Career Center

Duration: 12-month contract – 10-month work/school year schedule

Reporting to: Director of Fine and Performing Arts

FLSA: exempt employee

Schedule: Monday through Friday 

Hours: 7:50 am to 3:20 pm (plus some afternoon, night and weekend rehearsals and performances)

Mission:

Rooted in the Catholic, Dominican tradition, St. Agnes Academy challenges young women through exceptional academic preparation and transformational experiences to lead with integrity, joy, and a commitment to social justice.

Faith, Community, and Dominican Charism

· Ensure that the four pillars of a Dominican education (prayer, study, community, preaching) are developed and promoted among the school community

· Develop an active faith community and models Christian values

· Support prayer and spiritual formation within the student, faculty/staff and parent communities

· Uphold and implement the Dominican charism and the Houston Dominican Sisters congregational goals

· Demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion by honoring the dignity of each member of the St. Agnes Academy community

Job Purpose: 

St. Agnes Academy seeks a highly skilled and collaborative Director of Dance/Choreographer/Dance Teacher to serve the Department of Performing Arts. The Director of Dance will be an experienced teacher and pedagogue with thorough knowledge of various dance styles (including musical theatre) and will possess an appreciation and understanding of dance’s rich cultural, social, and historical originations.  

Integral to the success of the dance program at St. Agnes Academy, the Director of Dance creates and sustains a vision that embodies the values and goals of the performing arts and the mission of St. Agnes, while demonstrating a strong commitment to teaching excellence for a broad range of students of varied identities and backgrounds who seek to explore a breadth of educational opportunities. Additionally, they will create, sustain and/or re-envision an innovative curriculum that not only maintains the core components of ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, musical theatre styles, and tap, but also provides culturally diverse dance styles prevalent in today’s art.  

This position is a vital member of a highly collaborative department that creates an annual season of dynamic performances in our state-of-the-art 63,000 sq. ft. performing arts facilities featuring a 1300-seat proscenium auditorium, flexible black box studio theatre, dance studio, and scene shop.  

Responsibilities: 

The Director of Dance will teach foundational dance courses and electives, direct and choreograph a Fall and Spring dance concert and choreograph the Spring musical. They will collaborate closely with the Director of Fine & Performing Arts, Performing Arts Department Chair, Technical Director, Directors of Theatre & Music, and administrative staff as needed on required performances and events.  The Director of Dance must be available for afterschool, nighttime, and weekend commitments to support arts programming including productions and events.

Specific duties include: 

· Teach four sections of dance and/or interdisciplinary courses in the Fall and three sections in the Spring. These may include Intro to Dance, Intermediate Dance, Advanced Dance, Cultural Dance, Dance Composition and Choreography, and/or Musical Theatre Collective.

· Artistically devise, choreograph, and direct two dance concerts during the academic year. One in the Fall and one in the Spring. 

· Choreograph the Spring musical

· Facilitate auditions and participant selection for dance concerts 

· Assess student skill sets pertaining to course selection requiring instructor permission 

· Set master rehearsal calendar of practices, performances, events, socials, etc. and effectively communicate calendar with students and parents, as required

· Participate in auditions and participant selection for musical(s) 

· Select/approve music and costume selections for dance concerts 

· Oversee polices for costume contracts, care, cleaning, and return  

· Coordinate meals for performance days, technical rehearsals, and/or workshops 

· Plan educational/performance trips, as needed 

· Collect participation paperwork, medical waivers, doctor’s notes, etc. 

· Supervise student choreographers and assistants, when utilized

· Work with the Director of Fine & Performing Arts, Academic Dean, and the department chair to determine academic dance needs and offerings

· Work with the Director of Fine & Performing Arts and administrative support personnel to hire and schedule any external contractors or part-time employees related to dance programming and productions 

· In conjunction with the Director of Fine & Performing Arts, establish and manage budget lines directed for dance programming.? Ensure expenditures are consistent with school policies.? 

· Prepare course syllabi and learning objectives following departmental guidelines and curriculum 

· Conduct varied and frequent assessments of student performance 

· Utilize appropriate technology in the classroom setting 

· Keep attendance and grade records as required by school 

· Calculate timely grades and complete progress reports as required throughout the academic year 

· Attend faculty meetings, production meetings, and professional development opportunities provided by the school 

Requirements

· Commitment to embracing the mission of St. Agnes Academy

· Completed of Safe Haven training (can be completed after hire) 

· A bachelor’s degree in dance or performing arts is required; master’s degree preferred.

· Extensive training in different forms of dance 

· Knowledge about kinesiology, physical training, conditioning, etc. 

· A thorough knowledge of traditional musical theatre dance styles 

· Evidence of expertise and experience teaching secondary or higher education students 

· A sustained professional record as a teacher, performer, choreographer and/or studio owner  

· Demonstrated ability to empower, advocate for, and value a broad range of diverse student identities and experiences through pedagogy, mentoring, and related activities

· Excellent administrative, organizational, and time management skills 

· Strong interpersonal skills in relating to multiple audiences, including students, parents, and educators with grace, competence, and warmth

· Clear and concise communication skills, both verbal and written

· Strong work ethic with the ability to manage multiple, and occasionally simultaneous, deadlines and projects

· Excellent accuracy in completing project work

· The ability to manage a budget, prepare reports, and meet deadlines 

Work Environment:
St. Agnes Academy is committed to hiring, developing, and retaining a diverse and highly competent faculty and staff. 

Physical Demands: This job operates in a professional/educational/dance studio/theatre environments. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit at desk area, communicate via phone/face to face, manually input data into a computer, walk to different office areas, reach with hands and arms, and minimal lifting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and other technology. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The forgoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.