Dance Place is hiring! We are seeking a dynamic, motivated, and talented individual to join our team as the Artistic Director for our nationally recognized, cultural arts center in Washington, DC. This full-time, exempt position will bring support to our passion for building a sustainable community of artists, audiences, and students through high-quality performances, commissions, training, and educational programs. This is a hybrid work opportunity with an annual salary range of $65,000 – $70,000.
Please click HERE to apply.
Heralded as the “hub of dance activity in Washington, DC”, Dance Place is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages qualified applicants from underrepresented communities to apply. We believe that people of color, people in the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and women must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities to apply to our openings. Come enjoy an exciting and inclusive team environment of movement artists who share a common goal of strengthening the dance field by investing deeply in artists and centering those who have been systemically excluded from such opportunities. For more information on our amazing organization, please visit our site at https://www.danceplace.org.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Artistic Director is responsible for the curation and coordination of all Dance Place presentations and residencies. Ensuring cohesion, communication, and vision for each program, the Artistic Director builds relationships with funders, audiences, artists, and agents to meet Dance Place’s strategic and operational goals. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this role serves as a member of the organization’s Leadership Team.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
At a minimum, the Artistic Director role will be responsible for successfully carrying out the following essential functions and duties:
Artistic Strategy & Leadership
Create, develop and articulate a clear artistic vision and voice for Dance Place’s presentations and residencies across the organization, Dance Place’s audiences, and the broader community.
Curate innovative programming that balances the representation of local and non-local dance communities within available resources.
Create an artistic environment that fosters human-centered connections through creativity and honors Dance Place’s commitment to authentic, transparent, and bold actions addressing equity across race, ability, and identity.
Create, implement, and manage the presentation schedules to meet Dance Place strategic goals.
Collaborate with the Education Director to create a holistic approach to cross-over programs that optimize resources.
In partnership with the Executive and Finance Directors (and other Leadership Team members as relevant), create and manage operating budgets for all presentation and relevant residency programs.
Supervise all aspects of artistic/curatorial presentation and relevant residency programming and scheduling, including pre-contract communication and negotiation with artists, choreographers, and visiting companies.
Build and sustain supportive and collaborative relationships with visiting artists and resident companies, choreographers, and dancers.
Lead and direct staff around the curation, booking, contracting, and guiding of all artists for Dance Place’s presentation season, festivals, relevant presentation residences, and program similar to Arts on 8th.
Management & Operations
Hire, lead, and manage curatorial and production staff (in collaboration with the Director of Production) in alignment with revenue and expense metrics, ensuring high levels of performance.
Collaborate with Dance Place staff and contractors assigned to produce major events, e.g., DanceAfricaDC, DC Dance Festival, etc.
Work collaboratively with Dance Place presentation staff related to artist services, such as travel and housing coordination, rehearsal space and green room arrangements, etc.
Work closely with other Leadership Team members and administrative departments to establish policies and procedures that lead to effective and efficient administration of all presentation programming.
In dialogue with other members of the Leadership Team and Dance Place staff, synthesize internal and external organizational learning (show-to-show and season-to-season) to evaluate how the organization is fulfilling its mission and artistic vision.
Ensure effective communications and working relationships internally with Leadership Team, production teams, and extended staff including functional contractors.
Collaborate with the Development team to implement fundraising activities, including reaching out to prospective donors, maintaining key donor relationships, making personal appearances at select events and performances, and providing input in grant writing and reporting processes related to presentation series, residencies, and festivals.
Collaborate with the Marketing team to increase Dance Place’s visibility by providing input on strategies to meet audience development goals and enhance the strength of the Dance Place brand.
External Relations
As part of the Leadership Team, ensure effective external communications and nurture relationships with audience members, donors, sponsors, grantors, media, community leaders, governmental agencies, other artists and arts organizations, and the general public.
Show leadership for the dance community through authentic, transparent, and bold actions to address equity across race, ability, and identity at organizational, institutional, and systemic levels.
Forge relationships and collaborations with local, national, and international partners to increase the visibility and importance of Dance Place.
Serve as the representative of Dance Place in public forums.
Work with local and national partners, including the National Performance Network, APAP, International Association of Blacks in Dance, the Kennedy Center, Brookland/Edgewood-based businesses, and many other institutions to raise Dance visibility as a leading dance presenter in the country.
Represent Dance Place at conferences, including the National Performance Network annual meeting, APAP, and other national and international festivals, events, and meetings.
*These lists are not all-inclusive, as other duties may be assigned as needed.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Artistic Director carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Dance Place’s policies and all applicable laws. This role has oversight and is responsible for managing the overall direction, coordination, assignment of tasks, and performance appraisal for the following position(s): Director of Production/Technical Director; Audience Services Manager; and Presentation Administrative Assistant. Additional supervisory responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, training, rewarding, and disciplining direct reports as well as addressing complaints and resolving problems within the Presentation/Curation and Production Departments.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: EXPERIENCE AND OTHER SKILLS & ABILITIES
Education:
High school diploma is required; a Bachelor's degree within the theater, dance, arts administration or a related field of study is preferred.
Experience:
Minimum of 3 years of prior management experience in leading teams and collaborating with external partners. Minimum of 3-5 years of leadership experience in the arts nonprofit space or other relevant management-level experience is required. A demonstrated commitment to accessible arts programming. Prior experience working with a Board of Directors is strongly desired.
Required Licensure/Certifications:
Not applicable
Computer/Technology Skills:
Proficient with Google Suite (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail) or similar web applications for day-to-day office administration tasks.
Physical Demands:
This position requires the ability to sit and stand for prolonged times; walking moderate distances; frequently lifting/carrying up to 25 lbs.; occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, or crouch; frequently communicate verbally with others; viewing a computer screen for prolonged periods; and repetitive motions with wrists, hands, and fingers due to typing.
Other Necessary Skills and Abilities:
Long- and short-term strategic planning skills.
Financial growth and management experience for small or mid-sized organizations.
Exceptional project management skills to ensure productions remain within scheduling timelines and budgetary limits.
Ability to work effectively in a hybrid work environment with the expectation of being onsite per the needs of the department.
Ability to regularly demonstrate strong self-motivation, strategic thinking, and the ability to work independently.
Keen attention to detail with a focus on producing high-quality productions.
Proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Office products.
Strong collaboration skills to work seamlessly across all departmental groups.
Desired Skills, Qualities, and Abilities (not required):
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Our staff is diverse, small, lively, and highly collaborative. We have frequent interactions with visiting teachers, artists, and students of all ages. While some of Dance Place staff currently work a hybrid schedule, splitting time between our main office in Washington, DC, and remote work, the Artistic Director is a hybrid position. Due to the in-person aspects of the position, all employees are required to adhere to Dance Place’s current COVID-19 policy.
Please click HERE to apply.