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AGAWAM As they gracefully walked onto the dance floor wearing tailored suits and escorting their mothers, it was hard to believe these were the same teenagers who just weeks before struggled to learn the steps to a waltz.

"We were definitely forced at first," said one in a group of six high school teenagers in a waiting area before being presented to society at the 7th Biennial Anna E. Hatchett Christian Debutantes and Gentlemen's Cotillion, held at Chez Josef in Agawam Saturday night.

All of the boys agreed that while at first they had no understanding of what a cotillion was or what it would entail, they were all grateful for the many experiences they had from learning the waltz, to attending a men's leadership conference in Boston.

"They taught us how to be men.iphone 5 refurbished We talked about going to college and things like that," said Traleck Z. Boyles, a senior at The Springfield Renaissance School.

As for the dancing, they may have learned a new skill, but it wasn't easy.

"We had four hour practice sessions on Sundays. That's the day you're supposed to rest," said Jeric Robert Cichon, jokingly. He is a junior at East Longmeadow High School.

There were also eight young women presented at the cotillion and they were a bit more eager to participate, perhaps for the opportunity to show off their beautiful princess like white dresses and tiaras, but also for the lessons in public speaking and etiquette training.

"It was nice going through the courses like the etiquette class and the public speaking. You learn a lot of things that you can use later on in life," said Ajeya Rena Clouden, a junior at The Springfield Renaissance School.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us girls here, and we just really are so blessed to be here," said Imani Bea Wiggins, a junior at Hampden Charter School of Science in Chicopee.

A cotillion is a formal presentation of young ladies, and in this case young gentleman, into society.

"Many years ago, the cotillions were done by social clubs in the area, but after awhile they stopped doing it, and one woman, Anne E. Hatchett thought it should be revived," explained Gwen Miller, who co chairs the Cotillion Ministries at St. John's Congregational Church in Springfield, along with Eddie Lee. In 2004 the first cotillion was held.

The training for the elaborate event is not for the faint of heart. It all begins eight months before the event with an application process and in person interview with each candidate, Lee said.

The participants are expected to participate in as many activities as possible from a visit to the University of Massachusetts, to a public speaking lesson, an etiquette luncheon, a health workshop to discuss nutrition and sexual health, a community service project with Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity,iphone 5 refurbished delivering over 100 baskets of food to people in need, a dos and don'ts of social networking workshop and more.

Participants are also expected to meet with St. John's senior pastor, the Rev. Calvin J. McFadden.

"Some kids buy into it and pull the parents in, some parents buy into it and drag the kids along," Lee said.

This year's cotillion theme was LIFT (Leadership, Integrity Faith and Tenacity), Miller said.

"Our hope is that from this experience they will take some things they can carry on with them when they get to college, when they enter the workforce, and just help them to be better young adults," Miller said.

Besides dancing with their mothers, or in the debutantes' case, with their fathers, and group dances, each student was presented to the audience of at least 400 people with a list of their accomplishments and their hopes and dreams of becoming a sports medicine doctor, a book editor, a pediatrician and several social justice leaders.

The event, which included dinner, also featured a short presentation. Shane Davis performed a musical number and poet Lynnette Johnson performed a spoken word poem.iphone 5 refurbished The Master and Mistress of ceremonies were Dr. Johnny Wright and his wife Attorney Clarissa Wright.

McFadden also spoke at the event.

"It is a joy to see and witness our young people expressing the best of themselves and supporting them to let them know that we are expecting even greater and better things from them," he said.