Cal Performances is seeking a Jazz Dance Instructor to work for AileyCamp from June 23, 2021 to July 23, 2021.

Cal Performances presents and produces outstanding artists from the Bay Area, the United States, and around the world in performances and community programs which promote excellence, innovation, diversity, education, and community involvement, with the fundamental belief that the arts are vital to our society locally, nationally, and internationally.  Berkeley/Oakland AileyCamp at Cal Performances is a program of the department of Education under the general supervision of the Director of Education. Cal Performances supports AileyCamp with an array of professional performing arts services, including but not limited to marketing, public relations, and professional technical staff.

AileyCamp is a nationally proven arts education program that uses dance as a vehicle for developing self-esteem, creative expression, and critical thinking skills among 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students (aged 11-14) who are at risk of dropping out of school.  AileyCamp also provides exceptional dance training to middle school students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.  The project was inspired by the work of the late Alvin Ailey, internationally renowned dance artist, choreographer, and founder of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Please visit http://calperformances.org/community/aileycamp/ to learn more about AileyCamp and Cal Performances

The AileyCamp (Jazz) Dance Instructor will teach, model and support student learning in and through dance techniques to the AileyCampers. Specific techniques in Jazz.  The dance instructor will be working collaboratively with the Artistic Director, Managing Director, Guidance Counselor, Creative Communications instructor, Personal Development instructor, and a staff of Group Leaders to ensure a supportive professional environment.

The individual will be performing the required duties mostly remotely, but there may be in-person assignments that will require the individual to be on campus as needed.  Completion of campus-required COVID-19 training and testing (as applicable) for individuals working on campus is required.

Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

·        Five day work week (online) – Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., all weeks except the week of staff training which may include a Saturday or Sunday.

·        Teach up to three classes per day, four days per week or as determined by the Artistic and Managing Director.

·        Participate in the general oversight of the campers, including at camper free periods, including but not limited to assist with other class engagement, support Group Leaders in their oversight of individual groups of campers, provide supervision during lunch and breaks as assigned on a rotating basis, and take on projects in support of camp, production preparation, and audience engagement.

·        Participate in individual and AileyCamp staff meetings, including scheduled meetings before and after camp.

·        Plan lessons that will develop physical and mental stamina, agility, grace, cooperative work and an appreciation for the joys of rigorous discipline among youth.

·        Provide schedule of proposed class content to Artistic and Managing Directors for final approvals and integration with the whole camp curriculum.

·        Coordinate with Group Leaders to assess campers’ individual needs, and support them in interventions to meet these needs.

·        Produce camper progress evaluations, documentation for Camp Video, Anthology, and other materials celebrating the campers’ experience.

·        Choreograph a camper presentation for the final performance.

Required Qualifications

·        Requires prior experience as a professional dancer and dance instructor in Jazz.

·        Demonstrated experience working with urban children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, identified as having one or more of the following at-risk factors:  living with a single parent or no parent; having a sibling who dropped out of school or became a school-age parent; having difficulty with the traditional school structure as determined by teacher observation; or having low self-esteem.

·        Familiarity with and/or ability to be trained in and implement youth-centered learning frameworks.

·        Excellent leadership skills including an ability to command respect and motivate achievement while working effectively with young people, serving as a positive influence and model for disciplined practice, healthy personal habits, and respectful communication to campers and to your peers.

·        Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

·        Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to relate well to diverse persons, and actively work as part of an ensemble with a shared mission to support campers and camp activities in whatever manner is needed.

·        Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks with competing deadlines in a self directed, prioritized and calm manner.

·        Flexibility to meet changing needs and priorities as they occur.

·        Excellent organizational and time management skills, cheerful collaborator, able and willing to take initiative to accomplish or support others in accomplishing tasks related to the successful and smooth operation of the camp.
Must be able to successfully pass background check.

For Jazz Dance:

a basic understanding of the principles of jazz dance including jazz hands, jazz walks, jazz runs, leaps, jazz slides, step-ball changes and energy focus, and demonstrated success contributing to an ensemble work environment requiring willingness and ability to take on tasks outside the dance classroom.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

Experience choreographing for youth of varying abilities.
Experience with the frameworks of youth development and youth-centered learning environments.

Other Information:

This is a temporary position with a start date of June 23, 2021 and an end date of July 23, 2021. Pay is $3,680 total for period of June 23, 2021 – July 23, 2021.

The individual will be performing the required duties mostly remotely, but there may be in-person assignments that will require the individual to be on campus as needed.  Completion of campus-required COVID-19 training and testing (as applicable) for individuals working on campus is required.

For a complete job description and to apply, please visit http://jobs.berkeley.edu/ (search by the Job ID #17795) or go directly to the job at https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=21&JobOpeningId=17795&PostingSeq=1