SUSAN CLOUTIER is the owner and director of Studio for the Living Arts Dance Complex where she teaches jazz, tap, and creative movement classes. Susan specializes in teaching children and she has created and implemented numerous movement and dance programs for area preschools and public school departments including Freeport, Falmouth, Songbird Creative Centers in Yarmouth and Cumberland Foreside, and the Sunshine Childcare Center in Gray and the Childrens Museum of Maine. Susan received her early training from Jean Devou’s Dance Studio in Portland then later began the study of jazz dance in 1992 with Sheila Bellefleur at Casco Bay Movers. Susan continues to renew and update her teaching skills by regularly attending master class programs and teacher conferences such as New England Dance workshops for teachers. While attending dance conventions in Las Vegas, Boston, Minneapolis and New York, she has had the privilege to study under dance legends Joe Tremaine, Frank Hatchett, Joe Lanterni, Darryl Retter, Avi Miller, Susan Samuels, Ofer Ben, Jeannette Neill, Jim Viera, and Rennie Gold. As the director of Pulse Dance Company. Susan founded and produced “Dance for Autism” an annual fundraising performance that raises funds for the Autism Society of Maine. The event is a collaboration of works presented by Studio for the Living Arts and hundreds of talented and giving dancers from surrounding studios in our local dance community. Over the past years the studio has donated over $15,000 to the Autism Society. The studio creates a huge enthusiasm for social issues and causes and its dancers and families are involved in many other local projects that give back. Susan’s passion and vision for the studio is as strong today as it was 27 years ago. She believes that the discipline, creativity and self-confidence that is involved in a student’s dance experience, will have a lasting and positive effect on their lives. She also believes that it’s the studio’s professional top-notch faculty that remains the driving force behind the studio’s longevity. Year after year technically trained dancers and versatile performers are being produced and the dancers continue to be motivated through a contagious spirit, positive energy, and an abundance of opportunities to explore the arts.