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Teaching Artist 
About the Organization The internationally renowned Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) has received 'highest praise for their technical aplomb, their musicality, and their sheer human authenticity.' (Bloomberg News). Founded in 1980, the Dance Group performs the repertory of choreographer Mark Morris, hailed as the 'the most successful and influential choreographer alive, and indisputably the most musical' (The New York Times), whose work is acclaimed for its ingenuity, musicality, wit, and humanity. Live music and community engagement are vital components of the Dance Group. It has toured with its own musicians, the MMDG Music Ensemble, since 1996, and regularly collaborates with orchestras and opera companies around the world. In addition to 17 full-time dancers, the organization currently employs 34 full-time staff and 75 part-time staff, teaching artists, and musicians.

In the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District, the Mark Morris Dance Center, founded in 2001, is the hub of dance and music education in Brooklyn. The nine-studio building provides affordable classes in multiple genres for people of all ages, levels, with and without disabilities, accompanied by live music. The studios, a performance space, a Wellness Center, and ancillary spaces are all available to the community and to nonprofit organizations at subsidized rates. MMDG's Community Education Programs partner with public and private schools and community centers to provide customized classes. MMDG also offers customized dance workshops for persons with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.

MMDG programs in NYC and worldwide engage nearly 100,000 people annually. Propelled by core values of community, access, excellence, and creativity, MMDG is committed to ongoing equity, diversity, and inclusion work to ensure its programs are welcoming and accessible to all.
 
Category Education  
Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt  
Full-Time/Part-Time Part-Time  
Description

Summary Description:

The Mark Morris Dance Group seeks qualified and versatile teaching artists to join the team for work in its 2022 Summer Programs, as well as the 2022-2023 academic year for The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center, Community Education, and Adult programs. We are also looking for Assistant Teaching Artists and Substitute teachers.

Teaching Artists are part of the 75+ member Mark Morris Dance Group faculty. Reporting to the Youth & Family, Adult, and/or Dance for PD® program managers, Teaching Artists are integral to the planning, execution, and evaluation of the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Education & Engagement classes and initiatives. Teaching Artists are primarily responsible for delivering well prepared classes in alignment with MMDG’s Education Philosophy and specific program pedagogies while leading a classroom teaching team consisting of a Musician, Assistant Teaching Artist(s), and/or Volunteers.

We are looking for dedicated dance teachers specializing in various genres. Opportunities include:

  • Adaptive Dance for students with disabilities
  • Hip-Hop – interest and experience working with Children and Early Childhood (ages 4-12)
  • Dance of the African Diaspora – interest and experience with Children and Early Childhood (ages 4-12)
  • Tap – experience with Early Childhood (ages 4-6)
  • Jazz – experience with Early Childhood (ages 4-6)
  • Modern – interest and experience with Children and Teens (ages 6-18)
  • Somatics practitioners
  • Any of the other genres we offer in our programming, including: Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Creative Dance

Creative Dance and Parent & Toddler Movement teaching opportunities are available primarily to those who have trained under principal faculty in those classes at the Mark Morris Dance Center. Our faculty reflects and celebrates our diverse community. We encourage artists of every race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or veteran status to apply.

Mission Statement: The MMDG’s mission is to develop, promote and sustain dance, music and opera productions by Mark Morris, and to serve as a cultural resource to engage and enrich the community.

The Education and Engagement Programs reflect the spirit of the MMDG in its celebration of dance and music. We believe that the study of various dance forms and music is essential to a student's development, education, and enrichment. We offer a diverse range of classes for all ages and abilities and strive to be a center of artistic exploration for children, community residents and professional dancers.

Dedication to Core Values: Teaching Artists are expected to demonstrate a commitment and dedication to MMDG’s Core Values of community, access, excellence, and creativity. Propelled by these core values MMDG is committed to ongoing work on inclusion, equity, and diversity to ensure its programs are welcoming and accessible to all. Our core values drive us to celebrate our diverse community, pursue excellence in all that we do, advance access, exposure and opportunity to dance and music, and cultivate creativity.

