About Colorado Ballet Education & Community Engagement Department 

Colorado Ballet is a Denver based non-profit organization. The mission is to present exceptional quality classical ballet and innovative dance through performances, training, and education programs that are integral to the cultural life of our community.  

Providing high quality educational opportunities for preschool through adults, the Colorado Ballet Education & Community Engagement Department has been engaging with the Colorado community for over 20 years offering programs to students and community members least likely to access dance independently and for whom it could have the greatest impact. A fundamental philosophy of Colorado Ballet is to make dance accessible to everyone and inclusive of all. We aim to bring diverse communities together to overcome real and perceived barriers. In doing so, the department strives to provide quality dance education that focuses on the mission: 

Every: To make dance accessible to everyone. 
Body: To promote dance and movement as part of a healthy lifestyle. 
Dance: To encourage creativity and expression through dance and foster an appreciation for ballet.

Position Summary 

The Education & Community Engagement department is seeking a motivated individual for a position as a Teaching Artist. We are currently hiring both Tier 1 and Tier 2 Teaching Artists. Tier 1 Teaching Artists teach regularly, on a weekly basis, for both our Every Body Dance! afterschool enrichment program and our Workshops program. It is an ideal part-time position for someone balancing a variety of teaching jobs or other part-time work. Tier 2 Teaching Artists typically teach a specialized form or dance style and only teach when that style is requested. These Teaching Artists teach sporadically throughout the year on an on call basis.

The Tier 1 Teaching Artist position teaches E&CE Curriculum (see below) in the afterschool setting, may teach workshops and Day of Dance events. Hours vary, but average two to five hours per week during the school year and five to ten hours per month in the summer, must be comfortable teaching creative movement and ballet in the afterschool setting. The majority of teaching time occurs between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays with occasional daytime and weekend hours. The position has hourly rates for student teachers, assistant teachers, and lead teachers as well as opportunities for administrative time.  

The position reports to the Manager of Education & Community Engagement and may work directly with other department staff and Teaching Artists. Teaching Artists will typically work offsite from the Colorado Ballet studios and offices at schools and community centers, may teach virtually via Zoom, and will work with students of a variety of ages, experience, abilities, and backgrounds.   

In order to fulfill our mission, Colorado Ballet is dedicated to building and sustaining an organizational culture grounded in diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging. We are committed to hiring people who reflect and represent the rich diversity of the children, families, and communities with whom we work. Black, Indigenous, people of color, persons with disabilities, persons from underrepresented ethnic groups, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ persons are especially welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. 

Colorado Ballet Education & Community Engagement Curriculum 

Colorado Ballet Tier 1 Teaching Artists utilize a codified curriculum for the afterschool program, Every Body Dance! This curriculum was created in order to provide a consistent program throughout the Denver metro area. A typical  afterschool program provides dance classes that focus on creative movement and ballet. Utilizing Anne Green Gilbert’s methodology, we utilize Brain Compatible Dance Education techniques to create and develop the curriculum for our afterschool classes, as well as many of our workshops. These effective teaching techniques equip our Teaching Artists to engage and motivate students of all abilities in school in community settings. Colorado Ballet’s afterschool curriculum is designed for students to study a variety of dance concepts while also improving important life skills such as problem solving, spatial awareness, social and emotional learning, and strengthening the body and brain all through the art of dance. 

Information about the Teaching Artist role 

Colorado Ballet Education & Community Engagement Department Teaching Artists: 

• -Are practicing artists, who have professional performing experience and/or training 
  -Come from a variety of artistic traditions and have the desire to share their unique artistry with children, youth, adults, and beginners 
  -Are as passionate about the art of teaching as they are about their art form 
  -Exude joy and love of dance 
  -Are dynamic, expressive, and energized movers 
  -Have experience creating choreographic phrases 
  -Have strong musicality 
  -Have a confident presence and positive and inclusive classroom management skills 
  -Understand the developmental needs of children and are capable of tailoring instruction to support different learners 
  -Are committed to anti-racist education 
  -Are committed to culturally responsive and inclusive teaching practices, and to creating classrooms in which every student is seen, valued, and feels that they belong 
  -Have experience with (or a willingness to learn) lesson planning and designing units of instruction 
  -Are reflective practitioners who seek opportunities for continuous learning 
  -Are collaborative; thrive in a team dynamic in which power and responsibility are shared 
  -Are flexible, and able to adapt to the needs and strengths of different school communities 
  -Believe that all children are dancers and capable of achieving success in and through dance 
  -Believe that being in the presence of children is a privilege 

Requirements to Apply 

• -Have an understanding of and commitment to the mission of Colorado Ballet as well as the Education & Community Engagement Department with a deep passion for dance and a dedication to values of access, diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  -Experience in dance education (Tier 1: including creative movement and ballet) with considerations for social and emotional learning. 
  -Reliable transportation/ability to travel throughout the Denver metro area. 
  -Availability for paid professional development workshops as well as individualized training during the school year. 
  -Must be reliable and punctual. 
  -Tier 1: Ability to make a solid commitment to teaching during the afterschool time frame, at least one day per week, ideally for the duration of the school year (early October to early or mid- June). 
  -Must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer. No visa sponsorship is available for this position. 
  -Offers for employment are contingent upon successful completion of a state and federal fingerprint level background check and mandatory reporter training. 

Relevant Experience 

• -Proficiency in other dance idioms (West African, Bharatanatyam, Ballroom, Hip Hop, etc.) 
  -Background in dance, experience teaching dance (in public schools or non-traditional settings preferred), or formal education in dance/dance education 
  -Proficiency in Spanish or another language  

Compensation 

• Part-time, hourly rate: lead teaching rate begins at $40 - $55/hour 

• Hours: For Tier 1, approximately 1-3 hours per week, primarily between 2:30 - 6:30 p.m., Monday - Friday, some weekends and daytime hours available. For Tier 2, hours vary throughout the year. 

• Benefits: For Tier 1 - complementary and discount tickets to Colorado Ballet productions, paid professional development time, access to free professional continued learning, increased pay rate for outer range locations, access to free or discounted adult classes in the Raydean Acevedo Colorado Ballet Academy. 

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Application 

Application deadline is August 30th, 2024. Please send your resume, cover letter, and sample lesson plan to Emily Herrin at emily.herrin@coloradoballet.org. Submissions without these items will not be considered. No phone calls please. All submissions will be acknowledged. Colorado Ballet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

What’s Next? 

• Colorado Ballet will review applications and schedule final candidates for an interview/audition on Zoom (or in-person if applicable) in June/July/August. 

• Candidates who are selected and available will begin teaching in schools starting in September 2024. 
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Please contact Emily Herrin at emily.herrin@coloradoballet.org with any questions. Thank you for your interest in teaching with Colorado Ballet’s Education & Community Engagement Department!