Vanessa Beyland  | Artistic Director of PYD 2
Vanessa holds a BFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is currently on the dance faculty at the University of Southern Maine, Casco Bay Movers, and Portland Ballet. She also works with Stages Youth Theater and Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS). Vanessa’s choreography and performance credits include work with school, community, and professional companies, including Portland Ballet Company, Maine State Music Theater, Opera Maine (formerly PORTopera), USM, Dramatic Repertory Company, Lyric Music Theater, SchoolHouse Arts, Windham Center Stage, Snowlion Repertory Co., Allegra Dance Greenwich, numerous local high school musical productions and many others.

 

Elizabeth Lau | Community Programming Director

Elizabeth has been eagerly involved with Portland Youth Dance as a Board Member, Director of Dynamix, and Choreographer since 2007.  She was originally drawn to PYD for its unique focus on the artistic process versus competition and its deeply rooted mission to serve those in need. She brings a great deal of experience to the Outreach Program through her previous work teaching at-risk children and teens at inner-city schools in Washington, D.C., and Virginia, including the Maya Angelou Public Charter School, the Campagna Program through A Dream in Color Dance, and various workshops with George Washington University’s performing arts group BLAZEN.  While attending GWU, where she received a degree in marketing and dance, she developed a love for hip-hop dance while taking classes with Culture Shock DC and at The Joy of Motion Dance Center.  Elizabeth currently teaches hip-hop, jazz, tap, and modern at Casco Bay Movers in Portland, Maine. She’s proud to have worked with Slim Peace and be a part of Maine Girls, a documentary about immigrant and US born teens that come together to find a common ground through dance, food, and a healthy lifestyle.   Her personal mission is to contribute to the community by sharing her passion for dance with all those who desire to express themselves through the art form.

Kate Marchessault | Artistic Director of Company 
Kate has been involved with Portland Youth Dance as a ballet instructor and as a choreographer since 2001. She is thrilled to take the helm of the versatile, non-competitive, student dance company, primarily focusing on the creative process and sharing the joy of dance with the greater community. Kate’s prior experience includes performing throughout New England and NYC with Impulse Dance Co., The Choreographers Group, Ram Island Dance, Rhythm Factor, Artmoves, and indiedanceworks. She has over twenty years of experience teaching and choreographing for private studios, UMass at Amherst Extension, Dean College, and outreach programs in K-12 classrooms throughout Maine’s public schools. Her students have gone on to major in dance at prestigious colleges and to perform professionally in the US and abroad. Kate serves as Director of Casco Bay Movers Dance Studio and teaches at Bates and Southern Maine Community College.

 

Hannah Ranco | Artistic Director of Crew

Hannah Ranco is a New England-based dancer, choreographer, and educator. Hannah earned her BFA in dance studies from Dean College in 2021. After graduating, Hannah danced as a professional NBA dancer with the Boston Celtics. Hannah has also danced in several music videos and live performances with artists such as DJ Kool, Montell Jordan, Sydney the Singer, and Spose (dancer & choreographer). Hannah has also worked in the concert dance world with choreographers such as Ilya Vidrin, Jessi Stegall, and Kelsie Steil. Hannah performed in Jessi Stegall’s Theremin Vignettes at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston this March, and performed as a guest artist in Edge of Aquarius by The Click–A Boston based dance company.  Hannah’s work has been featured at the Dance Complex’s Starlight Theatre, Salem Arts Festival, and Acadia Dance Festival. Hannah has also choreographed for numerous college and high school dance programs. These programs include Thornton Academy, Casco Bay High School PATHS program, Dean College, and Endicott College