Job Title: Dance in Schools & Communities (DISC) Teaching Artist
Department: Education and Training
Reports To (Job Title): Senior Manager of Education Programs
Classification: Part-time, non-exempt, non-benefited
Compensation: $72 per hour teaching rate/$31 per hour meeting rate
Application Deadline: Open until filled. Review of applications will begin on 7/15/24 and will continue until the position is filled.
Hours and Location: Minimum 3-6 hours per week, on-site at SFUSD schools during the 2024-25 school year. Hours may vary between 7:50 am and 4 pm depending on school site placement.

Job Purpose:

Under supervision of the Senior Manager of Education Programs and the Associate Director of Education, Dance in Schools and Communities (DISC) Teaching Artists are responsible for planning and implementing high-quality, standards-based, culturally responsive dance education classes for SF Ballet’s DISC residency program and youth education programs. DISC Teaching Artists are committed to learning and teaching the SF Ballet DISC curriculum and delivering engaging age-appropriate dance instruction for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade students in diverse educational settings including school cafeterias, auditoriums, and multi-purpose spaces.

SF Ballet’s Education & Training Department is seeking qualified and versatile dance teaching artists to join the education team for the 2024-2025 school year. Teaching assignments will be in-person at SFUSD Early Education and/or Elementary school sites, as well as at after-school sites (including Boys & Girls Clubs of SF clubhouses), primarily serving students in grades Pre-K through 5th. We are looking for dedicated dance Teaching Artists with diverse experience in various styles of dance, including ballet, creative movement, and world dance. Priority will be given to candidates who have completed professional learning in dance pedagogy and/or with prior teaching experience in a school-based setting. To best reflect the community we serve, we strive for diversity in our teaching staff. Interested applicants should visit the SF Ballet website to become familiar with the various DISC programs https://www.sfballet.org/celebrating-40-years-of-dance-in-schools-and-communities/.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume that demonstrates relevant experience through SF Ballet’s online application portal. Cover letter should include a statement about the candidate’s experience in the field of arts education working with students of various ages and abilities in PK-12 educational settings, as well as the candidate’s dance background and specializations in any specific styles of dance.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Under supervision from the Senior Manager of Education Programs, DISC Teaching Artists are responsible for teaching in all aspects of DISC programs, including but not limited to in-school residencies, after-school residencies, workshops, community-based youth programs, and special events. This entails:

• Teaching creative movement, ballet, cultural dances, and other styles to Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade students in school-based and community-based dance classes.
• Collaborating with DISC Musical Accompanists to determine appropriate music to accompany each class in alignment with lesson plans.
• Collaborating with DISC Musical Accompanist and classroom teachers to appropriately manage classroom behavior as needed.
• Researching, planning, and implementing effective standards-based lesson plans suitable for each grade level.
• Reviewing, revising, and editing lesson and unit plans as needed to ensure a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive residency experience.
• Designing and implementing a cohesive and sequential 9-week curricular arc, scaffolding lesson plans to meet students where they are while delivering high-quality and standards-based dance education.
• Planning and facilitating appropriate reflection and metacognition opportunities during the dance class to reinforce learning landmarks and asses student learning.
• Presenting a professional demeanor that appropriately represents DISC and SF Ballet. Developing and maintaining positive relationships with PK-12 youth participants, classroom teachers, school site administrators, and other SF Ballet staff as a productive member of the DISC team.

Perform required administrative duties as needed, including:

• Submitting bi-weekly time sheets, lesson plans, school site residency reports, assessments and evaluations.
  Checking email regularly (weekly at a minimum) and responding to communications from supervisor in a timely manner.
• Communicating regularly with SFB admin staff and/or other DISC Faculty partners regarding key information about school site issues (schedule changes, space conflicts, etc.), weekly lesson plans, etc., to ensure a successful residency.
• Initiate and maintain ongoing written (via email) and verbal (in-person) communication with SFUSD classroom teachers, school site administrators (i.e. Principals, secretaries, custodians, and arts coordinators) to support the overall success of the program.
• Coordinate, schedule, and lead a pre-residency meeting/site visit with all classroom teachers at each residency site prior to the first day of classes.
• Attends regular (monthly) team meetings held in-person and/or on Zoom.
• Participates in week-long school year kickoff professional development activities each fall, as well as ongoing professional development activities, orientations, and/or workshops throughout the school year.
• Attends SF Ballet school-time performances/student matinees (2-3 times per year), provide day of support, and connect with school groups on site to enhance their overall experience at the Opera House.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned by supervisor.

