Arts First

08/31/2026

🩰 Fall Ballet Classes Start Tomorrow! 🩰

Get ready to hit the barre—our Fall Session begins tomorrow, September 1st, and runs through December 17th!

Whether you're looking to refine your technique or try ballet for the first time, we have classes for various age groups and skill levels:

Tuesdays:

5:15 PM – 6:15 PM | Youth Beginning Ballet (11–18 yrs) (FULL – Waiting List Only)

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Beginning/Intermediate Teen/Adult Ballet (13+)

Thursdays:

5:15 PM – 6:15 PM | Youth Beginning/Intermediate Ballet (11–18 yrs)

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Intermediate Teen/Adult Ballet (13+)

Saturdays:

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Intermediate Teen/Adult Ballet (13+)

Important Reminders for Day 1:
RSVP & Sign-Up: Capacity is strictly limited to 15 students per class. Make sure you are registered and signed up online before arriving.

Liability Waiver: All dancers must bring a signed waiver to class (or email it to [email protected]). Students under 18 need a guardian's signature. Dancers without a signed waiver will not be able to participate.

Attire: Canvas or leather ballet slippers are required for class.

Arrival: Doors open 15 minutes before class. Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early so you have time to stretch and warm up!

📍 Location: AF Studio - 8218 Pacific Ave #7, Tacoma, WA 98408

We can't wait to see you in the studio! Send us a message or email [email protected] if you have any last-minute questions. ✨

Send a message to learn more

08/20/2026

A quick reminder that AF Studio will be closed from August 22–31. Fall ballet classes resume bright and early on September 1!

Fall Ballet Classes (Sept 1 – Dec 17) Our fall sessions are filling up fast! If you haven’t reserved your spot yet, space is still available.

Tuesday
5:15 – 6:15 PM: Youth Beginning Ballet (Ages 11–18) — FULL (Waitlist Only)
6:30 – 8:00 PM: Beginning/Intermediate Teen & Adult Ballet (Ages 13+)
Thursday
5:15 – 6:15 PM: Youth Beginning/Intermediate Ballet (Ages 11–18)
6:30 – 8:00 PM: Intermediate Teen & Adult Ballet (Ages 13+)
Saturday
12:00 – 1:30 PM: Intermediate Teen & Adult Ballet (Ages 13+)
👉 https://artsfirst.org/dance/

08/13/2026

🎬 Join Us for the Arts First Summer Film Viewing Party! 🎬
https://artsfirst.org/2026-summer-film-view-party/

Mark your calendars! Join us on Wednesday, August 19, from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM at the historic Blue Mouse Theatre for a special evening celebrating our talented local student filmmakers.

Doors open at 5:15 PM, and the screening starts at 5:30 PM.

✨ What to Expect:

Premiere short films created by students in the Arts First Youth Summer Film Camp, Amara Family Film Camp, Salishan Family Investment Center Filmmaking Club, Open Studio Film Classes, and 9 local Tacoma middle school afterschool clubs.

Connect with fellow families, students, and instructors in a warm, historic theater environment.

Support the creative achievements, storytelling, and technical growth of local youth!

📍 Location:
Blue Mouse Theatre
2611 N Proctor St, Tacoma, WA 98407

🎟️ RSVP Required:
Admission is free, but space is limited. Please reserve a spot for each attendee on our Attendee List.

Come cheer on Tacoma’s emerging filmmakers—we can't wait to see you there! 🍿✨

07/31/2026

Raising the Barre!
This summer, Arts First opened its free dance and filmmaking programs. We successfully integrated both programs within a limited space—and it wasn't just the space that served multiple purposes, but the equipment as well. Take the traditional ballet barre, an icon of the ballet studio: while used for classic ballet classes, during our stop-motion animation class, we used it to rig cameras and lighting, further deepening the integration of our ballet and filmmaking curricula.

