National League of Junior Cotillions
Rockwall County Chapter
Welcome
The National League of Junior Cotillions has been providing training in character education, modern manners, ballroom dance and dining etiquette since 1978. The Rockwall County Chapter welcomes and invites you to learn more about our programs and the powerful impact we are providing in the lives of our young people.
Registration for the 2019-2020 Junior Cotillion season is now open.
To register please click on the Should you have any questions, please contact Directors Emily Hatch and Keeli James at [email protected] and [email protected].
MISSION STATEMENT
To act and learn to treat others with honor, dignity, and respect for better relationships with our family, friends,
and business associates later in life
MAILING ADDRESS: (This is not address to Chandler's Landing)
NLJC ROCKWALL COUNTY CHAPTER
2931 Ridge Road Suite 101-205
Rockwall, TX 75032
Announcements
2019-2020 Season Now Open for Registration!
About Director
Keeli James has been performing, teaching, and choreographing in the DFW Metroplex for 20 years and it all began with ballet, tap, and jazz dance classes at the age of 3. Growing up in Lubbock, TX, she studied at Barbara Thompson’s Dance Academy and began performing in church musicals. She also started private voice instruction at age 15. She went on to pursue her undergraduate studies and performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC with the DBU Chamber Singers, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Dallas Baptist University, and is certified for All-Level Music. Throughout college she taught private voice and while also teaching dance instruction at The Studio Upstairs in DeSoto. After graduation she received a scholarship to AMDA (American Musical & Dramatic Academy) in New York, but opted to settle down and start a family.
In 2005 after being blessed with 2 beautiful daughters and teaching music in Mesquite ISD, she began her professional performance career as an Actor in Sweeney Todd at Lyric Stage Theater Company in Irving, TX, where she was featured as a dancer. Since then she has She has performed principal and supporting roles in Regional Theatre Companies throughout the DFW metroplex, such as Lyric Stage, Garland Summer Musicals, Rockwall Summer Musicals, and has been a featured soloist in concert with Pfamily Arts and The Plano Symphony Orchestra. Some of her favorite roles include Anna in The King & I, Laurie in Oklahoma!, Grace in Annie, & the Baroness in The Sound of Music. Her absolute favorite shows are tap shows like Anything Goes, Forty Second Street, and Thoroughly Modern Millie! She was most recently seen on stage with the Brick Road Theatre Company playing the role of Susan in Sondheim’s Company (February 2016) and was featured from the show as a soloist on Nancy Churnin’s Dallas Morning News Program with Janelle Lutz and Jason Bias.
The past few years Keeli has taught at the prestigious Park Cities Dance in Dallas where she has been an instructor of Singing and Acting, Private Voice Instruction, Vocal Technique, Broadway Intermediate Tap, and Broadways Babies Summer Camps. Before that she taught at a local studio in Rockwall for 8 years where her daughters began their love of dance.
Keeli is married to Blake James who is the Market President for Rockwall/Hunt Counties and together they have a beautiful blended family with five children between them. They love Rockwall County and are heavily invested in its commmunity and both have served and continue to serve on various boards for organizations that help raise awareness for those in need. She has served with the charitable organization Bow and a Blessing as an entertainer for terminally ill children at Plano Children’s Medical Center, and also for the Children’s Cancer Fund Gala in Dallas. She has served on the Rockwall County Arts Alliance Board and also as President of the Guild and Board Member for Rockwall Summer Musicals. During the school year she teaches private voice instruction at RISD secondary campuses, and also at Keeli James Studio where she has taught semi-private musical theatre classes, including her 2016 Award Winning Triple Threats. She has also partnered and teaches with Emily Hatch at classical ballet studio Rockwall Dance Academy. Together they collaborate on professional productions like Les Miserables, Shrek, and The Nutcracker.
Keeli is also an AEA membership candidate and loves instilling her love and passion for the arts disciplines in her children as well as her many students. She is the proud owner of The Acting Studio Rockwall, along with Hannah Lewis, and Shane and Erica Peterman (opened Fall 2017). She gives the glory to God always for giving her talents, opportunities, and the fulfillment in knowing she uses them to help others follow their hearts and pursue their dreams!
Emily Hatch fell in love with dance at the age of eight as she began her training at Boni’s Dance and Performing Arts in The Woodlands, Texas. During that time, she earned several lead rolls in large performances, including the rolls of Clara in The Nutcracker, Cinderella in Cinderella, and The Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. Emily also danced on their Company known as Boni’s En Toure, which participated in performances around the community, as well as multiple competitions each year. In addition to Boni’s Dance and Performing Arts, Emily was a cheerleader at The Woodlands Christian Academy, eventually becoming captain of the squad.
Upon graduating from The Woodlands Christian Academy, Emily continued her education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she desired to pursue both dance and cheer. She received her degree in both entrepreneurship and dance, while joining Baylor’s Co-Ed Cheerleading Squad. While on the Co-Ed Squad, Emily became captain in her third year and had the unique opportunity to lead the team at the Women’s NCAA Final Four, the Men’s NCAA Elite Eight, and the Texas Bowl. In order to fuel her passion for dance, Emily worked at a local dance studio, Joy’s School of Dance, providing her with her first opportunity to teach kids.
Once Emily graduated from Baylor, she continued to teach dance in San Antonio at Heather Stolle’s School of Dance. However, after marrying her husband Scott in 2014, Emily moved to Dallas, where she obtained a full time position with Frisco Dance Studio. She taught kids from ages three and up, including adult ballet. In her final year at FDS, she became a Company instructor, teaching a team of fifteen girls. In addition to this, she taught a couple of duets/trios, winning best choreography for one of her duets.
Emily and Scott recently made the move to Rockwall where the Lord has blessed them with the unique opportunity to open Rockwall Dance Academy. Dance has always been Emily’s passion and she is excited to share her passion and experience with kids and provide them with the same opportunities that she was provided. Emily currently teaches ballet, jazz, contemporary, acro, stretch, turns, and jumps (STJ), Pointe, and combo classes, in addition to being Company Director for RDA.
Mailing Address:
NLJC ROCKWALL COUNTY CHAPTER
2931 Ridge Road Suite 101-205
Rockwall, TX 75032