Dancing Classrooms New York City is Accepting Teaching Artist Applications
Love kids?
Enjoy dancing and movement?
Want to expand your teaching experience?
Apply to become a Dancing Classrooms NYC Teaching Artist!
Start teaching as early as December 2023!
Dancing Classrooms (DC) is a dance organization committed to bringing social dance to NYC schools and community based organizations while helping students develop teamwork, respect, compassion, and leadership. Through various programming, DC has evolved over the years to include culturally responsive and sustaining educational (CRSE) practices, a commitment to gender inclusion and diversity, and the expansion of both in- and out-of-school programming to connect with students in new ways.
We are looking for movers, social and ballroom dancers, movement explorers, dance educators… any and all who find joy in expressing through movement. Be a part of the excitement and develop your own skills by joining our Teaching Artist team!
DC is currently hiring Teaching Artists to teach our Dancing With Rhythms & Stories (K-2nd Grade), Core Program (4th & 5th Grade), and After-School Program (K-8th Grade). Applicants may apply to be a part of as many programs as they are interested in.
Deadline to Apply: October 20th, 2023
Application Form: https://forms.gle/uwSJxWAvGZpdbdRHA
Audition Dates (you are only required to attend 1 audition):
- September 15th, 2023 (10AM – 1PM)
- October 12th, 2023 (1PM – 4PM)
- October 24th, 2023 (10AM – 1PM)
Training Dates (if invited after auditioning) + 15 hrs of On-Site Shadowing / Student Teaching:
- Core Program Training – November 6th – 8th (10AM – 5PM Daily)
- All New Staff Training – November 9th (10AM – 5PM)
- Dancing With Rhythms & Stories (DWRS): January 2024
*Location of auditions and training will be an accessible location in Midtown Manhattan.
All TAs must be fingerprinted and pass a Dept. of Education background check, and may be asked to complete additional fingerprinting/checks for other city agencies if needed. Accepted TAs will be paid a stipend of $15/hr for training. If hired to teach a residency, TAs will receive instructional pay between $40-$60/hr per residency based on a tier system, and will receive a rate of $25/hr for planning/meetings. Training commitment is non-negotiable.
General Requirements and Qualifications:
- Availability to teach at least two days a week during the school year within 8AM – 3PM timeframe (DWRS/Core Programs) and/or from 3PM – 6PM (After-School Program)
- 1-2 years teaching experience (preferred)
- Have expertise in at least 1-2 social dance styles
- Be willing to travel within NYC’s 5 boroughs
- Possess excellent interpersonal skills
- Love kids
- Possess and maintain high energy
- Have a growth mindset and be receptive to feedback
- Have a generous, respectful, and compassionate spirit
- Have a sense of humor, language, and rhythm
- Be professional and prompt
- Possess strong classroom management skills
- Ability to create lesson plan
*If you have any questions, please contact Yvonne Winborne (yvonne@dancingclassrooms.org).
To get started, complete an online application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemaJiV3_NZm3blxstGXpxmIj5KfSCby5JH4fOKIA07k59PPA/viewform
Dancing Classrooms encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply for roles that align with their own interests and career trajectory. If you meet a majority of the qualifications and see yourself in this role, we would love to see your application! Dancing Classrooms is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, dedicated to ensuring diversity in our workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, parental needs, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Annamaria Diamant (she/her)
Annamaria is an experienced dancer and educator with over 10 years of experience working in dance studios, NYC public schools, after-school programs and early childhood movement classes.
Annamaria Diamant earned her BA in Theater Arts from the University of South Florida. Following graduation she performed with Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company as a dancer and choreographer. She’s had the opportunity to work with dance teams and young individuals from around the country as a dance instructor for MA Dance and the Capital One Bowl HalfTime Show. Annamaria loves to create; she’s produced and showcased her choreographic works throughout NYC.
In 2020 Annamaria graduated from Baruch College with a Masters in Arts Administration. Most recently, she served as the Children’s Program Manager for WR Arts where she helped implement after-school performing arts programming in NYC public schools and managed their Brooklyn studio. In early 2022 she joined Dancing Classrooms as a Teaching Artist before becoming a Program Manager.
Ieshia Henry (she/her)
Ieshia gaduated from CUNY Hunter College with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Fun fact about me is that I did tap, jazz, and ballet from 4 years old through high school!
I am from Brooklyn, NY born and raised. My husband and I together have an 11 month old daughter named Nola whose birthday is Juneteenth! I have worked in education operations for the last four years primarily in charter schools. Before that I graduated from CUNY Hunter College with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Fun fact about me is that I did tap, jazz, and ballet from 4 years old through high school. I love traveling to the Caribbean and all things food. I am excited to continue my operations career with Dancing Classrooms!
Dance Day at the Farm
Dance Day at the Farm
Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 10am – 1pm
Free and open to all!
Dance into summer at this fun-filled, family-friendly day at the Queens County Farm Museum! Enjoy interactive dance workshops, student demonstrations, and special guest performances. Plus spend a beautiful day on the farm with hayrides, animals, a scavenger hunt, and more!
Honoring Alumni Kevin Heredia
Celebrating the Life
of Alumni Kevin Heredia
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our Alumni Kevin Heredia, who was featured in Mad Hot Ballroom while attending P.S. 115 in Washington Heights. Among his artistic accomplishments, Kevin won Best Cinematography for his work on A Sorrowful Birthday at the Virgin Spring Cinefest in February 2021. We wish his family and friends healing and love. We’re honored to have shared our Ballroom journey with Kevin. He will forever remain in our hearts.