Related Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a teaching artist working in collaborative educational PK-12 environments with diverse student populations, from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, age groups, and abilities. Experience working in SFUSD schools with ELL, Special Education, Special Day Classes, and/or Bilingual classes preferred.  
• Extensive experience teaching two or more of the following dance styles: ballet, creative movement, modern, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theatre, cultural or world dances.
• Specialization in early education for Pre-K and TK students and/or family dance is a plus.
• Degree in dance or dance education preferred but not required.
• Completion of Luna Dance & Creativity courses and/or other professional learning certifications in dance pedagogy preferred.
• Experience teaching with a live musician/percussionist is a plus.
• Knowledge of dance terminology, California VAPA Learning Standards, Common Core State Standards, and national standards in dance.  
• Proficiency in lesson plan development and execution for grades Pre-K-12. Familiarity with documentation practices and thinking routines that support student reflection.
• Application of choreographic principles and concepts appropriate for children and youth.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.  
• The ideal candidate is an experienced arts educator, who can work a varied part-time schedule approximately 3-6 hours per week (minimum) and is able to commit to the duration of the 2024-25 SFUSD school year from August 2024 through June 4, 2025.

Technical and Professional Competencies:

• Ability to share age-appropriate dance concepts through physically inclusive, culturally responsive, and anti-racist teaching practices. Knowledge of trauma-informed practices is a plus.
• Willingness to learn and teach the required DISC curriculum and lesson plans.
• Ability to support a safe classroom environment that allows students to explore movement and learn dances.
• Demonstrates proven classroom management skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work successfully in a team environment by establishing and maintaining effective relationships with colleagues.
• Applies reflective practices that develop greater self-awareness regarding the impact of one’s teaching, providing opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Actively participates in professional development by attending trainings, educational activities, seminars, and staff meetings.
• Applies creativity, curiosity, authenticity, and innovation to work processes.
• Utilizes specialized knowledge to provide differentiated instruction, promoting creative development among various learning styles.
• Organizes and prioritizes tasks to meet required deadlines and promote a successful residency.
• Demonstrates effective communication and problem-solving skills to ensure a successful residency and the timely dissemination of relevant information to various stakeholders (i.e. teaching partners, classroom teachers, supervisor, school site admin, etc.)

Physical Demands:

• Ability to teach dance effectively for extended periods on hard surfaces in non-traditional settings (i.e., school cafeteria, multipurpose room, gymnasium, or classroom).
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.

Other requirements:

• Must be available to work during school hours and/or after-school hours for a time block of ~2-5 hours, at least 2 days per week, Monday-Friday between 8am-5pm.
• Must have reliable transportation to travel to assigned schools all over San Francisco.
• CPR and First Aid certification (paid for by SFB).
• LiveScan background clearance required for employment (paid for by SFB).

Educational Level:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent

Internal Contacts:

• SF Ballet Education & Training department staff, DISC Accompanists and Teaching Artists

External Contacts:

• San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) public school students, teachers, principals, arts coordinators, janitorial staff, and other SFUSD school administrators and/or school site liaisons.

Application Procedure

We prefer you apply online

NO CALLS, PLEASE

San Francisco Ballet Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to employing a diverse staff. Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).

Organizational Profile

As America’s oldest professional ballet company and one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States, San Francisco Ballet has enjoyed a long and rich tradition of artistic firsts since it was founded in 1933. SF Ballet performed the first American productions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker, as well as the first production of Coppelia, choreographed by an American choreographer. Guided in its early years by American dance pioneers and brothers Lew, Willam, and Harold Christensen, San Francisco Ballet currently presents more than 100 performances a year locally, nationally, and abroad. Under the direction of Tamara Rojo, the Company upholds and drives an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world.