We are currently accepting Spring 2022 Teaching Artist applications for our Rochester and Twin Cities locations. Submissions are due no later than 11:59pm on December 5.
Dancing Classrooms is a 10-week social and emotional learning (SEL), arts-in-education program teaching partner dance to children during their school day. Our mission is to build social awareness, confidence, and self-esteem in children through the practice of social dance. Founded in 1994, Dancing Classrooms has been featured in several films, including the award-winning documentary Mad Hot Ballroom and Take the Lead starring Antonio Banderas.
Dance for Life is a senior wellness program for active seniors, ambulatory memory-care elders, and their caregivers. Dance for Life weaves together music, storytelling, and partner dance to focus on four key areas:
Building physical strength and flexibility
Improving balance to reduce the risk of falls
Expanding social connections
Increasing cognitive focus to delay or diminish the effects of dementia
We are currently accepting Spring 2022 Teaching Artists applications for Dancing Classrooms and Dance for Life residencies in the Twin Cities and Rochester areas. Watch our videos to learn more: https://youtu.be/0R5qu9QzLdY and https://youtu.be/_MUKaTiiX-A, or visit our website at: www.heartofdancemn.org.
Who We Look For
Ideal Teaching Artists are those who:
Have experience working with children and adults
Possess a good sense of humor, rhythm, and ample patience
Can command a classroom and will work in a team
Want to build social awareness, confidence, and self-esteem in children, and help seniors build and maintain physical and cognitive abilities, through partner dance.
Respond to emails/calls within 24-48 hours
Have reliable transportation
Applicants of color and multilingual speakers are especially encouraged to apply, as we serve a highly diverse student population. Ballroom dance experience is not necessary. All training in the Dancing Classrooms and Dance for Life syllabi and Dulaine Method is provided.
Auditions, Training, and Schedule Requirements
Auditions for both Twin Cities and Rochester applicants will be held at 10am on December 14, with call-backs at 10am on December 18, at Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis. Training will take place January 10-14, 2022 from 9am to 5pm at Tapestry Folkdance Center. Training commitment is non-negotiable, please do not apply if you are unable to commit to attending training.
Applicants must be able to commit to a ten-week residency of two to five days per week, for at least two sequential semesters, along with weekly staff meetings and occasional events. (Rochester Teaching Artists will have the opportunity to attend meetings via video conference.) Dancing Classrooms takes place during school hours (8am-4pm), while Dance for Life may be scheduled during day, evening, or weekend hours. We serve schools and organizations within the seven-county Twin Cities metro area and Rochester, and a Teaching Artist may be in more than one school or organization per day.
Compensation
Teaching Artist pay starts at $25-30 per class taught (includes lesson prep time). Staff meetings and events are paid at $15 per hour.
Employment Requirements
Due to the unique nature of partner dance, Heart of Dance requires all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please be prepared to show proof of vaccination at the audition, or arrange to send proof to us beforehand. Per CDC recommendations, Heart of Dance currently requires masks for all in-person work (this includes the audition). Teaching Artists are also required to undergo a background check upon employment.
Ready to Apply?
To apply, please visit our website at: www.heartofdancemn.org/careers.