Our Stories
Founded by Klair Ethridge and the late Kabby Mitchell III, the first African American dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center (T.U.P.A.C.) was created to give young people from marginalized communities access to world-class performing arts training in the heart of Tacoma’s Hilltop.
Since opening in 2017, T.U.P.A.C. has grown into a vibrant home for ballet, Afro Cuban, Flamenco, and related dance disciplines, musical theatre, spoken word and community arts.
Powerful Stories. Bold Performances. Unforgettable Art.
At T.U.P.A.C., our students and teaching artists ignite the stage with creativity and passion, bringing original works and reimagined classics to life. From the vibrant energy of The Urban Nutcracker to the joy of our annual A Hilltop Holiday, and the groundbreaking short dance film Harriet: The Black Swan in the Year of COVID-19, we celebrate artistry that moves, inspires, and transforms.
Each class, rehearsal, and performance reflects our mission: to uplift voices often left out of classical arts spaces and to build pathways for the next generation of dancers, creators, and leaders.
At T.U.P.A.C. the arts don’t just inspire – they transform.
Harriet: The Black Swan in the Year of Covid-19
HARRIET: THE BLACK SWAN IN THE YEAR OF COVID-19 (Trailer), a groundbreaking 2020 short dance film. Written and Directed by Klair Ethridge (United States)
𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵.
Director Statement: Bringing stories about Black life to the World of Ballet is new to the Planet. Telling Black stories, danced by Black dancers is even more rare. Working in the arts during COVID-19 has caused the dance community to rethink how we present performances. The time is now to share our stories with the World.