Douglas Trudeau – (Program Director & Lead Teacher)  Mr. Trudeau has been teaching social dance since 1998.  He trained under the able eye of Mr. Don Mason, master of teaching young people the art of social dance.  He started as an assistant and became lead teacher in 2010 when Mr. Mason stopped teaching.

Mr. Trudeau has had formal training in ballroom, tap, jazz and ballet.  He has worked as a professional actor, director, choreographer, producer and arts educator.  In the 90ies, he founded a professional theater company called Showstoppers, Inc. In it’s heyday, Showstoppers produced theatrical productions that were seen throughout the United States.

Today, Mr. Trudeau is the Director of Fine and Performing Arts for the Waltham Public Schools. He oversees a staff of 50 teachers and runs the music, art, dance and drama programs for the city’s school district.

Mr. Trudeau lives in Jamaica Plain with his wife Kim.  They have two adult children, Ashley and Tyler.

When not in the classroom or on the dance floor, Mr. Trudeau and his wife travel around the world.

Mrs. Stacey Friedrich – (teacher) is  excited to work with Mr. Trudeau as he inspires young children and teens to dance.  Mrs. Friedrich has been dancing for over 30 years and is trained in ballet, tap, jazz and pointe.  She is the former choreographer of Hull High School Theater Arts where she choreographed over 25 musical productions.

She is an avid watcher of Dancing with the Starts and loves to learn about new styles of dance (while pretending she is a judge on the show!)  She keeps very busy as a stay at home mom and a consultant for Usborne Books & More.  Prior to that she taught first grade for several years.

Mrs. Friedrich favorite dance partners are her husband, Eric and their 3 year old daughter, Lucy and their newest arrival Molly.

Mr. Joseph Doniger – (teacher) has been a performing arts teacher for over 35 years.  He has worked with Mr. Trudeau for many years assisting with the social dance programs throughout Eastern Massachusetts, as well as in many theatrical production.  The two co-produced a professional production of the hit musical Forever Plaid, that played for many months at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel in Boston.

Mr. Doniger retired from teaching theater arts at Hull High School a few years ago and now is happy to take on his new role as “Papa”, along with his wife Bonnie, caring for their four beautiful granddaughters. When not caring for their grand kids, Joe and Bonnie visit with friends and travel around the world.

Mrs. Lisa French – (teacher)  Mrs. French has worked in the social dance business for most of her life.  Her grandparents started the social dance business in the early sixties and carried it on until Mr. Mason took over.

Mrs. French began demonstrating at her grandparent’s dance classes when she was 12 years old. After they retired, she went to work with Mr. Mason and has worked with him until he passed away.  Forty plus years later, she is thrilled to be able to continue in her grandparents and Don’s dance steps.   Mrs. French lives on the South Shore with her husband and two children.

Ms. Sheila Manzi – (teacher) Ms. Manzi has known Mr. Trudeau since the fourth grade.  She attended Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy and graduated top of her class. She also had her Masters in Education in Life Sciences.   She and her family lived oversea for many years where she worked in schools as a substitute teacher.  She grew up studying Irish Dance.

Ms. Manzi is an avid reader and works today in the Abington Public Schools as a Library Assistant.  She enjoys spending time with her three adult children who are all officers serving in the United States Navy and Coast Guard.

Mrs. Katherine (Kate) Trudeau – (teacher)  Mrs. Trudeau is sister in law to Mr. Douglas Trudeau.  She works in the Marshfield Public Schools as a second grade teacher.   When not in the classroom, she is a busy mom at home raising two teenage children running around to sports fields and drama lessons.