Boston Youth Moves began as The Jeannette Neill Dance Scholarship Program (JNDSP) and was founded in 1990 by the program's artistic director, Jim Viera. Since its inception the program has been spearheaded by studio founder Jeannette Neill and Mr. Viera, who for several years volunteered their time and teaching to the program. Mr. Viera envisioned a pre-professional dance curriculum that would teach according to his philosophy: that dance is an art and not a sport. As a result the students in the program are never a part of the dance competitions that drive many small suburban dancing schools. Likewise the program is not recital-driven. According to Mr. Viera's vision, the scholarship program would focus its attention on properly teaching dance technique and on training superior dancers. This training would eventually produce a working, artistic dance company.

The JNDSP became a non-profit educational program of the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in 1993, and has always operated under the aegis and financial support of the studio through in-kind services from faculty and administrative staff, and through individual donations. The studio has been for more than twenty years a provider of classes, rehearsal facilities, and performance and employment opportunities to Boston dancers and other artists. It has been the home for many Boston choreographers and local dance companies. Recognized worldwide as a center of excellence in dance training, for both the professional and recreational dancer, the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio has helped to launch many careers in dance and musical theater. The studio continues to offer an extensive array of classes, from amateur to professional level, which has extended over the years to younger dancers and their audiences.

The BYM program attracts Boston-area teens because of its high-quality instruction and appealing dance curriculum. Since its inception, the program has attracted a faculty of the highest caliber. The program's curriculum includes classes and master classes in a variety of dance genres, as well as special workshops in: makeup; costume, set and poster design; and resume writing. BYM is unique in the city of Boston because it is the only subsidized program for an eclectic dance education outside of public and private secondary schools. Its broad-based curriculum, expert faculty, attractive studios, and exciting performance events are accessible to all by public transportation

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