07/15/2026

Youth Summer Film Camp - Stop motion Animation

07/02/2026

Arts First Studio will be closed on the next two Saturdays, July 4 and July 11.
Students registered for Saturday classes are welcome to join our Thursday Adult/Teen ballet class at 6:30 PM as a makeup session.

Youth Summer Film Camp Starts Next Week!

Our Youth Summer Film camp kicks off soon! The first day of camp is Tuesday, July 7th at 1:00 PM at the AF Studio. We hope to see everyone there!
Didn't get the details? You should have received an email with all the camp information. If you did not receive it, please email us at [email protected].

More Info: You can also visit our 2026 Summer Film Camp Page https://artsfirst.org/2026-summer-film-camp/
Joined the Waitlist? For those who missed out on registration due to capacity and are currently on our waiting list, we highly recommend signing up for the Amara Youth Film Camp on Mondays. You can find registration information here: https://artsfirst.org/affc/

Arts First on the Khmer Talk Podcast
In the latest episode of the Khmer Talk podcast, host Srey Kray sat down with Arts First Artistic Director Chhay Mam! Tune in for an interview about his creative journey, the inspiration behind Arts First, and the vital role of preserving and celebrating Cambodian-American culture through the arts.
https://youtu.be/4-vFPyON4eE

2026 Summer Film Camp Arts First 2026 Summer Film Camp Registration is full. Sign up below to join our waiting list. Waiting List After registration, a confirmation email will be sent within 48 hours. Please ensure to check both your inbox and spam folder, and add [email protected] to your email sa...

06/03/2026

Looking for an incredible summer experience for your kids that is 100% FREE? ☀️✨
🎬 Youth Summer Film Camp (Ages 12-18): A 5-week immersive experience! They’ll learn visual storytelling, acting, lighting, and professional editing in DaVinci Resolve. (Tues, Wed, Thurs | 1 PM - 5 PM).
https://artsfirst.org/2026-summer-film-camp/

💃 Summer Ballet Classes: Form foundational skills, build confidence, and stay active. We have dedicated classes for Youth (11-18) and Teens/Adults (13+).
https://artsfirst.org/dance/
Professional instruction, high-quality gear, and zero cost to your family.
👇 Spots are strictly limited to 15–20 students per track to ensure personal mentorship.
Register @ https://artsfirst.org/

Arts First is dedicated to making the arts accessible. Our donation-based programs offer classes entirely free of charge and are open to everyone. Your donations and volunteer support help sustain our efforts.Click Here To DonateSign-up for our Mailing List! – Follow Us on Facebook

05/22/2026

AF Studio will be closed for Memorial Day weekend, May 23–25. We will reopen on Wednesday, May 27th, for adult ballet classes.
Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

05/15/2026

🩰 FREE Summer Ballet Classes! 🌞
Dance with us this summer — completely FREE!
Our Summer Session Ballet Classes run June 16 – August 22 and are open to youth, teens, and adults looking to learn, grow, and move in a welcoming ballet environment.
Register at https://artsfirst.org/dance/
✨ No cost to participate. Just bring your love of dance!
📅 Tuesdays
• 5:15–6:15 PM — Youth Beginning Ballet (Ages 11–18)
• 6:30–8:00 PM — Beginning/Intermediate Teen & Adult Ballet (13+)
📅 Thursdays
• 5:15–6:15 PM — Youth Beginning/Intermediate Ballet (Ages 11–18)
• 6:30–8:00 PM — Intermediate Teen & Adult Ballet (13+)
📅 Saturdays
• 12:00–1:30 PM — Intermediate Teen & Adult Ballet (13+)
Whether you’re trying ballet for the first time or continuing your training, these FREE classes are a great way to stay active, build confidence, and enjoy dance all summer long.
💫 Register now — spaces are limited!

The Arts First Dance Program is designed to maximize each student’s progress. We are open three days a week, with each class carefully structured to focus on different aspects of ballet, including flexibility and core strength. Classes are thoughtfully scheduled to target skill development while a...