Joffrey Ballet School · 2 months ago
Artistic Director - Childrens & Youth
New York, NY
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$70K/yr - $85K/yr
10+ years expJoffrey Ballet School is seeking an Artistic Director for the Children and Youth Division to provide visionary leadership and artistic excellence. This role involves overseeing artistic operations, curriculum design, and performance programming while nurturing young dancers' creativity and technique.
Performing Arts
Hiring Manager
Nancy Cole
Responsibilities
Collaborate with the Dean and the School’s Artistic Team to develop and articulate a vision for the Children and Youth Program that complements the goals and mission of the Joffrey Ballet School
Celebrate the diverse makeup of the student body by integrating dance history and cultural experiences into the curriculum
Manage the program’s artistic operations
Refine and implement dance curricula for various age groups, ensuring they are age-appropriate and aligned with the school’s artistic vision
Oversee curriculum creation and class scheduling, ensuring compliance with the National Association of Schools of Dance Education and relevant state standards
Refine, implement, and manage the curriculum for the Arts in Education Outreach Program, ensuring alignment with the NYC Department of Education Blueprint for Dance standards
Maintain and expand a collection of children’s books, props, and classroom materials, researching and purchasing new resources as needed
Contribute to long-term strategic planning for the school’s growth and artistic development
Ensure the Children & Youth Program nurtures a love of dance, builds foundational skills, fosters creativity, and maintains an inclusive, supportive environment for all young dancers
Serve as a spokesperson for the Joffrey Ballet School, advocating for the importance of arts education
Build and maintain relationships with local schools, organizations, and cultural institutions to increase visibility and foster collaboration
Create and maintain a structured class framework that accommodates multiple skill levels, from beginners to advanced students
Mentor students by holding scheduled parent–teacher–student meetings to motivate and communicate based on individual personalities and progress
Provide access to support services for students facing challenges that affect health, learning, or attendance
Establish consistent on-site and virtual office hours for drop-in availability to students and parents
Collaborate with the Artistic Directors and Associate Artistic Director of Trainee Programs to establish clear pathways into the Trainee level
Curate themes for performances and educational initiatives that reflect the school’s mission and community interests
Organize and oversee student participation in performances, ensuring meaningful stage experience
Maintain consistent communication with parents and guardians to support each student’s artistic journey
In collaboration with the Dean, hire and manage all faculty and choreographers for the program
Lead faculty and program staff to ensure adherence to school policies and artistic standards
Conduct faculty training, evaluations, and feedback sessions each term
Schedule regular faculty meetings and coordinate with support staff, including the Health and Wellness Officer
Provide mentorship and support for faculty facing professional challenges
Communicate clear expectations to families and faculty
Enforce adherence to Joffrey Ballet School’s policies and hold all parties accountable for maintaining artistic and professional standards
Organize and oversee all aspects of program performances, including direction of choreographers and production crew
Choreograph or restage choreography and rehearse pieces for program performances
Collaborate with administrative staff on rehearsal, technical, and performance schedules
Design and purchase costumes, props, and production materials consistent with each performance’s vision
Build and maintain relationships with performance vendors (theatre crews, videographers, photographers, etc.) to ensure quality and consistency
Actively participate in student recruitment and retention efforts
Organize recruitment activities in collaboration with administrative staff
Train instructors who conduct auditions for prospective students
Address questions and concerns from prospective and current families
Be fully knowledgeable of program offerings to confidently represent the school
Conduct meetings with students and parents to discuss progress and continued participation
Ensure all students are properly oriented to the program upon enrollment
Oversee all artistic administrative tasks and logistics, ensuring timely communication of program information
Maintain familiarity with program budgets and collaborate with the Administrative and Executive Teams to ensure strong financial performance
Teach a minimum of five to seven and a half (5–7.5) hours per week of dance technique classes, adjusted by age group and program needs
Develop and articulate a vision for the Summer Intensive(s) aligned with the Joffrey Ballet School’s mission and goals
Design and manage curriculum and class schedules
Evaluate dancers and determine group placements weekly
Communicate regularly with parents and guardians to support student success
Hire and manage faculty and choreographers for the intensive program
Lead faculty and staff, ensuring adherence to school policies and teaching standards
Depending on age group, teach approximately 5–7.5 hours per week, with flexibility based on program needs
Train, evaluate, and support faculty throughout the summer
Organize and oversee all aspects of performances, including choreography direction
Coordinate student safety protocols with administrative staff and faculty (e.g., student pickup, weather events, emergency plans)
Participate in the Audition Tour as a representative of the Joffrey Ballet School
Qualification
Required
Minimum of five years of management or leadership experience
Minimum of ten years of teaching experience with children and youth
Degree in Education, Dance Education, or a related field, such as a BFA in dance, or equivalent qualifications based on professional experience in dance and child education
Preferred
ABT National Training Curriculum Certification (or equivalent)
Master's degree or Ph.D
Five years or more of prior work experience at a conservatory or professional dance training school or similar institution
Record of professional dance experience
Experience producing concert dance performances for children and youth
Benefits
401K Retirement Plan – Employee Contributions
Health Insurance Stipend
Paid Time Off – 10 Days per year
Paid Sick Time – 5 Days per year
Company
Joffrey Ballet School
Ballet ● Jazz & Contemporary ● Hip-Hop ● Tap ● Modern Dance ● Adult Dance classes and many more! The Joffrey Ballet School is the only ballet school in New York City that offers a well-rounded dance curriculum that includes serious training in both classical ballet (technique, pointe, variations, adagio, men’s classes) and contemporary ballet (technique, improvisation, partnering), as well as modern, character, choreography, dance history, music, pilates and yoga.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase