Assistant Teaching Artist

Mark Morris Dance Group•New York, NY

5d•$25 - $25

About The Position

Assistant Teaching Artists are part of MMDG’s 100+ member faculty and reporting to the Youth & Family Program Managers. Assistant Teaching Artists support the planning and delivery of Education & Engagement classes by assisting with instruction, classroom management, and content comprehension, while developing best teaching practices under the mentorship of an experienced Teaching Artist, including shared supervision of volunteers.

Requirements

Minimum of one (1) year of experience teaching or assisting in instructional settings with children, preferred.
Formal training and/or demonstrated proficiency in one or more dance or movement genres currently offered at the Dance Center including Creative Dance, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Music and Singing, and Adaptive Dance).
Must agree to and adhere to program-specific absence and substitution policies when accepting classes or residencies.
Availability to work at the assigned class or residency location (e.g., Dance Center or community partner site); once determined by Education staff, locations are not flexible.
Acknowledgement that classes or residencies may be canceled or removed from the schedule due to low enrollment.

Responsibilities

Class Preparation
Review any lesson plan or related class materials shared in advance by the lead Teaching Artist.
Commit to a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy with the goals of supporting community by celebrating and engaging in the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of individuals in our classes. This pedagogical approach aims to ensure all students and participants see themselves reflected in the dance form being taught and the structure through which it is delivered, recognizing and meeting a diverse set of learning styles, empowering students to develop their creative voices. The Education department regularly provides free professional development opportunities exploring the development and implementation of culturally responsive teaching practices.
Communicate with your Teaching team about specific needs for each lesson.
Support with resource needs within the class.
Set up any props or technical equipment needed for class.
During Class
Model movement
Provide modifications and individual student support
Support Lead Teaching Artist’s classroom management strategies
Keep an eye out for potential hazards (ex: untied shoes, spatial awareness)
Communicate with on-site Dance Center staff if technical or operational issues arise
Escort young students to restroom
Facilitate classroom exit procedures
Administrative
Check emails regularly. Reply to emails that include a prompt or request. Respond to emails when questions arise, or you need clarification on the information in the email content.
Complete surveys, feedback forms, and any other methods of information exchange sent by administrative staff designed to improve collaborative working processes.
Attend required annual Faculty Kick-Off and Faculty Wrap-Up meetings.
Attend required semi-annual Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (I.D.E.A) meetings.
Attend one required one-on-one check-in or attend office hours with your program manager(s) as needed.
Attend program planning meetings when necessary.
Attend curriculum planning meetings when necessary.
Dance Center Operations & Safety
Willingness to train and serve as a Dance Center Floor Warden.
Follow Dance Center Safety Plan protocols.