Rutgers University
Website:
rutgers.edu
Job details:
PAID BALLET TEACHING ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
High School Dance Program | Dallas, Texas
The Creative Movement, Inc. is seeking an emerging ballet educator to serve as a Paid Ballet Teaching Artist Fellow with the Calicos Dance Program at David W. Carter High School during the 2026–2027 school year.
This fellowship is designed for a developing teaching artist who possesses a strong foundation in classical ballet and wants meaningful experience planning and leading instruction for secondary dancers. The selected fellow will receive mentorship in dance pedagogy, lesson development, classroom leadership, student assessment, and culturally responsive arts education.
WEEKLY LOCATION:
David W. Carter High School
1819 W. Wheatland Road
Dallas, Texas 75232
Schedule
Tuesdays, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
The fellow must be available for the following 22 sessions:
September 2026
- September 1
- September 8
- September 15
- September 22
- September 29
October 2026
- October 6
- October 13
- October 20
- October 27
November 2026
- November 3
- November 10
- November 17
There will be no session on November 24 due to Thanksgiving break.
December 2026
- December 1
- December 8
- December 15
There will be no sessions on December 22 or December 29 due to winter break.
January 2027
- January 12
- January 19
- January 26
February 2027
- February 2
- February 9
- February 16
- February 23
The above dates are guaranteed unless a session must be canceled because of an emergency school closure, district directive, or another circumstance beyond the organization’s control.
There may be an opportunity to extend the fellowship from March through May 2027, depending on the school calendar, testing dates, end-of-year activities, program needs, and mutual availability.
Student Population
The fellow will work with approximately 5–15 students in grades 9–12.
Students will have varying levels of general dance and performance experience through dance teams, but most will have limited or no consistent training in classical ballet. They should therefore be approached as beginning ballet students rather than beginning dancers.
Students have elected to participate in after-school dance training and are expected to demonstrate commitment to the full series, professionalism, and appropriate conduct.
Primary Responsibitlites
The Ballet Teaching Artist Fellow will:
- Plan and lead progressive beginner ballet instruction.
- Teach foundational ballet vocabulary and studio practices.
- Introduce students to appropriate barre, center, and traveling exercises.
- Develop students’ alignment, placement, coordination, balance, strength, flexibility, mobility, foot articulation, musicality, and quality of movement.
- Provide clear, developmentally appropriate corrections and feedback.
- Adapt instruction for students with varied levels of prior dance experience.
- Maintain a supportive, disciplined, and encouraging learning environment.
- Collaborate with the program director to establish learning goals and monitor student growth.
- Arrive prepared and on time for all scheduled sessions.
- Complete all required Dallas ISD volunteer-clearance and background-check procedures before beginning.
- Communicate emergencies or unavoidable absences promptly and professionally.
- Participate in periodic planning and feedback conversations with the program director.
Weekly Instructional Structure
The selected fellow will reserve the full 4:30–6:30 p.m. instructional block.
During the early portion of the fellowship, the weekly schedule may include:
- approximately 75–90 minutes of progressive ballet technique;
- lesson preparation and student check-in;
- targeted conditioning, flexibility, mobility, or individual correction;
- vocabulary review and technical reflection.
As students develop, part of the weekly block may be used for contemporary ballet, lyrical movement, choreographic exploration, and development of a Spring Showcase work.
Ballet technique will remain the primary instructional focus throughout the fellowship.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Possess significant training and demonstrated proficiency in classical ballet.
- Be able to safely and accurately teach foundational ballet technique and vocabulary.
- Be comfortable teaching students with limited classical ballet experience.
- Have reliable transportation to David W. Carter High School.
- Be available from 4:30–6:30 p.m. on the listed Tuesdays.
- Be able to pass all required Dallas ISD background-check and volunteer-clearance procedures.
- Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, patience, maturity, and effective communication.
- Be interested in working with high-school students from varied dance backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference may be given to applicants who:
- Are undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, recent graduates, or emerging teaching artists.
- Are pursuing or have completed studies in dance, dance education, theatre, education, kinesiology, or a related discipline.
- Have experience with Cecchetti, Royal Academy of Dance, or another clearly progressive ballet-training method.
- Have experience performing ballet or contemporary ballet.
- Have assisted with or independently taught dance classes, rehearsals, camps, student teaching, or community programs.
- Have experience in collegiate dance departments, dance teams, studios, conservatories, or performance companies.
- Have a demonstrated interest in teaching dance in public schools, studios, nonprofit programs, or community settings.
- Are interested in strengthening their dance-pedagogy and program-development skills.
Prior independent teaching experience is welcomed but not required. The selected fellow must enter the position with a strong ballet foundation and a willingness to grow as an educator.
Compensation
$40 per hour for a two-hour weekly commitment
- $80 per session
- 22 guaranteed sessions
- $1,760 guaranteed base compensation
Payments will be issued according to the written payment schedule included in the final agreement.
The selected fellow may also be invited to choreograph an original ballet, contemporary ballet, or lyrical-contemporary work for the Calicos Spring Showcase, currently anticipated for March 2027.
The Choreography Opportunity Would Include
- development of an original work appropriate for the dancers’ technical level;
- approximately two to four minutes of choreography;
- teaching and rehearsing the work during scheduled fellowship hours;
- adapting the work as students develop;
- preparing the piece for public performance.
An additional $300 choreography fee will be offered if the assignment is formally accepted.
The choreography opportunity is optional and will be discussed separately after the fellow has begun working with the students.
Attendance And Commitment
Consistency is essential to student development.
Applicants should be available for all listed dates. One pre-disclosed conflict may be considered. Applicants with multiple known conflicts or who are unable to make a dependable September-through-February commitment should not apply.
Applicants should review the complete schedule carefully before submitting materials.
How To Apply
Email the following materials to:
president@thecreativemovementinc.org
Subject Line
Ballet Teaching Artist Fellow – [Applicant Name]
Please Include
- A current dance résumé highlighting ballet training, performance experience, teaching, assisting, student teaching, or other relevant experience.
- A brief statement describing your interest in teaching ballet and working with high-school dancers.
- Confirmation of your availability for all listed dates, including disclosure of any known conflict.
- Contact information for two faculty, employer, director, or professional references.
- (Optional) An optional teaching, performance, or choreography video link.
Applications will be reviewed as received. Selected applicants will be invited to participate in an interview and a brief teaching demonstration.
Click on Apply to know more.