About Elegance Academy
Our Mission
Most people think etiquette is a set of rules waiting to catch them out. We think it's the opposite — it's what lets you stop worrying about yourself and start paying attention to everyone else.
So we teach it as practice, not theory. Students sit at a properly laid table and use it: passing, serving, ordering, holding a conversation with someone they've just met. Very little is memorized. Almost everything is done.
Founded in Manhasset, Long Island by a graduate of the Austrian Higher School of Etiquette, we teach children, teens, adults and couples — in restaurants, in our studio, and on Zoom.
August 30th, 2026
5:30 pm
$205 per person
10-14 Seats Max
FOR ADULTS · Western Dining Etiquette for Adults
An elegant evening designed for two—featuring multiple courses, proper cutlery usage, engaging conversation skills, and building dining confidence together. Learn the natural flow of Western fine dining in a refined yet relaxed format that feels like a special date night.
Perfect for couples preparing for special occasions, business dinners, or simply wanting to enhance their dining experiences together.
Long Island — venue confirmed on registration
September 10th, 2026 7:30pm
$160 per person
12-14 Seats Max
FOR ADULTS · Art of Sushi Dining in Japanese Etiquette
Discover the refined world of Japanese dining culture through respectful table behavior, proper chopstick skills, and step-by-step sushi etiquette. This graceful, educational tasting experience introduces you to centuries-old traditions while building cross-cultural confidence.
Learn the subtle art of Japanese dining customs in an atmosphere of respect and appreciation for this beautiful culture.
1024 Prime Steak House - Roslyn
October 18th, 2026 3:30pm
$300
10 Seats Max
FOR ADULTS · English Tea Ceremony at The Baccarat Hotel
English Tea Ceremony held in the Grand Salon of the Baccarat Hotel, New York City.
This refined experience blends British tradition, impeccable service, and culinary excellence, offering guests a deeper understanding of the history, ritual, and etiquette of the English tea ceremony — all within one of the most beautiful interiors in New York.
This workshop is ideal for those who appreciate:
- Cultural traditions and refinement
- Elegant social experiences
- Proper etiquette in formal settings
- Meaningful moments shared in beautiful surroundings
Baccarat Hotel - Manhatan, NY
Inquire within
FOR ADULTS · "Eternal Elegance
Crafting a Complete and Elegant You"
20 Class Transformational Program for Women
Eternal Elegance is a carefully structured 20-class program designed for women who want to cultivate elegance not only in appearance, but in behavior, communication, relationships, and lifestyle. This program combines etiquette, feminine presence, social intelligence, and self-awareness. It is not about rigid rules or perfection, but about developing confidence, refinement, and inner dignity that naturally reflect outward.
Classes are held in a mixed format:
- Zoom sessions
- In-person classes
- Restaurant-based etiquette experiences
Long Island — venue confirmed on registration, some classes are virtual zoom sessions.
October 11th, 2026
11am
$1350 for 10 classes for parent and a child.
10-12 Seats Max
FOR FAMILIES · Little Aristocrats™ — A Foundation of Confidence, Character & Grace
The Little Aristocrats™ Program is a thoughtfully designed educational experience for children, created to nurture confidence, emotional intelligence, social awareness, and elegant behavior from a young age.
This program goes far beyond "manners." It gently shapes a child's inner world — teaching them how to move through life with respect, self-assurance, kindness, and poise, while enjoying every step of the learning process.
Each class is carefully structured to feel joyful, inspiring, and memorable — allowing children to naturally absorb essential life skills while having fun.
Private studio, Manhasset — exact address sent after registration
August 9th, 2026
5:30 pm
$150 for Parent and Child
10-12 Seats Max
FOR FAMILIES · Parent-Child Etiquette Workshop
Playful, hands-on dining etiquette with a shared meal featuring pasta from a kosher restaurant, fresh bread rolls with butter, and crisp salad. Children learn real table manners through engaging games and practice, while parents discover simple ways to reinforce these skills at home.
This interactive workshop creates bonding moments while building essential life skills that will serve your family for years to come.
Private studio, Manhasset — exact address sent after registration
Call to schedule
FOR FAMILIES · Etiquette for Private Families at Home
Personalized lessons delivered in the comfort of your own home, designed specifically for parents and children.
We tailor topics including dining etiquette, proper greetings, effective communication, and everyday grace to match your family's unique needs and lifestyle.
This customized approach ensures your family learns in a familiar environment where new habits can immediately take root.
August 6, 2026 6:30pm
Zoom Session
$105
VIRTUAL · The Art of Understanding Men: Blueprint of Masculine Archetypes
To understand your partner more deeply, you must recognize his individuality and discover what resonates with him personally — his ways of connecting, his emotional needs, the kind of woman he responds to, and the qualities he values most in her. When you understand his archetype — his energetic blueprint — everything changes. You stop taking his silence personally. You stop trying to 'fix' him. You start to see his behavior through the lens of who he truly is.
Purchase the Recording — Zoom Session
$75
VIRTUAL · Five Faces of Feminine Grace
Delve into the essence of authentic feminine expression as we explore five distinct archetypes that embody grace, elegance, and confidence. Through insightful discussion and practical exercises, you will learn to identify these roles within yourself and understand their power in shaping your interactions. This transformative workshop empowers you to master the balance of these archetypes, allowing you to cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships.
From the Library of Elegance Academy
Tales of Kindness and Good Manners
by Irina Khai
A beautifully written collection of stories designed to help children discover the value of kindness, respect, gratitude, and good manners in a warm and engaging way.
Through charming characters and meaningful life lessons, this book introduces etiquette not as rigid rules, but as a joyful way of treating ourselves and others with care and consideration.
The book reflects the philosophy of Elegance Academy — helping children build confidence, emotional intelligence, and graceful social skills from an early age.
Perfect for:
✨ Parents
✨ Grandparents
✨ Teachers
✨ Families who value kindness and character development
A thoughtful gift and a timeless addition to every child’s library.
Meet Your Teacher
Irina Khai
Etiquette & Elegance Teacher • Founder of Elegance Academy
Irina teaches etiquette the way it actually gets used — at the table, in a restaurant, in the middle of a real conversation. Her students range from seven-year-olds learning to hold a fork to couples preparing for a business dinner, and her classes are kept deliberately small so no one gets lost in the room.
A graduate of the Austrian Higher School of Etiquette, she is also the author of Tales of Kindness and Good Manners, a children's book about kindness and respect.
Her belief is simple: true elegance isn't about knowing more rules than anyone else. It's about making the people around you feel comfortable.