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

Klair Ethridge

T.U.P.A.C. Co-Founder and Executive Director, Klair Ethridge has always worked in the arts/entertainment fields. She began her dance training at the American Ballet Theatre School, the High School of Performing Arts, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and various other schools of dance in New York City. Klair danced in numerous stage, television, commercial, and feature film productions before moving behind the scenes.

Deshawn Morton

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."

Our Mission

T.U.P.A.C.’s mission is to provide the youth of Tacoma, particularly Black and BIPOC youth in the historic Hilltop Community, with opportunities to achieve artistic excellence through culturally relevant pre-professional dance training, community events, and classes in the performing arts. Further, our mission is to provide students with mentoring by national and international artists, and intergenerational artists, and most importantly, whole person development and community give back.

Our Vision

T.U.P.A.C. envisions a future where our students will be globally recognized as T.U.P.A.C. artists by the content of their character, their poise, the generosity of their spirit and the phenomenal contributions they make to their communities and the planet.

Land Acknowledgment

T.U.P.A.C. would like to acknowledge our studio is on the land of the Indigenous Puyallup tribe. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians have lived along the shores of the Puget Sound in Washington State for thousands of years. The people of the Puyallup Tribe have been known for their "generous and welcoming behavior to all people who enter our lands."

From Klair Ethridge, Executive Director

2/28/2025 UPDATE

Dear Community,

Through every challenge, your unwavering support and belief in our mission for Black, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ excellence in the arts have strengthened our resolve. T.U.P.A.C. was founded on the principles of honesty, integrity, grace and love for our people; and those values continue to guide us as we move forward.
While THA has withdrawn from our agreement, we want to make it clear that we were actively in the process of raising the necessary funds for our space. However, our ability to secure funding was significantly hampered by THA’s refusal to enter into a lease agreement. Many funders require a signed lease before committing support. Without it, potential investors saw too much risk in funding a project that could be canceled at any time, as we have now experienced.
Despite this setback, we are not deterred. We remain committed to providing a home where our children can thrive, where our artists can shine, and where our ancestors' legacies of resilience and brilliance are honored.
We are thrilled to announce that we have identified a new location—one that is even better suited to nurture our students, celebrate our culture, and empower our future. This space will not only be a performing arts center but a sanctuary for creativity, liberation, and excellence.
T.U.P.A.C. is here to stay. We will continue to cultivate a space where dreams are realized, where our stories are uplifted, and where our community is always welcome.
We look forward to sharing more with you soon. Thank you for standing with us, believing in us, and building this vision alongside us.

With love and determination,

Klair Ethridge
Executive Director
Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center

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2/24/2025

Dear Greater Hilltop Community, TUPAC Families & Staff, Supporters, and Concerned Citizens of Tacoma,

For over six years, we have come together with unwavering passion to create a state-of-the-art performing arts facility at Tacoma Housing Authority’s, Housing Hilltop Project on S11th & S L. Our journey—enriched by heartfelt in-person gatherings and vibrant Zoom sessions—has always been a testament to our collective dream of uplifting Hilltop through transformative arts.

Since our inception in 2017 as a grassroots arts organization, we have proudly maintained our commitment to community values. We have made it our mission to provide tuition-free instruction to 90% of our students, ensuring that every aspiring artist has access to quality training without financial barriers. Unlike many dance schools that impose additional fees for performances and costumes, we supply ballet slippers, leotards, and tights to our students and keep ticket prices for our performances affordable—with admission often free. All parties involved, including THA, were well aware that financing for this project would rely on grants, donations, and loans.

Every element of our project was born from a shared vision. Every detail of the design—including the entire shell footprint—was meticulously crafted by me and our former Artistic Director, Julie Tobiason, with esteemed agencies such as Mithun Architectural Firm, Hultz Engineering, Sellen Construction, and several others, while receiving generous funding pledges and donations from foundations and individual supporters. Together, we pursued each milestone with heartfelt dedication and relentless energy.

However, despite our best efforts and the progress we made, I must take full responsibility for the recent turning point in our journey. In late September 2024, we finally entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with THA that embodied the promise of our shared dream. Yet, earlier today, THA’s Executives made the decision to cancel our signed MOU agreement and pursue another organization—one that they feel will meet their fiscal needs. This decision is heartbreaking, as it feels as if the cherished promises and the vision, we so painstakingly nurtured have been set aside.

In the coming days, we will share a detailed public post outlining all the funds TUPAC has allocated to our design partners over the past five years, along with a chronological account of our journey since 2019. Though the future now appears uncertain, our commitment to serving the children and adults of Hilltop in their pursuit of Black/BIPOC/ LGBTQ+ Excellence remains unwavering. We will continue to explore new paths for arts instruction and performance—a true home where our community’s creativity and resilience can flourish.

Thank you for standing by us, for your generous contributions, and for believing in our shared dream. Even as we navigate this setback, let us unite our hearts and minds to honor the spirit of our community and to forge a new legacy for Hilltop.

With deep gratitude and determination,

Klair Ethridge

Executive Director

Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center

Our Community

At Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, we believe that ballet is for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or ability. We strive to create a welcoming and supportive community where students can make lifelong friendships and feel a sense of belonging.

Kabby Mitchell III

Klair Ethridge

Deshawn Morton

Our Mission

Our Vision

Land Acknowledgment

Board of Directors & Advisors

T.U.P.A.C. Board of Directors

T.U.P.A.C. Council of Wisdom

From Klair Ethridge, Executive Director

Our Community

Everyday Giving

Kabby Mitchell III

Klair Ethridge

Deshawn Morton

Our Mission

Our Vision

Land Acknowledgment

Board of Directors & Advisors

T.U.P.A.C. Board of Directors

T.U.P.A.C. Council of Wisdom

From Klair Ethridge, Executive Director

Our Community

Everyday Giving

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