Dance Theatre Northwest’s mission is to unite art and community through dance, education, and performance by providing exceptional ballet-based training and presenting both classical and contemporary works that inspire and enrich the Pacific Northwest.
About Dance Theatre Northwest
Incorporated in 1987, Dance Theatre Northwest (DTNW) is an award-winning regional performing company dedicated to uniting art and community through dance, education, and performance. The organization includes a Regional Performing Dance Company, a Junior Dance Ensemble, guest performers and vocalists (including frequent collaborators from Garray Music Studios), and a wide network of artistic, technical, and volunteer supporters.
DTNW provides training in ballet-based classical and American contemporary dance, as well as tap, jazz, musical theatre, yoga, and dance fitness at its University Place studio. In addition to formal winter and spring productions, the company participates in educational collaborations, community festivals, and outreach performances across the Pacific Northwest.
Through programs such as Arts Are Education, Art Inspires Art, and the long-running Nursing Home Program, DTNW brings high-quality performances to schools, retirement and senior centers, and assisted-living facilities. These professional productions—complete with full casts, costumes, and audio support—ensure that at-risk youth, low-income families, and seniors with limited mobility can experience dance as a vital art form. Many of these programs are offered free or at reduced cost and are made possible by partnerships with community organizations.
Under the direction of Melanie Kirk-Stauffer, award-winning choreographer and founder, DTNW has presented both beloved classics (The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides) and original works created in collaboration with resident composers, musicians, and visual artists. Melanie has been recognized by the Pierce County Arts Commission with the Margaret K. Williams Arts Award and has served as a guest lecturer and panelist on the role of women and careers in the arts.
DTNW’s commitment extends beyond the stage through workshops, intensives, pre-performance lectures, and free or low-cost ticket voucher programs that expand access to diverse audiences. The organization continues to collaborate with artists across disciplines—lighting designers, arrangers, composers, photographers, and designers—to inspire new works and broaden appreciation for dance as an art form.
Dance Theatre Northwest does not discriminate against any person or group of people in its practices, programs, services, or operations on the basis of personal characteristics or attributes, including sexual or gender identity.
