The Bentonville-Rogers Junior Cotillion was founded in 2008 and is expertly directed by Mrs. Renee Swindell. BRJC is proud to celebrate the 18th year of teaching and hosting etiquette events in 2025. As a distinguished member of the American Association of Etiquette Professionals (AAEP), Mrs. Swindell actively engages with a national network of etiquette experts through attending annual conferences and regular virtual meetings. This involvement ensures she remains at the forefront of etiquette best practices.
Mrs. Swindell has a strong record of professional development, having attended numerous AAEP conferences across the country and proudly hosted the national conference in Bentonville in 2022. Her commitment to excellence is further demonstrated by her membership in the Southern Association of Dance Masters and her extensive background as a dance instructor, including nine years at the Little Rock School of Dance and ownership of her own dance studio.
A long-time resident of Benton County since 1999, Mrs. Swindell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Her passion for cotillion stems from her early participation in the Little Rock Junior Cotillion and subsequent eight years as Assistant to the Director. Mrs. Swindell values her ongoing connections within the etiquette community and is dedicated to providing enriching experiences for her students.
Our Mission
Instilling CONFIDENCE and GRACE one student at a time
At the Bentonville-Rogers Junior Cotillion, our mission is to enhance the self-esteem, self-confidence, and social skills of our students, regardless of the class or event we host. We believe in nurturing young individuals to thrive in any social setting.
In The News
Testimonials
Attending Cotillion has been such an amazing experience for me over the years. Other than the fun experience of dressing up and interacting with your peers, many of the lessons have already helped me in life. An example is writing a letter, making sure to have it addressed properly is something that have proven useful. Something I remember learning in my first year of Cotillion was with dealing with people I might have met before by always saying nice to see you, instead of nice to meet you. This has saved me from NUMEROUS awkward situations.
Cotillion was very much an eye-opener, and in addition to teaching me ballroom dance, it helped me learn key skills such as interview etiquette, formal dinner etiquette and more. Perhaps the most important part is that I will carry these skills with me for the rest of my life, which means they will not only aid me as a teenager, but also aid me through college and in my career.
Cotillion and the College Prep Etiquette course has helped me in several ways. The manners and etiquette lessons have carried with me well into my senior year in high school. I have had interviews with several people for jobs, and the etiquette I learned at cotillion has helped me make an impact on my managers. The skills I’ve learned have also helped me prepare for college by teaching me how to appropriately draft emails and research colleges.
What I have loved most is seeing her learn how to present herself to adults. She is extremely well-spoken, makes eye contact, smiles, and carries herself in a mature, respectful way. I have also loved watching her get dressed up and enjoy dancing with her friends. There are countless other aspects that attribute to what I love about your program, but he communication skills are definitely at my top.
I really appreciate the emphasis cotillion lessons place on writing thank you notes. A job interview, a gift received, a recommendation given all deserve a thank you note. During cotillion, students receive instruction on writing an appropriate thank you and then get real world practice. This often-overlooked soft skill is invaluable be it in the workplace, educational setting, or social realms.
I felt that cotillion helped my child to become someone who can succeed. With all the lessons that Mrs. Swindell teaches, her students are set apart from those who have no professional social skills. Cotillion is a great tool to help your child succeed later in college and eventually the rest of their life. I would definitely recommend it!
Cotillion has not only provided my sons invaluable social and communication skills for a variety of real-life situations they will face or have faced, but it has also given them more confidence and ease when in social situations with the opposite gender.
My husband and I made a concerted effort to tach our daughter social skills from a young age, and those skills were reinforced and nuanced through cotillion. Having another adult stress the value of showing gratitude and engaging other people in conversation and giving teenagers the opportunity to do so cemented the importance of etiquette that will last a lifetime.
One thing I believe that cotillion helped me with was being able to fit in when important occasions take place. With manners lessons, table customs, and ballroom dancing experiences I was set apart and impressed the hosts of my event.
The BRJC sessions have been such a benefit to my daughter. She has enjoyed all aspects of Mrs. Swindell’s’ vast knowledge of social dance, manners, and etiquette and with that came one of the most important realizations—confidence in herself. As parents, it’s been so wonderful to see! We are so thankful to have had this opportunity here in NW Arkansas.
We absolutely love BRJC Cotillion. It has helped my son gain confidence and character. He loved getting together with a group of friends before and then gong to Cotillion. He was able to build great friendships with both boys and girls. I highly recommend Cotillion to all kids!”
One of the most helpful things I learned from cotilion is how to have small talk with my peers. This is something that used to make me really nervous, especially during school, but after all the practice I’ve had from cotillion, it is something I hardly every struggle with.
I love the confidence that cotillion has given my girls. They are confident in the way they talk with adults now.
Both of my daughters have participated in all 4 years of the Bentonville-Rogers Junior Cotilion. It was the best investment I could have made in their development into young adults. I have gotten feedback from family and friends around me who said they can tell a difference in how they communicate and hold themselves in various situations. They learned how to read social cues and respond respectfully in various social and casual situations. Even though they would laugh about all the dances they learned, they said it was actually fun and still remember all these dances today. I highly recommend this experience for all upcoming 5th-9th graders.
Cotillion for me has been so beneficial, especially as I’ve gotten older. I’ve learned important skills that I have used in job interviews as well as the proper ways to interact with different people. Because of cotillion, I also know how to respond to emails well and I am able to communicate better online. I enjoy learning fun dances from around the world and having the opportunity to talk to many different people.
I’ve used the lessons I’ve learned from cotillion in dinner etiquette. Recently, I attended a dinner where the dishes were set up for multiple courses. I remember how to carry myself from cutting the chicken to buttering the bread.
Mrs. Swindell’s Cotillion has been so great over the past few years. I have learned many valuable life skills, which have all reflected on who I have grown and am continuing to grow into as a person. Formal parties, dates, and just common social situation are so much less stressful because of her. Mrs. Swindell plans the classes so very well, and always know what to say. She makes every night we join her something to look forward to.
My daughter has learned so much more than dance skills. The social skills she gained have really helped her get leadership positions and communicate with her teachers well. She’s excited to start year 4 of cotillion. We are looking forward to seeing what our 6th grade son learns this year!