Portland Youth Dance (PYD) is a non-profit 
501(c)(3) organization serving the greater 
Portland, Maine community by providing a pre-professional dance company and outreach programs for kids and teens. Portland Youth Dance Company, originally 
named Upbeat Feet Dance Company, was established in 1998 by Sheila Bellefleur,
 Melissa Cloutier and Laurie Chaisson of 
Casco Bay Movers Dance Studio in Portland, Maine. It was created as an alternative to
 the competitive dance landscape. Young teens are given opportunities in performing,
creating choreography, and sharing this 
enriching and diverse experience with 
others. Portland Youth Dance Board of Directors was created in 2001 as non-profit support for the business of running the Portland Youth Dance Company. In addition, the Board of Directors engages in fundraising activities to promote the art of dance in the Greater Portland area as follows: Maintaining a scholarship fund for students in financial need, to take dance classes at Casco Bay Movers Dance Studio during the scholastic year and perform in the Studio recital at year end. Maintaining a sponsorship fund for tuition for qualified Portland Youth Dance Company members in financial need. Maintaining our Outreach Program, a series of free dance classes taught by members of Portland Youth Dance Company, specifically for qualified children unable to afford dance training through other means. The spring Outreach Program culminates in a performance at the Portland Youth Dance Company Concert in May of each year.