Artistic Director

Position Summary

The Artistic Director reports to the Executive Director, working collaboratively to drive the strategic plan. The AD is accountable for: establishing the artistic vision, then leading the performing arts program and driving its continuous improvement; teaching core and supplementary classes; ensuring RAD and ADAPT syllabus requirements are met; adapting to developments in the current competitive and professional dance arena; recruiting, leading, and supporting teaching staff and assistants; and strategically setting regular and special event schedules. The Artistic Director will be seasoned technically and choreographically, guiding our pre-competitive and competitive programs to a high artistic standard, both as a dance educator and a director. This position will be well versed in effective communication, project management, organizational and supervisory skills, and a demonstrated passion for disciplined dance education. The Artistic Director will lead volunteer committees associated with the dance program.

Who We’re Looking For

The Artistic Director will be an innovative, inspiring, and charismatic leader who will communicate with humility, empathy, and appreciation while serving as a representative for Strive Dance Academy. A creative, kind, passionate, and collaborative visionary, this individual will strive for artistic excellence alongside a dedication to the well-being of the dancers, as well as a commitment to nurturing a positive and transparent workplace culture. The AD will have an ability to inspire dancers to perform at their highest level, while maintaining a culture of deep respect and collaboration. This individual will have established connections in the dance community.

Other key competencies include:

• Diplomacy and Personal Accountability – The disposition to handle difficult or sensitive issues effectively and tactfully while being answerable for personal actions, and the disposition to quickly recover from adversity.
• Leadership – The aptitude to organize and influence people to believe in a vision while creating a sense of purpose and direction.
• Teamwork and Project Management – The capacity to cooperate with others to meet objectives and while identifying and overseeing all resources, tasks, systems, and people to obtain results.
• Interpersonal Skills and Teamwork – The ability to effectively communicate, build rapport, and relate well to all kinds of people and the capacity to cooperate with others to meet objectives.
• Project Management and Time and Priority Management – The dexterity to identify and oversee all resources, tasks, systems, and people to obtain results while prioritizing and completing tasks in order to deliver desired outcomes within allotted time frames.
• Flexibility and Negotiation – The dexterity to readily modify, respond, and adapt to change with minimal resistance while listening to many points of view and facilitating agreements between two or more parties.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion –  The experience and personal passion for advancing equity within the organization.

Roles and Responsibilities

A detailed job profile will be sent to candidates that meet the qualifications following receipt of application.

Artistic Leadership, Dance Educating, and Dance Programming

• Includes leading the Performing Arts Program, teaching, providing all support in the technical and artistic development of dancers, and guiding the team in flexibility and strength programs, injury prevention and recovery, as well as growth mindset learning strategy. 

Organizational Leadership

• Includes leading, managing, supporting, and continuously advocating for the teaching team.

Business Operations and Community Ambassador

• Includes intensive scheduling, strategic communications, budgeting, leading volunteer committees, and community involvement.

Qualifications 

• 6+ years teaching in the dance industry
• Trained in one or more of the following syllabi: RAD, ADAPT
• Certified in RAD and/or ADAPT, an asset
• Demonstrated artistic excellence in choreography
• Experience in leading/managing a team
• Proven organizational skills in managing a budget, leading communication, and overseeing multiple tasks and programs simultaneously.
• Experience in strategically setting timely schedules to promote the well-being of dancers, while balancing multiple teacher needs and external factors.
  

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits.

The Artistic Director is a part-time salaried position. Salary negotiable for the Artistic Director role. Expectation for the AD to take on a teaching position, total hours teaching negotiable. Teaching position will be compensated at an hourly wage. 

Together these positions will have a combined earning potential of up to $60,000.

Applications and Inquiries

To apply, please submit resume, cover letter addressing interest in the position and qualifications, links to at least three choreographic samples, and four professional references who can speak specifically to artistic and leadership skills to [email protected] 

To find out more about Strive, please visit www.strivedanceacademy.ca.

Although this competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found, the application process closes February 26, 2023 at midnight. Candidate selection will begin after this time. Flexible start date. As well, your privacy is important to us – all applications will always remain confidential.

Strive Dance Academy