Kabby Mitchell III

"Kabby Mitchell III was in his early 20s when he became the first black company member of PNB, back in 1979; pictures of him from the time show a charismatic young man clearly at ease with being elegantly airborne. He danced with the company until 1984, reaching the rank of soloist. It was the beginning of a rich career that took him around the world — he performed with Nederlands Dans Theater, as well as Dance Theater of Harlem, PNB and other companies — but kept him rooted here in the Pacific Northwest, where he became a beloved choreographer, teacher, mentor and role model." -Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times
 

   T.U.P.A.C. School Director 

Deshawn's dance journey began at the age of 16 at Tacoma’s School of The Arts, where he delved into the world of modern dance. Since then, he has honed his skills with institutions such as MLKBallet, Tacoma City Ballet, and the legendary Dance Theater of Harlem in NYC. He attained a BFA in dance from the University of Arizona, where he specialized in Ballet, Modern, and Jazz disciplines.

As a Teaching Artist with the Prince George's County Ballet in Maryland and Program Director at Star Maker’s Academy of Dance in Bowie, MD, he imparted his knowledge and passion to aspiring dancers. Additionally, he served as the Dance Camp Director at the Dance Institute of Washington in Washington D.C., further solidifying his commitment to dance education.

From teaching at his alma mater, Tacoma’s School of The Arts, and Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center (T.U.P.A.C.), to leading Master Classes across the country, his influence knows no bounds.

Deshawn's performance resume includes dancing notable works by choreographers such as Kabby Mitchell III, Donald Byrd, Tammy Dyke-Compton and Cyrus Khambatta. His versatility shines through in his appearances in numerous commercials and live dance productions, including standout roles in "Black Nativity," "Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope," and "The Urban Nutcracker."