Teaching Artists: Dance (Contract) in Austin, Texas at Zach Theater

At Zach, we believe in the power of light—to illuminate new ideas, spark imagination, and bring people together. As Austin’s leading professional producing theater, we create vibrant, intimate theater experiences that engage, inspire, and connect our community.

Our Education team is seeking passionate and skilled Teaching Artists for our Pre-Professional Company (PPC) and Academy students specializing in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre Dance to join our Performing Arts School at our Downtown location (1510 Toomey Road, Austin, TX 78704). Teaching Artists inspire young performers through high-quality, engaging instruction in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Academy classes are held Monday through Friday from 9:00–4:00pm. Our Pre-Professional Company (PPC) meets on Sundays from 1:00-6:00pm and Mondays from 5:30-8:30pm. Class sizes typically range from 8–25 students.

Teaching Artists are engaged as independent contractors (1099) and are compensated at a competitive hourly rate by semester/class.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Under the guidance of Zach Education staff, our teaching artists work independently to:

• Teach students proper dance techniques, positions, and movements
• Choreograph pieces to be rehearsed in class and performed at end-of-year demonstration/showcase
• Effectively communicate with families, students, teachers, and Zach staff and provide weekly feedback for students and families
• Design, develop, and implement lesson plans that cater to various skill levels
• Create an inclusive and supportive structured classroom environment to achieve desired learning outcomes while prioritizing the social and emotional well being of students
• Evaluate student progress and adjusting teaching methods accordingly
• Keep up to date with current dance trends, techniques and the musical theater canon
• Adhere to student and parent handbooks, protocols, and safety guidelines
• Uphold the mission, vision, and values of Zach theater in alignment with organizational objectives

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Dance, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Certified Educators with demonstrated classroom experience (preferred)
• At least one year of experience in teaching students ages 5-18

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of injury prevention and safe dance practices
• Demonstrated skill in lesson plan design and development
• Demonstrated skills in training students, including but not limited to classroom pedagogy, classroom management, and supervision for a variety of ages
• Demonstrated skills in written and oral communication
• Ability to work individually and as a team member
• Ability to meet choreography deadlines in a fast-paced, production-driven environment, ensuring material is fully developed, rehearsed, and performance-ready on schedule
• Ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations such as resolving conflicts with parents or managing large groups of students

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This is a campus-based, on-site role. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions upon discussion with HR.

• Ability to lift, push, pull or otherwise maneuver up to 30 lbs repeatedly, either alone or with assistance
• Must have reliable transportation
• Able to teach in-person classes
• The noise level in this work environment is typically moderate and can be high.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Zach Theater is committed to ensuring an equitable and inclusive workforce and we strive for a team that reflects Austin’s diverse culture. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, sex or age.