About JCHR
The JCHR Story
The Junior Cotillion of Hampton Roads, Inc. is a Peninsula-wide organization which was begun in 1985 in an effort to promote confidence, self-esteem and self-discipline in young people through the instruction of dance and etiquette. We are currently serving children in grades five through nine.
Patterned after the highly successful Junior Assembly in Richmond, Virginia, Junior Cotillion of Hampton Roads, Inc. has dedicated itself to providing good dance instruction and other socially related skills within a controlled and wholesome atmosphere. Just as your expectations for your child are high, so are ours. This is a crucial period in the life of your young person and we believe through the tool of dance instruction, young people can achieve confidence and social skills that will help them the rest of their lives.
Our season, which consists of a series of six dances, runs from September through December on the Peninsula, and January through April in Williamsburg. Since self-confidence and self-discipline do not develop overnight, or in one season of Cotillion, we encourage all participants to attend all five years. Each age group receives instruction according to ability, with a building on classic dances such as the waltz, tango, and latin dances. Thus, it is only to your child's advantage to attend each year. Although classical dance instruction has been shown to result in good leadership, good fellowship and good musical expression, current and trend dances are taught as well. Contemporary music is used whenever possible.
In addition to highly trained instructors, Junior Cotillion of Hampton Roads, Inc. employs high school students who have attended Cotillion to assist at the dances. They act as role models and are extremely adept at encouraging Cotillion members.
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JCHR People
Kay Martin came to the Peninsula from Kentucky in 1967 and attended Warwick High School. She then went on to Old Dominion University in Norfolk and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Kay has been a labor and delivery nurse ever since. She became involved with Junior Cotillion in 1993 and was a parent chaperone coordinator. In the fall of 1997, Kay joined the staff as coordinator of our cotillion assistants. In August 2006, Kay ( along with husband Greg) became co-owner/director of Junior Cotillion of Hampton Roads. She and Greg have 2 sons, 2 daughters, and 1 grandson. They currently reside in Poquoson.
Greg Martin has been a Peninsula resident his entire life. After graduation from Poquoson High School, he attended Thomas Nelson Community College and then the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland in Baltimore. Over the years, he has had vast experience in the broadcasting industry working at major Hampton Roads radio stations. Embarking on his radio career, Greg started AM DJ Service which has been in operation since 1981. With the formation of Junior Cotillion in 1985, Greg became the music and sound contractor. In the fall of 2006, Greg and his wife Kay became co-directors of Junior Cotillion. He is currently pursuing a degree at Oklahoma State University.
Amy Ladieu Amy Ladieu is a local graduate from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts. She has been a part of Junior Cotillion for over 15 years. She started as a sixth grader in the program and then proceeded to become a Cotillion Assistant. Over the years, she grew to love the dancing and has now made it a career as a professional ballroom instructor for Fred Astaire Dance Studios. She has taken everything she has learned and enjoyed in Cotillion and moved it to the next level. She has had many exciting opportunities in the dance world. One of the most recent was that she got to perform in the opening for "Dancing with the StarsTour" when they came to the Hampton Coliseum in January 2008. And right now she is lending her excitement and love of dancing to JCHR in order to inspire it's members to Follow their Feet...and keep dancing!
Aaron Whittinton Aaron Whittington is a native of Hampton, Virginia. With his mother on the original advisory board and his father as one of the original instructors, Aaron was destined to be at least a member. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Brad, Aaron joined Junior Cotillion in the sixth grade. He remained through all possible levels eventually taking the place of his father as one of the lead instructors. "The positive effect Junior Cotillion has on it's members self-confidence and esteem is worth it's weight in gold, not to mention the genuine fun they have while attending."
Sarah Ladieu has been involved in cotillion since she was eight years old and used to come the dances with her sister Amy. She finally joined cotillion when she was old enough, and has been a part of the cotillion family ever since. She became a cotillion assistant at the age of fifteen and continued to work with the company through college. She graduated from CNU in 2005 with a B.S. in biology and is currently working in the field of physical therapy. She has been the head coach for a competitive high school cheerleading squad, and is currently coaching gymnastics. She was a competitive gymnast for twelve years and has also been training in ballet, tap and jazz for eight years.
