BALLET WICHITA
Job Posting
Ballet Wichita Community Engagement Coordinator
About Ballet Wichita:
Ballet Wichita (BW) is a pillar of the performing arts community in Wichita, Kansas, and has been operating continuously since 1973. With a growing audience and a commitment to the performing arts, BW connects, inspires, and enriches dancers, audiences, and community through dance education, and performance excellence. BW’s ongoing efforts to strengthen arts education in the community were bolstered in September 2022 with the re-launch of its Ballet Academy and a new Progressive Ballet Training Curriculum. Additionally, BW has a long history of collaborating to make Nutcracker performances accessible to school children in the Wichita region. BW now seeks to add a strong community engagement program that trains teaching artists to work in schools and delivers opportunities for dance in educational settings.
Position Summary:
The Ballet Wichita Community Engagement Coordinator will work with management to implement programming that brings community partners together to deliver dance experiences to underserved populations in the greater Wichita region.
Initial programming includes Chance to Dance, Ballet in the School, The Nutcracker Student Matinees.
• Chance to Dance is a program in which teaching artists are trained to deliver dance experiences in educational settings. The Coordinator will facilitate the communication between BW, partner organizations, teaching artists, and in school contacts; and will schedule all in school residencies, confirm times with all parties involved and send email reminders to them 2-5 days in advance of the residency dates and times that are approaching.
• Ballet in the School builds on BW’s Ballet in the Park performance programming by setting up advance engagement activities in the communities associated with each park in which BW is performing. The Coordinator will facilitate the communication between BW, partner organizations, teaching artists, and in school contacts; andwill establish engagement activities in the communities associated with each park in which BW is performing.
• The Nutcracker Student Matinees are BW’s long standing engagement activity that brings between 4,000 and 8,000* regional school children to Century II Performing Arts Center to watch BW’s production of The Nutcracker each year. Teachers are supplied with educational reference material to make the field trip tie into existing curricular priorities. The Coordinator will facilitate the communication between BW, BW volunteers, partner organizations, teaching artists, and in school contacts. The Coordinator will schedule all school performances and coordinate the student arrival and seating.
*Up to 2000 students per performance.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Values-Centered Leadership:
• Embody BW’s mission and core values in working with the administrative staff, community partners, teaching artists, volunteers, and young people to facilitate the collective goals and the success of BW and the individuals within it.
o Mission:
• Ballet Wichita connects, inspires and enriches dancers, audiences, and community through dance, education and performance excellence.
o Values:
• Respect
• Integrity
• Stewardship
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A)
• Education
• Positivity
• Professionalism
• Creativity & Innovation
• Contribute to an authentic and welcoming work environment that encourages an inclusive atmosphere of collaboration, trust, transparency, and shared vision, staff accountability and evaluation, and staff satisfaction.
• Exemplify BW’s stalwart commitment to anti-racist values and principles, aspiring to institutional multiculturalism and supporting practices that help BW become a more inclusive and equitable organization.
• Display the dexterity to manage potentially difficult and sensitive situations while demonstrating respect and fostering fair, positive, and productive relationships both internally and externally.
Program Establishment:
• Develop relationships with regional stakeholders and engage them in shared conversation about possible program developments, community priorities, and program delivery.
• Assist in the development and refinement of BW’s engagement programming.
Program Management:
• Act as the key liaison between BW management and our community partners, teaching artists, and program recipients
• Oversee the smooth delivery of programming by coordinating all aspects of program delivery including scheduling and timely reminders to all participants
• On site observation and coordination of program delivery
Managerial accounting, planning, and reporting:
• Track personal and teaching artists’ work hours.
• Collect data on participation at a micro and macro level.
• Assist in contextualizing data for internal and grant writing needs.
• Contribute to the documentation of program delivery, successes, and places for improvement.
• Report directly to BW administrative staff on progress, problems, developments, and dialogues about potential refinements and adjustments that could positively impact the effectiveness of BW’s engagement programming.
Organizational Operations:
• Oversee the administration and delivery of BW’s community engagement programming
• Manage Teaching Artists by coordinating artists’ and schools’ schedules.
• Coordinate with community partners to identify other opportunities and additional partnerships.
Marketing and Communications:
• Take pictures documenting program delivery for the purposes of marketing materials and social media posts.
• Participate in coordinated social media campaigns by posting before, during and after events.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Required:
• Relevant Bachelor’s Degree (or current enrollment) or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated abilities in project coordination between multiple stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project management skills including planning, facilitation, and assessment.
• Strong communication skills including email, telephone, and writing.
• Some experience in the Wichita region engaging with at least one of the following: K-12 or postsecondary administration, local performing arts administrators, other NPO’s, teaching artists.
• Some knowledge / experience in dance – does not have to be ballet specifically.
• A generosity of patience in working with adults and children.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, Google Drive, and social media platforms.
• Own phone, computer, and transportation.
• Residence in the greater Wichita area
Preferred:
• Completed Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience teaching dance – though ballet is preferred, all experience will be considered.
• Experience as a teaching artist in educational environments.
Compensation and Benefits:
• This is a project-based appointment that is currently funded for 180 hours of work over 10 to 11 months with heavier workloads generally in February and March, August and September, November and December.
• The anticipated salary range is $6,000.00 to $9,000.00 Actual pay will depend on experience and qualifications.
• There are no insurance or retirement benefits.
Application Inquiries:
To apply, please send your resume, a list of 3 references with email addresses, and a cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position, including an overview of your relevant experience.
Requested materials should be emailed to d.justin.balletwichita@gmail.com with the subject line: Application – BW Community Engagement Coordinator
Review of applications begins February 13, 2023 and will continue until the post is filled. For full consideration please ensure your materials arrive by this date.
Ballet Wichita does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information in its dance programs and activities, admissions, and with regard to employment. Applicants should feel welcome to express how they would support BW’s efforts to make our community a place where anybody and everybody can dance.
1600 W Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67203