Apply to join Share Dance as the Share Dance Professional Development Champion in support of our Fall Workshop Series!

Context for the Role 

New Works has presented Share Dance for almost 10 years now, employing dance artists to offer unique and diverse dance workshops to underserved youth, children, and families in Metro Vancouver. 

As the Share Dance program has grown and established, our facilitators have requested training and learning opportunities to support their activities in the classroom and beyond, to which New Works has responded with various workshops. While this responsive model serves our established community of facilitators well, we recognize it does little to grow and make space for new faces. Additionally, as we transition back to in-person post-pandemic learning models, it is clear that both students and teachers need more support in the classroom. By shifting our workshop model, we see a clear opportunity to better serve our roster of Share Dance Facilitators and the wider community of dance teachers at the same time. 

We have decided to formalize the previously ad hoc workshop series into the Share Dance Professional Development Series; a series of four workshops which will take place over the Fall of 2022 focused on professional development training for dance teachers (especially for those working outside of the classic studio space). New Works has identified the proposed training opportunity as a gap within the current mix of professional development opportunities across the Lower Mainland, and one that many dance artists across styles and experience levels could benefit from. 

Through planning and marketing a series of professional development workshops specifically for dance teachers, New Works will better serve our current roster of dance facilitators and the community at large. Workshop topics may include (as an example); Engaging the First Time Dancer; Facilitating Creativity Across Cultures; Lesson Planning + Class Structures for Neuro Diverse Communities; Creating Safer Spaces for Trauma in the Dance Classroom. 

It is our hope this first season of workshops will develop into an annual workshop series for dance teachers focused on and responding to various timely professional development needs. 

Job Description 

The Share Dance Professional Development Series is in its first year of getting established, and we need a champion to help bring it to life! 

Are you passionate about dance education for young people? Are you excited about learning and sharing inclusive, anti-racist, equitable teaching practices? Would you like to be at the center of envisioning and developing training workshops in support of community needs? 

If the answer is yes to all the above, this role may be a great fit for you. 

As the Share Dance Professional Development Champion, you would work collaboratively with the Share Dance Program Manager to develop workshop themes and structures, identify and engage workshop facilitators, and market and promote each workshop. 

Responsibilities

Working in collaboration with the Share Dance Program Manager, the Share Dance Professional Development Champion (SDPDC) will: 

  • Plan and develop the framework for each of the four workshops. 
  • Identify, contact, and engage appropriate workshop facilitators to lead each professional development workshop. 
  • Undertake research/consultation with leaders of marginalized communities as guides workshop planning.
  • Manage workshop sign up and attendance at all four workshops. 
  • Attend all four workshops as the New Works representative and champion, acting as host facilitator at each workshop.
  • Identify community partners to promote and collaborate around workshops.
  • Develop all marketing and communications language, in close collaboration with the Communications Manager, to promote and market the workshop series to the public through website, social media, print, and other media. 
  • Provide written and verbal reports to the New Works staff following each of the workshops. 
  • At the close of the workshop series create and present a final report on successes and suggestions for next year. 
  • Attend occasional weekly staff meetings (in-person or remote) as requested by the Share Dance Program Manager. 

Qualifications

  • Experience as a dance teacher (2 years minimum) who has worked with a diversity of communities, or other relevant experience. 
  • Experience with community engagement and accessibility initiatives. 
  • A passion for dance education. Training in dance education would be an asset, but not essential. 
  • An interest in interfacing with local arts organizations and artists, and a desire to foster and engage in inclusive community.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail. 
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, and take on projects without explicit direction. 
  • Plays wells with others. We’re looking for someone who likes to collaborate and to do so in ways that encourage themselves and the people around them to find joy in their work. 
  • Likes responding to opportunities as they occur. 

Hours & Remuneration 

This role is envisioned as a flexible, hybrid position, with a bank of hours to be used over a 4 month period as mutually agreed upon and scheduled with the New Works team. 

Total hours contracted: 100 hours 

Start Date: August 15, 2022

End Date: December 31, 2022

Remuneration: $40/hour (+ GST if applicable)

How to Apply

Please email Charlotte Newman, Share Dance Program Coordinator at charlotte@newworks.ca with the subject line “Share Dance Professional Development Champion” by August 21, 2022, 12pm PT. 

Please include: 

  • Your CV
  • A letter outlining why you want to work with the Share Dance Professional Development Series and a written snapshot or summary of your vision of yourself in this position (1 page maximum). 
  • Contact information for two work-related references 

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled with shortlisted candidates on a rolling basis as applications are received. 

New Works is committed to principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We encourage applications from candidates with a broad range of of background including, but not limited to: race, ethnicity, indigeneity, gender, gender-identification, sexual orientation, class and phsycal ability. We are a parent-friendly workplace that supports a health work/life balance. 

We thank all candidates for applying, but we only have capacity to contact those selected for an interview.