families will receive important details on schedules, expectations, student conduct, and opportunities to get involved.
A Path That Continues
Students who participate in Cotillion for three years may be considered for Palos Verdes Assembly, a high school program focused on leadership, social development, and community involvement.
Give your child an experience that builds confidence for life.
Spaces are limited each year. Early registration is strongly encouraged.
UNDER THE DIRECTION of MR. BOBBY BURGESS
Mr. Robert Burgess has been dancing and teaching dance and etiquette for
most of his life.
He started tap dancing at age 4 and over his tap career, he learned from
some of thefinest in the business. Tap dancing is where he was paired up
with his first dancing partner at age 7.
Mr. Burgess began ballroom dancing at age 8 at Calls’ Cotillion in Long
Beach under the direction of Mrs. Chloe Call and his father, Mr. Bobby
Burgess. When his dad took a job teaching a traditional weekly cotillion
in Beverly Hills, Robert went with him and became an instructor at age 12.
He began teaching cotillion at Miraleste and Palos Verdes Intermediate School in Palos Verdes in the early 1990’s. He began teaching at the Palos Verdes Assembly in the late 1990’s and was a part of the team which brought cotillion to Ridgecrest Intermediate when the school re-opened in the early 2000’s.
Since then, he has taught cotillion in several different locations, including Long Beach, Palos Verdes, La Habra and the West San Fernando Valley, where he began his first cotillion in 2003. That same year, he began choreographing formal dances for weddings, anniversaries, parties and organizations like the National Charity League, the Palos Verdes Assembly and The Assistance League.
Mr. Burgess is proud to continue the cotillion tradition of teaching boys and girls to be confident, kind, socially skilled and well-mannered young ladies and gentlemen.
Ridgecrest Cotillion Coordinator for 2025-2026
Rebecca Binny
2026-2027 Cotillion registration is currently open!
Click here for more information and to apply.
Disclaimer: Cotillion is not endorsed, favored, sponsored, or supported by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District or any school or program thereof. Participation in Cotillion is not related to, is not a requirement of, nor is a prerequisite to participation in any PVPUSD class, sport program, or team.
