‘Dancing With the Stars’ announces next couple, choreographer pairing

The Grand Opera House of the South will be the setting for the second year of Dancing With the Stars in a Caring Way, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Crowley, the Crowley Christian Care Center and the Community Outreach Corporation. 

These three organizations have been instrumental in raising funds to provide for the needy of the community and are anticipating a record breaking turnout this year. 

The dress rehearsal, which is open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 2, while Saturday’s main event will begin at 6 p.m. with a social hour and live auction followed by the performance at 7 p.m.

After the performance, the celebration will continue from 9 until 11 p.m. with live music and dancing, food and drink, and the announcement of the winners of the coveted mirror ball award.

Rotary International is a service club whose motto, “Service Above Self,” is the motivating factor in organizing this fundraiser. The Crowley Rotary Club was formed in 1920 with a handful of men and it now consists of over 75 men and women who take time out from their busy professional lives to better the lives of others in this community and abroad.

The Community Outreach Corporation, whose initial project was the rebuilding of the Welcome House, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the common good and general welfare of this area and bringing about civic and social improvements. The corporation will continue to support plans and programs calculated to serve those in need.

The Crowley Christian Care Center is also a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to reach out in a Christ-like manner to the less fortunate among us. The Center is non-denominational charity that helps those in need with essentials such as food, clothing, rental assistance, medical expenses and utilities on an emergency basis. 

This week, “Dancing with the Stars” is proud to announce the next couple — Susan Comeaux and Pete Trahan — and their choreographer — Mariah Hebert — selected to participate in this year’s entertaining benefit. 

Susan Comeaux: Married to Shelby and the mother of two grown children, Carrie and Christopher, Susan is a retired piano teacher. 

She graduated from Jennings High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance from Centenary College, where she was a member and accompanist for “America’s Singing Ambassadors,” the Centenary College Choir. 

A member of Trinity Bible Church where she teaches weekly Bible study, Comeaux also volunteers at the center for Living Hope, which provides parenting education and practical help to single parents.

She is a member of Rotary Club of Crowley and former member and past president of both Solitic Club and Beta Sigma Phi.

Comeaux has been seen a number of times in the “pit” and on stage acting in Acadia Players’ productions of Nunsense, Nuncrackers, Little Shop of Horrors and Cinderella; as well as helping Notre Dame High School with their Spring musicals: Grease, Annie, and this year’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

She is currently in rehearsals for Nunsense 2: The Second Coming. 

Although she may be a stage veteran, dancing is a new and exciting prospect which will hopefully provide as many donations that weekend as butterflies!

Pete Trahan: Pete and his wife, Lola, are probably best known for their famous ’50s downtown diner, Frosto. They are the parents of five grown children: Ryan, Brannon, Meredith, Beck and Rive. 

A graduate of Crowley High School and the National Training Center of Polygraph Science in New York City, Trahan is retired from the position of president and polygraphist at Acadian Polygraph and is semi-retired from ABC Investigators, Inc.

He has served as vice chairman of the Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners and served two terms as president of the Louisiana Private Investigator Association from which he received the Investigator of the Year Award.

He was also the lead investigator in an episode of the television series “P.I.” on The FX Network. 

Trahan is a member of St. Michael Catholic Church where he serves as a commentator. 

Trahan says he cannot tell a lie; he is enjoying the rehearsals, dancing with a great partner and working with a wonderful choreographer.

Mariah Hebert: Mariah is a Crowley native and graduate of Notre Dame High School. She is currently pursuing a degree in child and family studies with a minor in dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

Hebert has a biblical counseling degree from West Coast Bible College. She is a member of the Core Dance Center faculty – a talented dancer and choreographer – and also works at Ruth’s Chris.

She is very involved with her church as a volunteer teacher in the children’s ministry and is thrilled to be raising funds for such a great cause.

The success of this event is dependent on fundraising through sponsorships, ticket sales, ad sales and voting for your favorite couple(s).

Sponsorships, which range in price from $500 to $5,000, are still available by contacting one of the dancers or Emily Stoma (523-6044) or Mary Zaunbrecher (207-9789). 

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Kim Gattle at 785-0440 or by visiting the website: www.thegrandoperahouse.org. Tickets for Friday night are $50 and Saturday night are $100.

Ads may be purchased through the dancers or by contacting Pat Miers at 581-6452 (patmiers@gmail.com). Ads for the beautiful full-color program range in price from $50 to $450.

Voting for your favorite couple(s) may be done several ways: visit the website at www.crowleydancestars.org; designate your sponsorship or ad purchase to a specific couple or couples; give votes and payment directly to a dancer, and vote the night of the event.

All checks should be made out to Crowley Christian Care Center/DWTS.