Call for Teaching Artist: Dance, Movement and Choreography

Voices of LA Youth Theatre Ensemble

Contract Period: January through Summer 2027
Primary Location: Lankershim Arts Center, North Hollywood
Program Start: Saturday, January 16, 2027
Application Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026
Anticipated Contract Value: Approximately $4,550

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Performing Arts Division seeks an experienced Dance, Movement and Choreography Teaching Artist for the inaugural Voices of LA Youth Theatre Ensemble.

Voices of LA brings together eight young performers, ages 11 to 17, to develop an original theatrical production and prepare that work for public performance in communities throughout Los Angeles.

Dance and movement are integral to the creative process.

The VOLA curriculum calls for students to use movement improvisation to express ideas, develop movement material connected to the story, and ultimately learn and rehearse choreography as part of the original production. The curriculum specifically identifies the dance teaching artist as an essential collaborator in shaping this component of the program.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Dance, Movement and Choreography Teaching Artist will guide young performers in using movement as a tool for storytelling, ensemble building, character development and theatrical expression.

The ideal artist brings both professional performance experience and strong teaching ability and is comfortable working with students who may have widely different levels of formal dance training.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead dance and movement instruction for students ages 11 to 17
• Facilitate movement based improvisation
• Develop ensemble awareness, coordination and stage confidence
• Help students use movement to communicate story, emotion and character
• Create original choreography connected to the themes of the devised production
• Adapt choreography to accommodate varying levels of dance experience
• Teach and rehearse choreography for the final production
• Support physical character development and stage presence
• Contribute movement ideas during the devising process 
• Collaborate closely with the Lead Teaching Artist
• Integrate choreography with acting, music, songwriting and devised scenes
• Assist with staging, entrances, transitions and performance flow
• Support dress and technical rehearsals
• Support two public performances following the technical rehearsal period

IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Competitive applicants will demonstrate substantial experience in several of the following areas:

• Professional dance performance
• Professional choreography
• Youth dance instruction
• Movement instruction for actors
• Musical theatre
• Rehearsal direction
• Creating choreography for theatre, opera, film, television, fashion, special events or multidisciplinary performance
• Teaching dancers at multiple skill levels
• African dance
• African diasporic movement
• Culturally grounded movement traditions
• Community based performance
• Youth theatre or drama programs
• Ensemble building
• Character based movement
• Movement improvisation
• Professional stage performance
• Working collaboratively with directors, actors, musicians and other teaching artists

Professional performance experience is strongly valued.

Experience creating choreography across multiple performance environments and directing rehearsals is particularly relevant to this position.

Experience in professional musical theatre is also highly desirable. The type of background sought includes sustained professional performance, work with musical directors and choreographers, ensemble rehearsal experience, and outreach or performance in schools and community settings.

Experience leading youth drama or performing arts programs is especially valuable. Relevant experience may include developing youth drama curriculum, directing rehearsals, supervising teaching teams and adapting programming in response to youth and family feedback.

Experience with West African dance, African diasporic movement or other culturally grounded movement traditions is highly desirable.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Regular student rehearsals are tentatively scheduled to begin:

Saturday, January 16, 2027
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The curriculum includes eight primary four hour rehearsal sessions during the January through May development period.

During the final rehearsal period, the ensemble will also meet for additional after school rehearsals on:

Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Times will be confirmed.

The selected artist will also support two public performances following the technical and dress rehearsal period.

Participation in additional summer performances may be negotiated separately depending on program needs, artist availability and funding.

COMPENSATION

The anticipated contract value is approximately:

$4,550

This estimate is based on a projected scope of approximately 60 authorized hours at approximately $75.83 per hour.

Projected hours may include:

• Dance and movement instruction
• Choreography development
• Preparation
• Production coordination
• Additional final rehearsals
• Dress and technical rehearsals
• Two post tech performances

Final authorized hours and contract amount will be based on the approved scope of services.

Additional performance participation beyond the two required performances may be negotiated separately.

CITY CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS

The selected artist must be able to satisfy City of Los Angeles contracting requirements prior to execution of an agreement.

Requirements may include:

• Business Tax Registration Certificate, BTRC
  City vendor registration
  Required insurance documentation
• Tax and payment documentation
• Other City contracting and compliance documentation as applicable

Selection does not constitute authorization to begin work until all required contracting steps have been completed.

TO APPLY

Applicants should submit:

•  Resume or curriculum vitae
• Brief letter of interest describing relevant dance, choreography and teaching experience
• Two professional references
• Links to choreography, performance or teaching samples when available
• Description of experience working with youth or community based programs
• Confirmation of general Saturday availability beginning January 16, 2027

Send materials to:

Dale Madison
Lankershim Arts Center
Department of Cultural Affairs
Performing Arts Division

dca-lankershimtheatre@lacity.org

Subject: Voices of LA Dance Teaching Artist Application

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE

Call Opens: Friday, November 13, 2026
Application Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026
Interviews: December 1 through December 4, 2026
Anticipated Selection: By December 7, 2026
Contracting and Onboarding: December 2026 through January 15, 2027
Program Begins: Saturday, January 16, 2027