Dance Instructor (Contract)
Job Opening with Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Last updated: Monday, August 30, 2021
Position Title: Dance Instructor
Reports to: Education and Outreach Coordinator
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers (formerly Contemporary Dance Theater and MamLuft&Co. Dance) seeks qualified, motivated, experienced dance instructors.
Mutual Arts is a small non-profit arts organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio with headquarters in Hartwell and another location in College Hill. The organization works primarily to bring more Modern Dance to more people by decreasing barriers to the art form, which in part includes its role as a neighborhood arts center for the two Cincinnati communities.
Instructors must be able to teach children ranging from 3 to 18 years of age. Instructor has potential to be working remotely in a school or community center in the Cincinnati area OR within our studio. Having excellent communication skills is a must. Additionally, instructor must have reliable transportation to and from assigned location. As this can be a non-traditional studio setting, ideal candidate would have experience teaching in a variety of settings to children from a variety of backgrounds with varying levels of experience. Mandatory staff meetings are paid.
Work Hours
Depends on class assignments.
Effective Date
September 7, 2021
Desired Traits
- Must possess excellent communication and collaborative skills.
- Must be able to respond to emails in a timely manner and readily communicate via text message and phone.
- Must be able to attend mandatory monthly staff meetings and work respectfully alongside other staff under the direction of Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers.
- Must be responsible, reliable, and able to maintain regular attendance to all assigned classes.
- Must be self-motivated and passionate about educating children in the art of dance
- Must be able to pass a state, local, and federal background check
Skills & Experience
- At least two years teaching experience
- Must be able to effectively discipline while maintaining an encouraging and supportive environment. Teaching in school and community settings often involves behavioral and class management issues that are not as prevalent in traditional studio settings.
- Must be able to work with students who have little to no dance experience and who may not yet be familiar with “dance etiquette.”
- Must be able to work remotely and manage class time effectively with little to no on-the-job direct supervision.
- Must be able to create recital pieces for May recital as part of the normal class meetings.
Education
- Considerable dance training.
Alignment with the Organization’s Priorities
A strong candidate for the position will support and publicly reflect the organization’s priorities for: (1) the advancement of people of color and other marginalized individuals and (2) a family-safe environment in terms of education and outreach.
Due to the organization’s work with children, a background check and reference checks will be required.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers values diversity and strongly encourages Black, indigeneous, or other people of color to apply. Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
How to Apply
- resume of experience and dance training
- cover letter addressing schedule availability, style/technique you are able to teach, age groups and levels you feel comfortable teaching
- whether you are comfortable working off-site outside of the studio
Send materials to the organization’s Education and Outreach Coordinator claire@mutualarts.org with the subject line: “Dance Instructor application materials”.
NO PHONE CALLS OR SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES, PLEASE.
Job Opportunities
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Job Opportunities
No phone calls or social media messages, please.
Press Release: Mutual Dance Theatre (formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance) to perform live, in |S|P|A|C|E|
Press Release
Mutual Dance Theatre (formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance) to perform live in |S|P|A|C|E|, April 16 – May 1, 2021
February 24, 2021
CINCINNATI, OHIO — Mutual Dance Theatre, Cincinnati’s resident Modern Dance company formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance, makes its premiere under its new name. This COVID-conscious event will take place live at the organization’s new home in Hartwell (8222 Monon Ave, 45216).
MūDa choreographer Steven P. Evans and the company jump off of pandemic-induced conditions to explore what it means to feel deserving of a claim to space.
Steven P. Evans, choreographer and Company Director. Photography by Jeanne Mam-Luft.
The Modern Dance performance will be like none other, taking place in a unique, studio setting featuring a long, translucent, plastic curtain that defines areas, but also hides and reveals.
Flagship image for |S|P|A|C|E|. Pictured: Hannah Williamson. Photography by Jeanne Mam-Luft.
Evans, a highly talented Cincinnati-native who worked with well-known Modern Dance choreographers in New York City before returning to Cincinnati, likens the dance performance to a journal entry. Through it, he and the Company process some of the conditions we find ourselves in during the COVID-19 pandemic and how metaphorical masking and distancing had been the norm for many prior to it, such as LGBTQ+ persons attempting to blend-in.
Evans struggled in his youth with severe depression as he attempted to hide his sexual identity. A revelation came to him during COVID-19 that masking was all too familiar to him, and from masking comes separation and misunderstandings. And, from social distancing comes isolation and the familiar loss of critical human connection.
Evans writes:
So many people attempt to retreat from their spaces: hiding behind what they can…they don’t — like I didn’t — think they even deserved space for themselves…Each dancer in this work represents various aspects of self-camouflage, and each is cloaked in misinterpretations.
Promotional image for |S|P|A|C|E|. Pictured: Jasmine Snellen and Mutual Dance Theatre company members. Photography by Jeanne Mam-Luft.
When audiences enter the performance space, they are immediately transported into a unique theater experience. They eventually will share space with an enormous plastic curtain — reminiscent of biohazards in films, but also familiar as plastic dividers that have been erected by businesses to protect their workers from the virus. This curtain divides the area and changes during the performance. Audience members can vaguely see what is happening on the other side of the curtain, but given the lack of clarity, masks worn by all, and socially-distanced pod seating, each person immediately feels separation and thus palpably enters into Evans’ world.
The plastic curtain works as a player in this work in multiple ways: it is an intentional homage to COVID-19, it blurs views, it reveals, and it delineates space as very personal or very impersonal.
Additional promotional images for |S|P|A|C|E|. Pictured L: Jasmine Snellen and Jacob Shade. Pictured R: Hannah Neff. Photography by Jeanne Mam-Luft.
Location
The performance will take place in a large studio at Mutual Arts Center, the organization’s new home in Hartwell, quickly accessible from I-75 and other local routes by just a 15 minute drive from most parts of the city. Parking on-site is free and ADA-accessible. The organization is fundraising for renovations to fully complete the transformation of the space into a performance studio theater.
Performers
In this performance, Mutual Dance Theatre (formerly MamLuft&Co. Dance) introduces several new performers previously unseen by Cincinnati audiences: Hannah Neff, Rowan Salem, Jacob Shade, Jasmine Snellen, and Emma Raney (guest artist); in addition to Hannah Williamson and Claire Dieringer who return from previous seasons.
COVID-19 Considerations
Seats will be sold in distanced “pods” wherein a household can share a cluster of 4-5 seats and will be spaced safely from other “pods.” Masks will be worn by all persons: performers, audience members, and front-of-house. COVID-19 screening will take place upon entry, with temperature checks, a masks-required-at-all-times explanation/reminder, and questions regarding symptoms and exposure. More information can be found at mutualdance.org/space#covid.
Tickets and More Information
Tickets are available in pods for 2 through 5 seats, ranging from $60 to $125.
EARLY BIRD PODS are available before March 15, ranging from $50-$100.
Tickets and more information are available at mutualdance.org/space.
Access
Mutual Dance Theatre was founded to create more access to Modern Dance. We believe that all income levels should have the pleasure of attending live performances. Free admission will be provided to persons of low-income. Patrons are encouraged to contact the organization at 513.494.6526 or hello@mutualarts.org for assistance.
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Print-Ready Images
To download high-resolution images, click on the images above or visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/mamluftcodance/albums.
Press contacts
To contact Mutual Dance Theatre, please email hello@mutualarts.org or call 513.494.6526.
Social Media Handles:
Mutual Dance Theatre formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance
The Company: Facebook and Instagram @mutualdance
The Center: Facebook and Instagram @mutualartscenter
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