Tacoma City Ballet donated 250 tickets on Dec. 12, to members of the Muckleshoot Tribal community offering families and youth the opportunity to experience ballet and the performing arts together.

The donation reflects a desire to build stronger relationships with Native communities and to create opportunities for Indigenous families to experience the arts. Under the leadership of Erin Ceragioli, executive and artistic director of Tacoma City Ballet and director of the Tacoma City Ballet School, the organization continues to explore ways to expand access and participation.

Ceragioli has shared her respect for Indigenous history in ballet and her admiration for the legacy of Maria Tallchief, the first Native American prima ballerina and one of The Five Moons who helped shape American ballet. Inspired by that history, she introduced an annual Indigenous Peoples’ Night during The Nutcracker in 2024 with the hope of encouraging Indigenous youth and families to see themselves reflected in the art form and to consider participating in ballet.

In addition to the ticket donation, Tacoma City Ballet has begun offering free ballet classes to Indigenous youth who are interested in learning the art form, helping remove financial barriers and create welcoming entry points. Ceragioli often speaks to the lifelong value of ballet, emphasizing that it teaches discipline, perseverance, and confidence qualities that stay with students throughout their lives.

Through these efforts, Tacoma City Ballet continues to open doors, build relationships, and support access to the arts in ways that are respectful, intentional, and community focused.