Saratoga Performing Arts Center opened the SPAC School of the Arts in September 2021 with an array of dance, music, and theatre arts enrichment offerings for all ages and abilities. The school operates out of the Lewis A. Swyer School of the Arts in Saratoga Springs, NY – a state-of-the-art education and rehearsal facility for the performing arts located less than 1 mile from the SPAC venue.

About the SPAC School of the Arts: The SPAC School of the Arts guides all students towards self-empowerment through artistic discovery and arts education in a welcoming and joyful environment. Dedicated to changing the face of dance, music, and theatre education in our region by valuing the creative process and the enrichment of each individual artist, classes are taught by qualified teaching artists who challenge students to explore diverse topics and cultures, connect with others, learn new perspectives, and discover passion, confidence, and a deeper sense of self. SOTA is committed to continually researching current best practices for providing inclusive arts learning, and to advancing arts equity by overcoming barriers that often prevent access.

About the Dance Program at SOTA: Rooted in the belief that dance is for everyone and every body, our dance program provides a variety of ways to discover the joy of moving. Physical, emotional, and social development, individual feedback, and engagement in collaborative dance making are hallmarks of our curriculum. Our program values and draws upon the varied and rich traditions of all dance forms to foster an appreciation and understanding of the universal language of dance. Skill-building and movement vocabulary are woven into each lesson as students explore the artistry of dance. In our dance classes, students are celebrated as movers, performers, choreographers, and as a supportive community of dancers. Here are some key characteristics that we would like to preserve in the current dance program at the SPAC School of the Arts, as well as opportunities for growth and expansion:

• Creative movement, improvisation, contemporary/modern dance, and ballet are our core dance offerings. We wish to grow and develop these offerings while also expanding to include other dance forms, and we are very interested in offering both tap and musical theatre jazz starting as early as September 2022.
• Our primary goal is to create a playful, joyful space for students of all ages and abilities to be able to explore and create their own movement, allowing them to express their own feelings and ideas through dance.
• In lieu of teaching pre-choreographed steps, we often provide sources of inspiration (poetry, books, art, music, current events, etc.) and the tools for the students to choreograph and/or improvise their own movement.
• Our dance program is inspired by pedagogy developed by National Dance Institute (NDI), and we require all dance educators to take part in professional development opportunities provided throughout the year.

About the School Facility: The Lewis A. Swyer Studios building consists of three large and pristine rehearsal studios complete with sprung floors, wall-to-wall marley, and mirrored walls, as well as locker rooms, offices, restrooms, and an outdoor courtyard that connects the school building to the National Museum of Dance & Hall of Fame.

Joining the team of educators and administrators tasked with enhancing and expanding the school’s vision and offerings will be the Director of Dance– a full-time, year-round, salaried position.

The Director of Dance will have a strong background as an educator in dance and will be responsible for developing and implementing curriculums, syllabi and lesson plans in their content area, as well as teaching a weekly schedule of classes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in dance education and/or performance, or a related field of study
• Master’s degree in education and state certification is a plus, but not required to apply
• At least 4 years’ prior experience as a dance educator in K-12 (Experience in multiple forms of dance, including modern, tap, jazz, hip hop, and cultural dance forms are a plus)
• Passion and affinity working with adults as well as with children and teens (18 months old and above)

The successful candidate must have:

• Advanced knowledge and experience in teaching Creative Movement classes using language and concepts from prominent practitioners, such as Laban Movement Analysis
• Experience Teaching movement to individuals with varying abilities
• Advanced ability to create and implement scaffolded curriculums
• Passion for integrating culturally responsive content and historical/social context into arts lessons to honor the origins of the art form presented, connect students to the outside world, and introduce new perspectives
• Strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access
• Excellent verbal, written and organization skills
• Reliable transportation
• Can-do work style
• Ability to work nights / weekends
• Collaborative spirit and strong desire to work as part of a team
• Comfort in speaking in front of large groups of all ages
• The ability and willingness to multitask and work under a deadline
• And a strong interest in the arts, arts education, and non-profit administration

• hiring, training and overseeing a small team of contracted teaching artists

• working with SPAC’s VP of Education and other school instructors to build and implement a comprehensive arts enrichment program, and to further establish the school’s mission and identity

• teaching approximately 12 hours/week during the school year (September-June), while working an additional 28 hours/week in an administrative/management capacity

• During the months of July and August, the role will become primarily administrative. However, candidates must be open to teaching daytime summer classes

• assisting in the execution of SPAC’s education events, including in-school programs, master classes, performances for young audiences, family festivals, and other children/family-oriented events and program

Submit aa resume and cover letter on Indeed.com

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