Welcome

Junior Cotillion provides training in character education, modern manners, and social dance. Classes begin in the fall and conclude in the spring.  We meet about once a month for an hour and a half.  The curriculum is designed to give students practice in courtesy, lessons in formal etiquette and reinforces some of the nice manners they've already learned at home.

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If you know of any families who may be interested in participating in our program for modern manners, please forward this link on to them:  www.nljc.com/chapter/roanokevalley  

Online pre-registration for the 2024-2025 Junior Cotillion is open! 

Announcements

REQUEST YOUR INVITATIONS HERE!

The Roanoke Valley Chapter welcomes students aged 10-14.  Please register early to avoid missing out!   There is no cost to register, it just helps to keep your family in the loop on the upcoming plans, dates, details etc.

Beginning classes are typically for middle school students but all are encouraged to look into the benefits of participation.  All events will be held at the Shenandoah Club in downtown Roanoke on Friday nights.  The entire cotillion gets together for the formal evening ball at the end of the season.  If graduates of our Junior Cotillion would like to attend the next Spring Ball, as assistants, please contact the director to make arrangements.   

TESTIMONIALS

The NLJC program has been transformative for our daughter. With limited expectations resulting from our general unfamiliarity with cotillion programs, my husband and I registered our daughter in the program. We quickly came to realize the depth and value of the lessons she was learning and experiencing, which are truly beyond measure. The curriculum is comprehensive, providing a balance of lecture and practice, reinforced by an optional homework component. We observed our daughter grow in confidence, both in presence in the way she now carries herself, and verbally in her interactions with peers, teachers, and others. Her newly acquired etiquette skills were on full display during a recent trip, whereby family and friends were both impressed with, and deeply appreciative of, her poise, quiet confidence, and consistently pleasant demeanor; under stressful circumstances, she knew what to do and what to say. One year ago, we watched a shy, timid young girl enter a ballroom with great anxiety and apprehension; last month, we stared in admiration and joy at the young lady who confidently entered the Grand Spring Ball with self-assurance, grace, and a new set of lifetime skills.

Michelle  - parent

When I first joined Junior Cotillion, I really wasn't that excited. I had to wear an uncomfortable suit and dance with girls. But as it went on, I became comfortable in my suit and learned all the little things, and all those things became second nature. I thought it would be years before the skills I had learned would help me. I was wrong. Just a month after the grand ball, I competed on my 8th grade mock trial team. Because of Junior Cotillion, I knew what to do with my hands, the importance of my posture and when to button and unbutton my suit for standing and sitting. I knew how to address the jury while on the stand and just how to feel natural in the court room. I even coached some of my teammates on posture and hand placement. I really believe the confidence boost and etiquette that I learned in Junior Cotillion helped play a role in my team winning the championship.

Andrew B. - student

A formal Parents Reception will be held at the Shenandoah Club downtown, for new families to learn more about the Junior Cotillion program.  Please park in the back lot on Bullitt Ave.  All are welcome... grandparents, teachers, principals, and school administrators.

About Director

I grew up in Arlington, VA.  As a licensed middle school English and History teacher, I spend a lot of my free time volunteering, participating on comittees for non-profit organizations, and helping out at my daughter's school.  In our increasingly online/digital 2-D culture, I see a real need to strengthen traditional face-to-face interaction among our young people and with grown-ups.  With direct instruction in traditional manners, polite conversation, etiquette, courtesy and a supportive place to practice, middle school students will gain confidence and be better prepared for part-time after-school jobs and more formal social functions. Their lessons will be grounded in consideration and mutual respect; all are welcome.

Mrs. Hilbish holds both bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, where she rowed, studied abroad at a university in Munich, and worked in alumni affairs.  She did post-bacc. work in education. then switched to teaching after moving to Roanoke.  Mrs. Hilbish can be reached by email: jessica.hilbish @ nljc.com or by phone: (540) 553 – 5072.