Pictured Top Left in Mad Hot Ballroom Image
Swing Uptown! A Celebration of Dancing Classrooms and the Roaring 2020s
Join us for a memorable swing dance masterclass with our senior teaching artists and swing pros, Akemi Kinukawa and Felix Pitre. Featuring live music by a six-piece collective of jazz phenoms, The Summer Camargo Swing Band!
Friday, January 28, 2022
7 – 8:30 pm
Virtual Ticket: $25 suggested donation
Streaming link will be shared via email.
LIMITED In-Person Livestream Ticket: $50 suggested donation
Prefer to dance in-person and have the special experience of being in the livestream? We will cap our in-person guests at 20 and Covid vaccination, masks, and social distancing will be strictly enforced.
A mid-winter night swing dance party that will be the cat’s meow and get you shaking and grooving, safely, to celebrate 2022.
ALL proceeds support our work in bringing the joy and power of dance (including swing!) to K-12 students in NYC and beyond. Make a donation and join the fun on January 28th!
Swing Uptown Event Host Committee:
Carrie Shea Steinmetz, Chair
Patrice Tanaka, Vice Chair
Harry Chung, Treasurer
Hilary Wolf Bayer
John J. Entwistle
Sheila A. Hoerle
Tyrone Bazelaire
Patricia Koyce
Slava Takhalov
Lu Mejia (she/her)
Lu Mejia (she/her) is a bilingual, professional dancer, content editor and photographer from Bogotá, Colombia based in New York City, who is looking to make an impact and direct change through arts, culture and community spaces.
Lu Mejia (she/her) is a bilingual, professional dancer, content editor and photographer from Bogotá, Colombia based in New York City. She is a 2021 honors graduate from Eugene Lang College at The New School with a BA in Culture and Media and a minor in Journalism+Design who is looking to make an impact and direct change through art, culture and emerging community spaces.
Lu Mejia is currently the Communications Coordinator at “Dancing Classrooms NYC” and part of the creative team that launched the online-tutorial platform, “adpt’95“.
In the past, she has worked with the world-known dance studio “Broadway Dance Center”, New York City based New Opera-Theatre and Music-Theatre producer, “Beth Morrison Projects” as their Marketing Assistant, with the business magazine “Latin Trade” as content editor, and with the NYC based arts platform “The Artists Forum” as their Video and Graphics intern.
As a journalist, she has published written and visual work in Dancegeist Magazine. and as a dancer Lu is part of the contemporary-fusion dance company: “The Catastrophe!” directed by Cat Cogliandro and teaches and choreographs for several studios in Bogotá.
Follow her journey on instagram through @lu_mejiaa and @lumejia.jpg
Akemi Kinukawa (she/her)
Watch to learn more about Ms. Akemi:
Akemi Kinukawa (she/her)
Senior Teaching Artist
Akemi Kinukawa began working for Dancing Classrooms in 2011 and by the end of the year was nominated “Rookie of the Year.” She is originally from Japan where she didn’t have any chance to explore the art of social dancing. It was when she was welcomed into the Lindy Hop dance community in Washington, D.C. that her life changed dramatically. For this reason, she is passionate about sharing social dancing with children. She also works as a Lindy Hop choreographer and instructor. Her work, from dance pieces to dance theater, champions Lindy Hop’s spirit by educating on its history and cultural context, furthering the legacy of inclusivity. Highlights of her career include performing at the opening night of Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing in 2017 as well as performing with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in 2016.
Dance Break!
Covid Vaccination & Safety Policy
Vaccination:
Dancing Classrooms requires that all employees be fully vaccinated* and encourages staying up to date** with COVID-19 boosters, unless a reasonable medical condition or sincerely held religious beliefs prevents them from safe vaccination.
Request for Vaccination Exemption:
The process of granting exemptions will be considered, analyzed, and determined on a case-by-case basis by the HR Department. Employees that are granted exemption will be required to provide a negative PCR test weekly, wear a mask, and keep a 6-feet social distance during meetings, any in-person events, or activities. Because most of our partners have similar or stricter policies, non-vaccinated teaching artists will only be assigned virtual residencies, if available, and like all DC teaching artists, are not guaranteed work.
Safety Practices:
All employees, regardless of vaccine status, are highly encouraged to wear masks when teaching or visiting DC programs in-person. In addition, all employees, regardless of vaccination status, are required to follow any and all COVID-19 safety policies of the spaces in which classes or meetings are taking place, such as the Department of Education, Riverside Church, etc., including but not limited to presenting proof of COVID-19 vaccination, proof of negative COVID-19 test, social distancing, etc.
We recommend visiting the CDC’s page about COVID-19 Vaccines for more information, and NYC Vaccine Finder to find out more about vaccine sites available to all New Yorkers.
*Fully vaccinated is defined as two weeks after your final vaccine dose.
**One is up to date if they have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for them by the CDC.
Yvonne Winborne (she/her)
Yvonne is a passionate educator, dancer, choreographer, teaching artist, and mental health advocate.
Yvonne Winborne is originally from Philadelphia, PA, and is currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Yvonne obtained her B.S. in Childhood and Early Adolescent Education and Dance Minor from The Pennsylvania State University and her M.A. in Dance Education from New York University. She is trained in ballet, modern, hip-hop, West and East African dances, step, heels, and street jazz and has danced internationally in Ireland and Uganda. After starting the dance curriculum at New Bridges Elementary School in 2015, Yvonne transitioned to the field of teaching artistry. For the past several years she has worked as a teaching artist for Urban Arts Partnership and Lincoln Center Education, along with freelancing at several camps and studios. Her journey led her to Dancing Classrooms in 2021, where she started as one of the Associate Directors of Curriculum and Professional Development and has now transitioned to become the Education Director. Yvonne believes that dance should be accessible to all and approaches her teaching practice with a focus on cultural responsiveness and mental health awareness.