Choreographer

Lick-Wilmerding High School; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 81,000; Part time

Job summary

Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco seeks a dynamic choreographer for Head Over Heels. You will design, teach, and refine all dance numbers, tailoring routines to student performers while maintaining safety and high production value.

Responsibilities include leading auditions, teaching technique, and collaborating with the artistic team to align choreography with the story. Previous teen coaching and a background in 1980s dance styles are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in dance or choreography.
• Excellent communication and leadership to direct student casts.
• Experience teaching or coaching teenagers with patient, inclusive style.
• Knowledge of safe dance floor practices and warm-ups for teens.
• Background in 1980s music-video styles, commercial jazz, hip-hop, and musical theatre storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Choreographing dances to match the plot and character development.
• Teaching foundational dance terminology and proper technique to prevent injury.
• Leading safe, inclusive rehearsals and adapting routines for student levels and costumes.
• Providing clear feedback and refining dances during tech week.
• Coordinating with the Artistic Team to align choreography with the production vision.
• Overseeing a Dance Captain for video recording, warm-ups, and rehearsal notes.
• Ensuring safety with costumes, props, and stage cues.

Skills

Communication

Student management

Teaching / coaching teens

Safety awareness

Dance knowledge

Stage choreography

Education

Bachelor’s degree in dance/choreography

Job description

Position: Choreographer - Head Over HeelsEmployment Type: Seasonal ContractReports To: Stage DirectorTarget Performers: High School Students** The hourly rate for this role is $50.00, and the expected number of hours for this production is approximately 100 hours.Description:The Theatre Program is seeking a high-energy, collaborative, and student-centered choreographer for our upcoming spring production of the hit musical, Head Over Heels. The choreographer serves as both a creative leader and an educator. You will design, teach, and clean all dance sequences, adapting routines to elevate student performers of all experience levels while maintaining high production value and a safe, inclusive environment.Key Duties:Conducting a welcoming, low-stress dance audition to evaluate student coordination, rhythm, and willingness to learn.Choreographing dances to advance the plot, reveal character depth, and embrace the show's themes.Teaching foundational dance terminology, syncopation, spatial awareness, and proper physical execution to prevent injury.Creating safe movement that accounts for student fitness levels, as well as any heavy/restrictive costumes.Collaborating with the Artistic Team to ensure the choreography matches the students' capabilities, as well as the vision of the story.Providing clear feedback to help students to make improvements.Refining dances during tech week to adapt safely to costumes, props, lighting cues, and physical set pieces.Guiding a student Dance Captain to video record dances, run physical warm-ups, and take dance rehearsal notes.Audition DatesNovember 30 to December 4, 2026, 3:30 to 6:30pm.Rehearsal DatesStart Date: January 6, 2027, Mondays through Fridays, 3:40 to 6:00pm.February 22 to March 12, rehearsals end at 6:30pm.Production MeetingsIn-person or join through Zoom, Thursdays from 12 to 1pm.Cue-To-Cue Technical RehearsalSaturday, March 13, 2027.Dress RehearsalsMarch 15 through March 17, 3:30pm to 8:30pm.Show Dates:March 18 and 19 at 7:00pm.March 20 at 3pm.Skills and Qualifications:A bachelor’s degree in dance/choreography.Excellent communication skills to direct, inspire, and manage casts under a tight rehearsal schedule.Ability to keep groups of high school students focused and motivated during rehearsals.Prior experience teaching or coaching teenagers, utilizing a patient, encouraging, and body-positive instructional approach.Knowledge of safe dance floor practices, proper stretching, and conditioning suited for an adolescent physical development.A strong background in 1980s music-video styles, commercial jazz, hip-hop isolations, and musical theatre storytelling.The applicant must successfully complete the school’s background check, provide a current California School Employee Tuberculosis (TB) Risk Assessment Test, and Mandated Reporter TrainingInterested applicants should submit an application and resume here, in addition to three (3) professional references. In addition, please send the following to Miguel Zavala (Theatre Teacher) [e-mail]:Video sample, dance reel, or link demonstrating dance choreography, specifically musical theatre performances with high school students.