Three students at Portland High School have won a Painting for a Purpose grant of $471 to launch an inclusive dance club at the school. The “I Am The Drama Dance Club” will welcome students from all backgrounds and those eager to learn, according to the founding leaders of the club, juniors Praise Mugisha, Renata Banga-Barroso and Naomie Luzingu.

“We are passionate about this project because we love dancing and we grew up loving it,” the students said in their grant application to Painting for a Purpose.

Painting for a Purpose is a local nonprofit founded by educators. It brings creative people together to paint whimsical decorative items they sell to raise money to fund service-learning projects led by Portland Public Schools students who want to make a difference. Students apply for the funding by writing grant proposals and can receive up to $500 to put their ideas into action.

The students say the club will not only help participants develop and hone their dancing skills in an inclusive environment but will also “be a great way students can build confidence, creativity, and leadership skills.” The club meets once or twice a week after school for one-hour rehearsals. Dancers also practice on their own using Google Classroom and pre-recorded videos of the choreography.

The three students who won the grant also believe that the club will teach them leadership. “In this project we believe we are going to learn how to work with other people, hearing out their ideas and learn how to deal with situations that might not make everyone happy but the decision is for the best,” the students wrote.

PHS teachers Kirsten McWilliams and Ellise Johnson, who teach English to multilingual students, are the advisors to the new dance club. McWilliams said, “We are super excited for the club. These students are amazing.”

Also, she added, “they are very serious about their progress, they are super organized, and they are really strong and encouraging instructors. We truly think they could make a career of being dance instructors, owning their own studios some day. They are that impressive!”

The club’s first performance will be March 4, 2026, in the Portland High School auditorium. The entrance fee will be a donation to raise funds to support the club.