DANCE DESIGNS: Faculty

Meet Our Dance Designs Faculty
Susan Mendoza Friedman, Director	Susan Mendoza Friedman has over 35 years of dance experience as a choreographer, dancer, teacher, performer, and businessperson. Growing up on Long Island, she had the opportunity to train at many fine studios, both locally and in New York City. Susan continued her dance training at Boston University, performing with the B.U. Dancers. She received a B.S. in Early Childhood Education with a Minor in Movement for Children from Wheelock College in Boston in 1975. Susan taught for the Barnstable Public Schools from 1978-1986, where she was responsible for initiating many after-school dance programs. In 1978, Susan developed and implemented the first dance program for the Barnstable Park and Recreation summer program. This program has continued to thrive, servicing hundreds of young dancers since its inception. Susan began formal dance instruction at her home studio in 1985 and continued to hold classes at other locations Capewide. Dance Designs was relocated to its present permanent home in Hyannis in 1992. Susan was an original member of the Summer Dance Theatre of Falmouth, which performed locally, regionally, and in New York. She was selected to assume the role of Regional Director for National Dance Week in 1998 and is responsible for coordinating all NDW events in the Southeastern Massachusetts area. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the Dance Designs Studio, Susan continues to teach Creative Movement, Ballet, Jazz, and Tap at Dance Designs and "enjoys every dance minute of it!"

Amy DeFeudis, Assistant Director	Amy (Ludwig) DeFeudis brings over 20 years of combined performance and teaching experience to Dance Designs. She began her classical training at the age of 6 in Worcester, MA. Amy was a driven dance competitor and earned numerous awards as both a soloist and team competitor until the age of 18 when she began her teaching career (and fell in love with the profession). Amy also attended Worcester State College majoring in Psychology while simultaneously performing with several companies throughout the New England area. Since 2001, Amy has taught Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical & Tap dance to children of all ages & levels here at Dance Designs. She is the feature choreographer and co-director of 3D (the Dance Designs performance company) and has been recognized on both the regional and national level for her outstanding work, winning countless awards for "Best Choreography". Her 3D company is sought after for performances here on the Cape. Amy teaches master classes throughout the New England area and has also contributed her award -winning choreography to the Barnstable High School Cheerleaders. Amy brings her passion and love for dance, along with a serious respect for classical technique, to all of her students. She continues to further her own dance training at Boston studios and plans to pursue dance teacher certification with the Dance Masters of America Association shortly. Amy is thrilled to have found a "home" here at Dance Designs!

Norah Dale Allen, instructor	Norah Dale Allen received her early dance training in England, Canada and Boston. For the past thirty years she has been extensively involved with dance on Cape Cod. She was a member of the original Cape Cod Ballet Company. and also owned and operated her own dance studio in Bourne for ten years. She has since been a faculty member of several Cape Cod dance studios and was also the producer and host of the successful cable television series, "Spirit Of Dance". These innovative talk-show programs are currently available at both the New York City and the Toronto Libraries. Norah was also the founder of the Cape and Islands Chapter of the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancer's Association. Joining the staff of Dance Designs in 1994, Norah currently teaches the upper level ballet, pointe, and ballroom classes . A much sought after private ballroom instructor and performer.

D.D. McGarry, instructor	D.D. McGarry's study and love of dance began as a child here on Cape Cod many years ago, dancing at local studios and in the Boston area. She left the Cape to attend Syracuse University receiving a BA in psychology in 1983 and continued to pursue an MFA at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. D.D. moved with her family to Florida in 1990 and began dancing again under the tutelage of Broadway dancer Arlene Glynn (her Mom!). She joined her adult tap company "Arlene's Girls" and performed around the Sarasota area for several years. After relocating to New Hampshire, D.D. taught tap at Plymouth State University and at the Ninth State Center for Dance and Movement. She also choreographed shows for community theater and taught dance to children at Kearsarge Arts Theater in North Sutton, N.H. D.D. moved back to Cape Cod with her husband and three children and relocated her women's clothing business, Sri Boutique, to Hyannis. She is thrilled to share her love of dance with her two daughters (her youngest Jamie is a student at Dance Designs) and the fun of tap with other adults at this great studio!

Kelly Quealy, instructor	Kelly Quealy started dancing when she was 3 years old right here at Dance Designs. She got her start taking class from Susan, Amy and Norah and was also a member of the 3D team until she graduated high school. She attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York, NY for her freshman year and studied with such teachers and choreographers as: Anthony Ferro, Nancy Lushington and Anne Gruber of the Royal Ballet. Kelly continued her education in dance at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. She took daily technique classes and performed in pieces for world renowned teachers/choreographers such as; Gretchen Ward Warren, Jeanne Travers, Michael Foley, Sandra Robinson, John Parks and Lynne Wimmer. While at school Kelly had the opportunity to audition and perform in pieces set by Rick McCollough of the American Ballet Theater, Jennifer Archibald of the Alvin Ailey Company, Darius Michaels of the Bill T. Jones company and Louisa Jennings of the Jose Limon company. Kelly graduated in May 2009 with her B.F.A in Dance Performance and her B.A. in business. Kelly loves to teach dance and is very excited to be teaching here at Dance Designs.