Overview

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is a multi-disciplinary arts center located in Brooklyn, New York. For more than 150 years, BAM has been the home for adventurous artists, audiences, and ideas, engaging global and local communities. With world-renowned programming in theater, dance, music, opera.

BAM seeks a highly qualified and experienced Teaching Artist who specializes in teaching African and African Diasporic dance or percussive techniques. 

This role will facilitate DanceAfrica in the Classroom (DAFINC), composed of in-school pre-show preparatory workshops, residencies, and public workshops for Pre-K through 12th-grade participants during the 2022-2023 academic year. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

  • Facilitate a one-time or a sequential series (ie. residency) of in-person or virtual workshops 
  • Attend Master Classes facilitated by leading African/Diasporic artists and/or cultural knowledge specialists from our yearly DanceAfrica’s focus country 
  • Participate in multi-day curriculum development meetings with fellow BAM teaching artists to develop step-by-step lesson plans, in alignment with Education’s other lesson plans 
  • Communicate with school administrators and teachers to determine workshop schedule, residency content, and other pertinent information regarding residency participants/students. 
  • Participate orientation/ planning/reflection meetings with BAM staff and school partners 
  • Attend relevant BAM performances 
  • Submit online post-workshop reflection form following workshop(s) 
  • Support program assessment and evaluation development and procedures 
  • Assist with the planning and coordination of student culminating events 
  • Attend Teaching Artist gather sessions, DanceAfrica workshop observations, professional development, and other various meetings 

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

  • At least three years of experience instructing students between the ages of 4-18 in one or more of the following disciplines: African and African Diasporan dance and/or African and African Diasporan percussive techniques 
  • Strong interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and customer service skills (both in person and over the phone).  
  • Ability to build positive, collaborative working relationships with BAM staff, school teachers, administrators and diverse range of young people. 
  • Creative problem solving and flexibility; Ability to work responsively with the capacity to improvise within a range of relevance and meaning pertaining to established goals. 
  • Curriculum development experience 
  • Ability to work collaboratively with BAM Education staff and BAM Teaching Artists to develop curriculum 
  • Experience working with diverse youth populations across identities. Experience working with English Language Learners, students with individual learning plans, and students with disabilities a plus 
  • Awareness of youth developmental stages and current youth and social issues 
  • Ability to work during school and/or after-school hours 
  • Commitment to ongoing growth and refinement of teaching artist skills by participating in appropriate meetings and BAM professional development. 
  • Experience assessing and evaluating programs. 
  • Commitment to fostering a positive work environment  
  • Commitment to creating and maintaining an equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environment 
  • Comfortable working with DEI concepts, programs, and initiatives 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Teaching experience in the arts (previous work in New York City preferred) 
  • Familiarity with the NYC Blueprint for the Teaching and Learning in the Arts, and the Common Core State Standards 

Working Conditions: 

  • Ability to work during school and/or after-school hours  
  • Teaching and facilitation will occur in traditional (i.e., public school classroom) and non-traditional learning environments.   
  • Meetings and professional development generally occur on the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s campus.  
  • This is a hybrid role. Some duties will be performed in-person (on-site workshop facilitation at area schools) and remotely (large-scale TA meetings, 1:1 check-in, and curriculum development sessions).    

Compensation:  

TAs will receive $120 per facilitation session. 

TAs who participate in meetings, curriculum developments, or one-on-one sessions with BAM staff will receive $50 for the first hour and $25 for each additional hour. 

This position is classified as part-time, seasonal, and non-exempt. 

Application Materials: 

  • Cover Letter that succinctly communicates in one page how your educational and artistic background aligns with BAM’s arts education mission and services.  
  • Teaching Resume that outlines all completed educational training and relevant teaching experience (Please upload using the “resume” tab)
  • Artistic Resume that outlines all completed artistic training and relevant artistic experience. Include any relevant work samples, including web pages and video links. (Please upload using the “other/additional file uploads” tab). 
  • Application Deadline: Monday, August 29, 2022 

Application Instructions: Must complete an online application through BAM’s website – no phone calls, emails or walk ins, please.   

Internal Applicants must apply via the Internal Job Portal by the application deadline. Applications not submitted by the deadline may not be considered. Employees must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for an interview:   

  • Completed at least 1 year of continuous, active service in current position. (Positions excluded include, but are not limited to, temporary assignments, and probationary employees);   
  • Meet the experience and skills requirement as outlined in the job post;   
  • Be employed in current position for at least one year:   
  • Performed in a satisfactory manner without any corrective actions in the last 12 months   

Brooklyn Academy of Music is an Equal Opportunity Employer. BAM recognizes that historic institutional practices lead to a non-inclusive environment and is working to address diversity and inclusion in all forms. Individuals in BAM are experiencing their own pace during this process, which is not uncommon when addressing power and privilege. The Education and Community Engagement department supports and continues to take part in this process. 

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