The National League of Junior Cotillions has announced the appointment of Leila Tomasone as the new NLJC Director for the Roanoke Valley Chapter in Virginia.
The National League of Junior Cotillions program, which features character education, etiquette, and social dance training for fifth through eighth-grade students, includes five classes and two Balls over eight months.
The purpose of the National League of Junior Cotillions program is to give students instruction in ballroom dance and practice in the social courtesies needed for better relationships with their family and friends. Students actively learn life skills through a creative method employing role-playing, skits, and games.
The social behavior component ranges from rules of conversation to formal and informal table manners. In addition to the usual courtesies connected with dancing, etiquette instruction is also provided with regards to the following: acknowledgment of gifts, behavior at cultural and civic events, correspondence, interaction in groups, introductions, paying and receiving compliments, receiving lines, sportsmanship, sports etiquette, instructional dinners, telephone courtesy, and many other areas of social conduct.
The National League of Junior Cotillions’ setting will encourage children to be comfortable together, to make new friends, and to enjoy themselves. Communication skills learned by young ladies and gentlemen in a peer group setting provide graduating students with increased confidence and poise in social situations.
Leila Tomasone lives in Salem, Virginia with her husband Derek and her two daughters, Mara and Lakota. Leila graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. Additionally, she also earned a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Tech. Now she owns a business where she serves as a Dating and Marriage coach. Leila also serves as the Vice President of the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op Board of Directors. She is a fitness enthusiast and homeschooling parent.
Upon being asked about her decision to become an NLJC Director, Leila shared, “I started my own business in 2019, helping women and couples meet their soulmates, build healthy relationships, and revitalize their marriages. My clients are often interested in learning about etiquette, dance, and timeless social skills like those taught in Junior Cotillion class that, sadly, many of us never learned! As a result, my wonderful husband, Derek, encouraged me to pursue the endeavor of bringing Junior Cotillion back to the Roanoke Valley. I’m excited to teach etiquette and ballroom dance to young people, including my 6th-grader Lakota, who is excited to learn!”
The National League of Junior Cotillions is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the program was established in 1979. There are now over 400 chapters in 27 states across the country, involving thousands of students. President Charles Anthony Winters said, “We are delighted to see this training begin in Roanoke County. It has had a great impact on the self-esteem and social development of young people across the country.”
If you would like to know more about the program, please contact Leila Tomasone at (540) 282-8834 or leila.tomasone@nljc.com, National Headquarters at 1- 800-633-7947, or visit our award-winning website at www.nljc.com.
