About Us

Deborah Joy Block, Founder of Back to Basics spent 8 years living overseas while her parents served as diplomats representing the international image of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Corps where protocol, etiquette and social entertaining skills are a must for diplomatic relations. She worked for the State Department as an adult as well. Mrs. Block has travelled to 18 countries and understands the importance of being able to deftly navigate as a chameleon among different cultures and personalities. Mrs. Block's extensive experience managing a staff, working with tens of thousands of clients solidified her conviction that kindness and consideration is the "international language" that unites all people.

" My guiding and primary goal is to empower people to have strong self- confidence while also demonstrating empathy and kindness toward others at every opportunity." -- Deborah J. Block, Back to Basics Director

Deborah. Block's experience:

• Coaching on the topics of : career and entrepreneurship, planning special events, image consulting, social skills, healthy and holistic lifestyle and specializing in singles, dating and engaged premarital relationships.
• Mrs. Block has hired and supervised a staff totaling 25 people plus mentored 12 interns.
• Trained celebrities, politicos, military brass and the Foreign Service Institute's Diplomatic Corps cadets in social graces and image consulting for the spotlight..
  
• Teaches group workshops for corporations and organizations, country clubs, community centers, summer camps,  clubs, churches and private and public schools.
  
• In 2000, Mrs. Block founded the first dance instruction company in the nation to specialize in wedding dance preparation. The Wedding Dance Specialists taught over 20,000 engaged couples and their families social dance skills, etiquette and special event protocol over the past 23 years. Block attracted celebrity clientele and became the most recommended in the nation. See TheWeddingDanceSpecialists.com
  
• Founded a talent agency division called Dance Dynamix which provides professional ballroom dancers, teachers and party hosts for special events. See DanceDynamix.net
• Organized and hosted an industry showcase to bring vendors and potential clients together to network.
• Founded Back to Basics: Life coaching, Charm Camps, Princess Party High Teas, Table Manners Workshops and CEO camps
• Director of Public Relations for Block Real Estate Group/RE/MAX Allegiance.
• Director of Public Relations / Event Planning: RUACH Fund Anti-Hate Crime Charity
• Professional Matchmaker, Dating Coach, Premarital Coach
• Author of published articles about soft skills
  
  Mrs. Block’s education:
  
  • BA in Communications minor Business/Law - James Madison University
  • Certified in Social Graces - The American School of Protocol  in Atlanta, Georgia - an etiquette academy which has been profiled by - ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX and BBC.
  • 5 years daily dance coaching at two academies, Dance training with several world champions, Olympic Showcase dancers, the star of the movie "The Tango Lesson" and the head choreographer from “Dancing with the Stars”
  • Wedding MBA, Las Vegas, Nevada - Entrepreneurship training for the Special Events Industry plus 20 yrs experience as an entrepreneur.
  • Conversational Spanish, basic French.
  • Certified in special event planning by The Bridal Society.
  • Life Coaching Certification Course - The Redemption School
  • Certified in Premarital Coaching by Prepare Enrich Program
    
  
  Other:
• Certified in special event marketing, etiquette and event planning
• licensed and insured
• Criminal background check and fingerprints conducted by Alexandria City Police Department
• Authorized Fairfax County vendor
• Virtus ™ certified by the Catholic Archdiocese
• 20 years of biblical training at Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Studies
• Basic CPR training.
• Expired Top Secret clearance from the U.S. Department of State
  
• Hobbies include mixed martial arts classes, yoga, gardening, volunteering, cooking classes, spiritual studies, travel and entertaining

Mrs. Block’s public spotlight performances and media coverage:

• Arlington's Tango Festival sponsored by the Argentine Embassy
  
• Fine Arts program at the U.S. Department of State
  
• Chamber of Commerce Galas and numerous large corporate galas
  
• Press Coverage: Washingtonian Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Mclean Times, Alexandria Gazette, Perfect Wedding Guide, Brides and Weddings Magazine, Telemundo TV, Channel 8 TV, Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen Network (national television wedding reality show), local radio stations HOT 99.5, MIX 107.3, WJFK - 106.7FM and WTNT - 570AM, Old Town Crier Magazine and Washington Jewish Week