Alumni members include all dancers who used to attend Dorothy Mason School of the Dance, Polly Thomas School, Dance Theater of Southern Maine, and Maine State School of the Performing Arts.

In the early 1900s Mrs. Janette Emerson opened a school offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatic dancing. In 1920, one of Janette Emerson’s former students, Dorothy Mason returned from New York to Portland to become her partner. Soon after the school changed names to Emerson-Mason School of the dance. Emerson retired in 1933 and the name of the school was changed to Dorothy Mason School of the Dance and remained so for 60 years. Dorothy Mason attracted students from Portland’s most prominent families.

In 1965 Miss Mason retired and sold the business to Polly L. Thomas. Polly and her husband directed the school for 10 years. Seven of Polly Thomas’ students became Radio City Rockettes in the late 1960s.

In May of 1975, Jonathan and Linda Miele took over the school and in 1985 changed the name to the School of American Dance until 1994 when the school moved from Portland to Westbrook and the name was changed again to Maine State School for the Performing Arts and grew to over 500 students. Jon and Linda established the American Ballet East ballet company in the 1980s and it eventually became the Maine State Ballet as it is known today offering world class training and performances.

Committee Members:
Tammy Anderson, Rebecca Galli, Michelle Gordon, Sylvia Gordon, Ann Harradon,
Chuck Igo, Erin Igo, Jon Miele, Eliza Miller, Ann Marie Robinson, Pam Romanoff,
Diane Saito, Judy Scott, Susan Sullivan, LuAnn Thibeau, Zsuzsa Williams

Please email us at msspa@maine.rr.com if you know of anyone who would be interested being on our mailing list.

Thank you for your support and interest in preserving and extending our Portland area dance school family.