Head of School, Indianapolis School of Ballet

Position: Head of School, Indianapolis School of Ballet

Salary: Commensurate with experience, plus benefits

Position: Full Time, exempt

The Indianapolis School of Ballet was founded on August 21, 2006 following the legacy of George Balanchine, “But First, a School.” With the Company firmly established January 2018, the School remains an integral component of the program of the Indianapolis Ballet operating under the same Board of Directors and the same 501(c)(3) designation. The new Head of School shall be a forward-thinking individual who has a compassionate, thorough, meticulous, and thoughtful approach to teaching, oversight, and accountability, reporting to the Artistic Director. The Indianapolis Ballet is committed to Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Access. The Head of School is expected to hold up these values in our School.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Head of School shall participate in organizational leadership, strategic planning,

and evaluation of the School in collaboration with the Artistic and Executive Directors

of the Organization.

The Head of School shall:

• Promote and nurture the joy of dance;
• Develop a structured ballet curriculum that aligns with the Balanchine tradition; promotes excellence and exceptional quality; and emphasizes meticulous, concentrated instruction in classical ballet techniques with exposure to other appropriate dance forms;
• Periodically assess and evaluate the dance curriculum;
• Develop and maintain a respectful, compassionate, and positive teaching/learning environment for all students, teachers, and staff;
• Demonstrate exemplary professional attitudes and behaviors at all times;
• Recruit students, expand enrollment, and maintain positive relationships with parents of students and the community;
• Determine budget projections for the School staff and programs in collaboration with the Executive and Artistic Directors;
• Select, train, and evaluate staff and instructors for the operation of the School;
• Oversee the operation of the Studio Director software;
• Coordinate the Outreach activities of the Indianapolis School of Ballet, in consultation with the Artistic and Executive Directors, including the Indy Ballet Classroom program that is offered to area schools;
• Create the weekly school year schedule and oversee the operations of student classes in conjunction with the Student Services Manager;
• Advise graduating seniors in finding placement at college and/or professional program / advise high school students regarding future plans;
• Assist, in close coordination with the Artistic Team, choosing children’s casts for Indianapolis Ballet productions, and developing opportunities for students where appropriate to participate in other productions throughout the year;
• Work with the Indianapolis Ballet Guild and relevant IB staff on initiatives to promote and support Indianapolis Ballet, including but not limited to school operations, programs, activities, marketing, communications, and scholarships;
• Teach classes, especially for the advanced levels of students, and at times may be called upon to assist in Company classes as time permits;
• Plan, recruit, and oversee all intensive summer programs and oversee supervision of summer classes and camps;
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with organizations that support the school’s programs (Indianapolis Public Schools for example) or organizations that may fund scholarship or other educational activities;
• Coordinate select students to participate in the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) competition. Arrange private coaching with ISB faculty; and
• Provide, collect, review, and allocate scholarship awards in collaboration with the Artistic and Executive Directors.

Key Professional Requirements for the Position

The ideal candidate should have a respected reputation in the dance profession and significant professional experience in the field of dance education, including teaching experience at multiple levels of ability, notable professional dance performance experience, a high comfort level with forms of dance besides classical, and 3 years of administrative experience. Additionally, a four-year degree is preferred along with evidence of outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English. Computer and technological skills will include proficiency in Google Documents and Sheets and Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

TO APPLY: Send resume, cover letter, and CV (if available) to jobs@indyballet.org. Please include “Head of School” in the subject line. 

Between the exciting growth of the Indianapolis Ballet resident professional company and the continued excellence of the Indianapolis School of Ballet, this is an exciting time to join the IB family! In the studios and the office, around the community and on stage, the IB/ISB team is a dedicated, passionate and talented group of professionals, committed to contributing to the organization’s storied history and “raising the barre” for ballet excellence in Indy and beyond.

Indianapolis Ballet, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin.