Upper School Dance Teacher
Harvard-Westlake, a coed, independent school in Los Angeles serving nearly 1600 students in grades 7-12, seeks to hire an exceptional and highly qualified educator for a full-time teaching position in the Upper School Performing Arts Department (grades 10-12). The ideal candidate should have advanced training in a culturally diverse range of dance forms and techniques, with a demonstrated knowledge in adolescent movement and dance pedagogy. We seek a candidate who will strive to build partnerships as well as a highly collaborative classroom working environment with the student dancers; inspiring, mentoring, and guiding them on a journey to find their own creative voice through dance and movement. We are open to both professional dancers seeking to transition to full time teaching, as well as experienced teachers, seeking to increase the scope and scale of their career in education.
The responsibilities of this position include the instruction of 3 courses of varying skill levels; the conceptualization, development, and rehearsals of main stage productions, in-class projects, and showcases; and the leadership and vision for the sequence of the upper school dance program, in connection to the middle school program. Current course descriptions in dance can be found in our online curriculum guide HERE.
Click HERE to apply.
- Bachelor's Degree in Dance; Master's Degree or extensive experience in the field; 3-5 years teaching in a rigorous academic environment;
- Experience teaching choreography, technique, and performance preparation;
- Expertise in creating high-level ensemble-based productions; ability to collaborate with a production team in all facets of the creative process;
- Culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy; competency to teach the social and historical contexts from which varying dance forms originate
- Holistic, student-centered approach to dance education: identity development, self-expression, critical thinking, somatics, career connections, and overall health and wellness;
- Ability to communicate concepts in a clear and concise manner to students and foster an innovative and creative learning environment;
- Passion for working with adolescents;
- Enthusiasm to become part of our vibrant school community, broadly engaging with students and colleagues, and attending events outside their field of responsibility.