Kendig Mansfield is a former member of the Betty Smith School of Dance. He took classes in Tap, Jazz and Ballet for over 10 years .He became a member of Junior Cotillion while in the 5th grade. Upon becoming a sophomore at Bethel High School, he became a Cotillion Assistant. While in High School he was an active member of the Drama club and performed and stage-managed in several shows. Kendig graduated with Highest Academic Honors and Thespian Honors and was also member of the International Thespian Honor Society. Also, he has been seen in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Seussical the Musical at Peninsula Community Theater in Newport News. He is currently a student at Thomas Nelson Community College majoring in Nursing with a concentration in Emergency Medicine.
Debbie Bruss has been involved with the JCHR since 2007. She conducts etiquette, manners, and fine dining instruction which includes the "Manners Moment" and "Words Worth Knowing" during each dance. Her previous experience includes being an instructor and model for Mannequin Finishing School and Modeling Agency , the former Director of the Williamsburg Junior Cotillion, and teaching manners and modeling classes in the Williamsburg area. A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Elementary Education, she taught elementary school for a number of years and currently is a sales trainer for Thomson Tax & Accounting. She lives in Williamsburg with her husband Gene, son Zachary, who participated in cotillion and is now a cotillion assistant, and daughter Jordan who currently attends cotillion.
Christine "Kit" Challoner is the retired owner and executive advisor of Junior Cotillion of Hampton Roads, Inc. She is a consultant, coordinator, director, instructor and choreographer for special events such as fashion productions, pageants, variety shows, weddings and fund raisers. Kit has given classes, lectures, workshops, and seminars in personal development, fashion modeling, manners and etiquette, theater and dance. She is a former flight attendant for United Airlines and is the former owner/director of Mannequin Finishing School and Modeling Agency. Kit and her husband, R.M. Challoner, III live in Newport News, VA. They have a grown son and daughter.
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JCHR Dance Dates
The following are the dance dates for the 2009 season for the Peninsula and the 2010 season for Williamsburg:
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- September 26 - Lights, Camera, Action!
- October 10 - Fall Ball
- October 24 - Great Pumpkin Bash
- November 7 - Happy Days Sock Hop
- November 21 - Let's Give Thanks
- December 5 - Holly Ball
- December 13 - Optional Holiday Luncheon
Location:
Scottish Rite Masonic Center
65 Saunders Road
Newport News, VA
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Fifth & Sixth Grades: 6:00 - 7:15 P.M. Saturday Evenings
Seventh, Eighth, & Ninth Grades 7:45 - 9:00 P.M. Saturday Evenings
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Williamsburg |
- January 9 - Silver Spectacular (Our 25th Season Begins!)
- January 23 - Let It Snow
- February 6 - Be My Valentine
- February 20 - Happy Days Sock Hop
- March 6 - Dancing Under the Stars
- March 20 - Spring Ball
- March 14 - Optional Luncheon
The Williamsburg Hospitality House
415 Richmond Road
Williamsburg
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Fifth & Sixth Grades: 6:00 - 7:15 P.M. Saturday Evenings
Seventh, Eighth, & Ninth Grades 7:45 - 9:00 P.M. Saturday Evenings
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JCHR Dance Evening
Our dance evening begins when young ladies in white gloves (fifth and sixth grade only) and young gentlemen in blue blazers arrive and are greeted by Cotillion assistants trained in valet service. Doors are opened and one proceeds through a receiving line comprised of staff and parent chaperones. In a relaxed format eye contact, hand shaking, and social introductions come to life. One proceeds to the check-in desk and onto the ballroom floor. Now the fun begins.
The Grand March begins our dance program. Trained dance instructors and Cotillion assistants lead in classic ballroom dance steps to carefully selected music, both contemporary and traditional. We realize the need to stay up-to-date so the hot new dances of the season are also taught, including popular line dances. Because each dance is fast-paced and the children are constantly changing partners, ample opportunity is offered to meet people from other schools and gain confidence in making new social contacts.
Throughout the evening Manners Moments are interjected. Fundamentally accepted manners and standards are taught while new social rules which apply to cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices are also included. It is our goal to update manners in a fun and informative way. After a short refreshment break, the Cotillion evening continues with more dancing instructions and Manner Moments. After the last dance, young ladies are escorted through a good evening line made up of Cotillion staff and parent chaperones. Once again, eye contact, hand shaking, and social graces are reinforced.
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