Ursuline debutantes participate in esteemed ball
The debutantes are escorted by their fathers.
January 27, 2010 • Marti W.'10
Filed under Features
White dress. The all important bow. Ursuline graduation? Not in this case. For two seniors, this particular experience was a different type of graduation.
Debutantes may not necessarily have the best reputation. From popular culture, one may perceive debutantes as shallow, wealthy girls who care about nothing else but finding the perfect dress to wear to the ball. In Gossip Girl, becoming a debutante comes across as a cut-throat competition for the best escort.
These perceptions are mostly all wrong. Today, most debutante balls raise money for a charitable cause and educate young women in order to prepare them for life after high school.
This past November, Michelle R. and Molly M. debuted at the Plano Symphony Orchestra Debutante Ball.
“[I decided to be a debutante] because it seemed like a good opportunity to learn new things.” Molly M. explained, “We were referred by one of our friends for the program.”
To be eligible for the Plano Symphony Orchestra Debutante program, according to their website, one’s parents or grandparents must be subscribers to the Orchestra during the program and one had to be a sophomore during the 2007-2008 school year for the ball that occurred in late 2009.
One of the most important purchases for the debutantes is the dress. There are certain guidelines that must be met; the most important is that the dress must be white.
“The debutante program had an event at Stardust in Plano to give the girls an idea of the types of dresses they should pick,” Molly said.
Michelle bought hers online but people also buy dresses from last years debutantes. Molly said that custom-made dresses are uncommon but it has been done.
Along with the dress, one needs an escort. And the young women in the debutante program do not necessarily get to choose their escort.
“Girls submitted names of guys [sophomore year] and then you were assigned an escort from the list,” Molly said.
“Even if you have a boyfriend, [they usually aren’t your escort] because sophomore year [is when you submit the names] and you may not be dating them still senior year,” Michelle said.
A key part of the debutante program is education. Girls take classes on everything from auto safety to table manners.
“From sophomore to junior year there is about one educational event a month,” Molly said, “They are about two hours long and range from nutrition to etiquette.”
A key part of the debutante program is education. Girls take classes on everything from auto safety to table manners.
“From sophomore to junior year there is about one educational event a month,” Molly said, “They are about two hours long and range from nutrition to etiquette.”
“Junior year is all about learning how to handle social situations such as how to write thank you notes while senior year is focused on not looking stupid at the ball,” Michelle said.
Some classes were disrupted by filming for the Style Network show, Dallas Divas and Daughters.
“It made everyone really awkward and silent around the cameras,” Michelle said.
Molly explained that they were told to act normal and had to sign a release form before the auto safety class which was being filmed.
“I don’t have the Style Network [so I have never seen the shown],” Molly said, “but apparently I was in the background of the ice cream social.”
One event that was not filmed was the ball itself where one can invite family and friends. The girls are escorted around the ballroom by their fathers and presented on stage.
In the end, “You can have a really fun time with this program,” Michelle said, “It is a financial investment though.”
“When people think about the deb program, they think it’s about the big dress and money. But it’s really not. It’s so much more,” Molly said.
— Marti White ‘10
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What beautiful dresses! This seems like an amazing program that really prepares you for life.
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