Responsibilities:

Class Preparation

  • Plan cohesive and comprehensive classes in alignment with MMDG’s Education Philosophy that progress across the duration of a program’s session. Determine pacing and overall arch of the curriculum for the program session. Lesson Planning and Curriculum Mapping templates to support this work are available on the Faculty Resource Page.
  • Commit to a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy with the goals of building community by celebrating and engaging the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of individuals in our classes. This pedagogical approach aims to ensure all students and participants see themselves reflected in the dance form being taught and the structure through which it is delivered, recognizing and meeting a diverse set of learning styles, empowering students to develop their creative voices. The Education department regularly provides free professional development opportunities exploring the development and implementation of culturally responsive teaching practices.
  • Plan lessons that embed musical principles into each class. Promoting an understanding of the relationship between dance and music is an essential part of the MMDG mission. Additionally, proper music vocabulary should be used on a regular basis in the dance classroom. The Education department regularly provides free professional development regarding incorporating music into the dance classroom and strongly encourages faculty to participate.
  • Communicate to Assistant Teaching Artist, Volunteers, and Musician specific needs for each lesson (a part of class they are leading, classroom management strategy, overall class plan/structure.)
  • Communicate resource needs and supply requests to administrative staff at least 2 weeks before class.

During Class

  • Arrive 15 minutes before the start time of class, welcome students and teaching team into the space, begin class on time. Welcome activities should include an access check to ensure all students are able to participate successfully.
  • Deliver class lesson. Be prepared to adapt in response to students and teaching team needs.
  • Communicate collaboratively with musician for successful class accompaniment.
  • Oversee and communicate needs around classroom management with teaching team.
  • Facilitate end of class exit and end on time.

Administrative

  • Check email regularly. Reply to emails that include a prompt or request by the specified deadline. Respond to emails when questions arise or you need clarification on the information in the email content.
  • Complete surveys, feedback forms, and any other methods of information exchange sent by administrative staff designed to improve collaborative working processes.
  • Attend required annual Faculty Kick-Off and Faculty Wrap-Up meetings (2 meetings per academic year).
  • Attend required semi-annual Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (I.D.E.A) meetings.
  • Schedule one-on-one check-ins or attend office hours with your program manager(s) as needed.
  • Attend program planning meetings when necessary.
  • Attend curriculum planning meetings when necessary.

Dance Center Operations & Safety

  • Willingness to train and serve as a Dance Center Floor Warden.
  • Follow Dance Center Safety Plan protocols.
  • Read and abide by all policies indicated in the Faculty Handbook
 
Position Requirements

YOU ARE AN IDEAL CANDIDATE IF YOU:

  • Have a passion for dance education
  • Have interest in being a life-long learner
  • Can commit to the duration of a program (September – June) while maintaining a consistent schedule throughout

SCHEDULE: Hourly work based on program needs in The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center, Community Education, and/or Adult programs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • At least 3 full academic years of dance teaching experience within a diverse age group and educational settings
  • Experience working with a live musician/accompanist a plus
  • Advanced knowledge of content in the genre of dance you hope to present at the audition
  • Strong communication skills
  • Priority will be given to candidates whose career focus is dance education
  • Compliance with MMDG COVID-19 Safety Plan and Vaccination Policy

If you do not yet meet these qualifications and are looking to advance your teaching practice, we encourage you to apply to our Teaching Artist Training Program (scholarships available).

COMPENSATION:

  • $48-$80/hr OR per head rate with a guaranteed minimum of $45. Rates are commensurate with experience and are determined based on the following factors: distance of travel, program training requirements, and program schedules.
  • Access to affordable studio rental space; significant discounts on adult classes, intensives, workshops, and master classes offered at the Dance Center.

APPLICATIONS:

  • Please complete the online application.
  • You will be asked to submit the following as part the application form:
    • Cover letter addressed to the education team including:
      • Why are you interested in teaching in Education and Community Engagement with Mark Morris Dance Group?
      • MMDG is a values-driven organization; please review our core values of Community, Excellence, Creativity, and Access and discuss an instance in which you have incorporated one of them in your teaching practice.
    • Résumé highlighting relevant experience
    • Headshot (does not need to be taken by a professional photographer)
    • Sample written class plan including learning objectives (PDF Format preferred)
  • Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.
  • Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
  • Select candidates will be invited to the audition in March of 2022 where candidates will be asked to prepare five (5) minutes of a skill building class excerpt, while other auditioning candidates act as the students.

 

DEADLINE:

  • These positions are open until filled. The application will be open November 2021-February 2022. Start dates will be rolling dependent on program need after the March 2022 audition is complete.
 
 
EOE Statement We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or veteran status. It is the policy of MMDG to comply with all the relevant and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). MMDG does not discriminate against any qualified employees or job applicants with respect to any terms, privileges, or conditions of employment because of a person’s physical or mental disability. MMDG makes reasonable accommodation wherever necessary for all employees or applicants with disabilities, provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the duties and assignments connected with the job and provided that any accommodations made do not require significant difficulty or expense.  

This position is currently not accepting applications.

To search for an open position, please go to http://MarkMorrisDanceGroup.appone.com


 


 
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