What are the responsibilities and job description for the Teaching Artist/Program Assistant position at Luna Dance & Creativity?
Are you passionate about creativity? Do you thrive in a collaborative, grassroots environment where everyone pulls together to create change? If you seek to apply your skills in service of social justice through the art of dance, Luna Dance & Creativity might be the place for you!
Luna seeks to hire an experienced Dance Teaching Artist to teach in our Early Childhood and Studio Lab programs. In-person teaching will take place in Oakland early learning centers, local parks and libraries, and in Luna’s Berkeley studio. This position is appropriate for a dance artist interested in working collaboratively with classroom teachers and instructional aides in a coaching capacity.
This position involves teaching part-time and administering programs part-time for a full-time (75-100%) position. Work hours include some mornings, afternoons, and weekends at a schedule that makes sense for the organization and employee. Compensation starts at a rate based on full-time equivalency of $58-62,000 (prorated to actual time worked) with commensurate benefits.
Luna is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek to expand our capacity to serve by hiring faculty from previously underrepresented communities.
Apply for this position if:
You enjoy
● Dancing and playing with young children
● Collaborating and reflecting with teachers and teaching artists
● Learning and growing alone and with others as a professional practitioner
● Working for an organization at a pivotal point in its growth
You value
● Equity and inclusion
● Creative process
● Critical conversations on dilemmas that may not have a sole answer
You have some of these
● Dance is a part of your life
● Five years of experience working with children, at least three with 0-5-year-olds
● Experience working with children with cognitive and developmental disabilities
● Reflective practice that integrates curiosity and inquiry in teaching/learning
● Openness to receiving feedback
● Confidence to ask questions
● Accountability to students, partner organizations, colleagues and program vision
● Good communication and interpersonal skills
● Reliable transportation to and from partner sites (required)
● Spanish, Chinese, ASL, or other language skills
In a typical week, you might
● Design and teach creative dance classes at partner schools or in community
● Collaborate in planning and reflection
● Engage professionally with partner teachers, school administrators, and families
● Document and share dance learning
● Create and distribute promotional materials
● Respond to client inquiries
● Meet with Director to address teaching inquiry and reflect on practice
Required professional development dates: Fall 2025 Luna’s Love, Move, Play ™ course (Saturdays on Zoom). Luna provides Professional Learning opportunities for all employees, and other required workshops may be added for training purposes.
To apply: Please send cover letter indicating why you wish to work for Luna, with current résumé detailing at least 5 years of experience to Kimiko Guthrie, kguthrie@lunadancecreativity.org. Application period begins April 7th through May 20th for start date summer 2025.
About Luna Dance & Creativity
Luna Dance was established in 1992 with a mission to bring creativity, equity and community to every child’s life through the art of dance. In August 2024, Luna opened our newly purchased and renovated, ADA accessible community dance hub in Berkeley, CA. Our extensive programs, now virtual, onsite, and offsite, are rebuilding after four years of nomadic delivery. We believe it is every child’s right to dance. Each year we partner with multiple schools and organizations, and support hundreds of educators and teaching artists, in developing creative, high-quality dance programs for children. We value the endless possibilities revealed when CREATING through dance. Dance requires us to be present and open in the moment, accessing freedom in new and unpredictable ways. Dance is embodied knowledge made visible, aesthetically crafted to communicate through movement. At Luna, we value children for who they are today and for their potential to CHANGE and shape our world. We strive for integrity as we serve our COMMUNITY by increasing access to dance for all children and providing support and solidarity to those who teach them.
lunadancecreativity.org
Salary : $58,000 - $62,000