The History of Cotillion

So we brought up the southern tradition of cotillion last class, and I actually participated in the event myself. That, however, was in the sixth grade, and in addition to being very hazy in my memory, I realized I don't know a whole lot about its history. A few blog posts and wikipedia articles later, I've discovered cotillion actually has its roots in 18th century France, where four couples would assemble in a square formation and perform routines according to an overseeing caller. (Sound familiar? I immediately thought of US square and line dancing, which also originated from European tradition, if I remember correctly).

Drawing on memory, my cotillion class assembled in two gigantic circles that wrapped around a vast ballroom; girls were in one circle, guys in the other, and we would rotate partners as the caller stood in the middle. So, clearly, the modern southern form has evolved from a four-piece square to something bigger, but the basic concept is still there.

So is the requirement of formal dress. I remember wearing a standard suit while girls wore dresses and white gloves. Turns out this style of dress is integral to the dance's name: "cotillion" originates from the French word "cotillon" (or "petticoat"), in reference to the flashy sways of gentlemen's suits as they turned while changing partners.

In its original inception, these dances were courting rituals, where young debutantes had the opportunity to interact with several potential spouses from wealthy families. Obviously, things have changed since then, so what purposes do you think these dances serve today?