Full-Time Ballet Faculty: Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education

Tulsa-Ballet; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid vacations

401(k) match

Job summary

Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education (TBCDE) seeks a full-time dance educator with professional ballet performance experience and at least five years of pre-professional teaching in a Vaganova-based curriculum. You will teach across Community, Intensive, Day, and Trainee programs, coaching students toward collegiate and professional dance paths.

As a Tulsa Ballet educator, you will mentor students, collaborate with School Director and Artistic Director, and help expand TBCDE’s educational

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of teaching at the pre-professional level.
• Professional performance experience in classical ballet.
• Demonstrated experience teaching within a Vaganova-based or Russian ballet training system.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Ability to mentor students and collaborate with staff.

Responsibilities

• Support the artistic vision and strategic plan for TBCDE and Tulsa Ballet.
• Teach ballet technique, pointe, partnering, variations, and conditioning per the Vaganova curriculum.
• Coach repertoire and prepare students for school performances and productions.
• Serve as instructor/coach for TBII and Tulsa Ballet’s Main Company as needed.
• Provide mentorship, evaluations, and constructive feedback to students and families.
• Assist in developing schedules and program offerings across Community, Intensive, Day, and Trainee programs.
• Collaborate with School Director, Artistic Director, and faculty to recruit and retain talent.
• Represent Tulsa Ballet and TBCDE professionally within the dance community.

Skills

Ballet pedagogy

Pre-professional teaching

Vaganova system

Communication skills

Leadership

Audition prep

Job description

Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education (TBCDE) is seeking a passionate and highly skilled dance educator with professional performance experience in classical ballet and a minimum of five years of teaching experience at the pre-professional level within a Vaganova-based curriculum.

The Full-Time Faculty member supports the growth and artistic excellence of Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education (TBCDE) and, in turn, Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Ballet II (TBII), by providing dance instruction and coaching of the highest caliber. The position teaches and coaches students across a variety of levels and programs within TBCDE, including Community Program, Intensive Program, Day Program, and Trainee Program students pursuing collegiate and professional dance careers.

The Full-Time Faculty member serves as an educator, mentor, and representative of TBCDE, fostering technical excellence, artistry, discipline, confidence, professionalism, and a lifelong appreciation for dance. The position works collaboratively with the School Director, Artistic Director, faculty, and other TBCDE leadership to support the continued development of students and the overall growth and success of the School.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the artistic vision and strategic plan of Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Inc. through the continued development and growth of Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education (TBCDE), fulfilling its mission and objectives. Assist in planning and implementing long-term goals and objectives for TBCDE in cooperation with the Artistic Director and School Director.
• Teach with inspiration, compassion, and professionalism. Foster confidence, discipline, artistic excellence, and a strong work ethic while developing students’ appreciation, respect, and understanding of the art of dance.
• Provide leadership and support for the continued growth and development of TBCDE in size, scope, and educational excellence.
• Teach ballet technique, men’s or women’s technique as appropriate to training assignments, pointe, partnering, variations, conditioning, and other assigned classes using a curriculum and syllabus based upon the Russian/Vaganova system of training, in consultation with the School Director and Artistic Director.
• Apply professional performance experience and pre-professional teaching expertise to provide students with relevant preparation for collegiate, competitive, and professional dance opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with the School Director, Artistic Director, and faculty to identify, recruit, retain, and support talented students and prospective trainees.
• Choreograph, stage, coach, and rehearse repertoire and prepare students for school performances. Assist in planning and executing school productions, demonstrations, showcases, and other performance opportunities.
• Serve, when needed, as instructor and coach for Tulsa Ballet II (TBII) and Tulsa Ballet’s Main Company, including teaching class, coaching repertoire, staging choreography, and supervising rehearsals and performances.
• Support student development through constructive evaluations, Goal Setting Conferences, mentorship, and positive communication with students and parents.
• Serve as a mentor and advisor to students, promoting professionalism, leadership, healthy training habits, personal responsibility, and preparation for collegiate and professional opportunities.
• Function as an integral member of a dynamic team, supporting colleagues and contributing to a positive, respectful, and collaborative work environment consistent with Tulsa Ballet’s Company Culture.
• Assist in developing and implementing TBCDE schedules for year-round programming, Summer Intensives, men’s programming, and special events in consultation with the School Director, Senior Education Manager, Program Coordinators, and faculty. Assist with auditions, assessments, and student placement.
• Provide artistic and organizational support to other TBCDE programs, including educational outreach initiatives. Assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures for students, faculty, and families.
• Support Marketing and Development initiatives by assisting with promotional activities, interviews, recruitment events, performances, and community engagement opportunities that highlight TBCDE and its students.
• Assist TBCDE leadership in mentoring, assessing, and supervising part-time faculty as requested.
• Consult with the Music Department regarding performance evaluations of piano accompanists as appropriate.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism while representing Tulsa Ballet within the local, national, and international dance communities.
• Maintain adequate administrative hours dedicated to the review of schedules, email communications, student and faculty matters, and use of applicable software and administrative programs.
• Participate in faculty meetings, professional development, educational initiatives, auditions, recruitment activities, performances, and other School activities as assigned.
• Maintain current knowledge of developments in ballet pedagogy, Vaganova-based training, pre-professional dance education, student wellness, and the broader professional dance community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position in Organization

Reports to:
School Director

Directly Supervises:
Students

Indirectly Supervises:
Pianists, Part-Time Faculty

Key Relationships Inside the Company

• Artistic Director
• School Director
• Senior Education Manager
• TBCDE Faculty
• Artistic Faculty
• Principal Company Pianist
• School Pianist
• Executive Director
• Director of Development
• Director of Marketing

Key Relationships Outside the Company

• Current and prospective students and parents
• Guest faculty and choreographers
• Competition and audition organizations
• Members of the community
• Members of the national and international dance community

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional performance experience in classical ballet, preferably with a recognized professional ballet company or comparable professional-level experience.
• Minimum of five years of teaching experience at the pre-professional level.
• Demonstrated experience teaching within a Vaganova-based or Russian ballet training system.
• Strong knowledge of classical ballet technique, repertoire, pedagogy, and pre-professional training.
• Demonstrated ability to teach and coach students at multiple levels of technical and artistic development.
• Experience preparing students for auditions, competitions, collegiate programs, and/or professional dance careers.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a professional ballet company and educational environment.
• Commitment to maintaining a positive, respectful, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment.
• Ability to represent Tulsa Ballet and TBCDE professionally within the dance community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching in a professional ballet school or affiliated pre-professional training program.
• Experience working with students in a Trainee, Day Program, or comparable pre-professional program.
• Experience coaching classical repertoire and variations.
• Experience with choreography, staging, and rehearsal direction.
• Experience working with professional ballet companies, second companies, or trainee programs.
• Experience preparing students for major ballet competitions and international auditions.
• Experience teaching partnering, pointe, conditioning, character dance, contemporary dance, or other complementary disciplines.

Physical and Professional Requirements

• Ability to demonstrate ballet exercises and movement as necessary for effective instruction and coaching.
• Ability to safely participate in demonstrations, rehearsals, and other dance-related activities.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as required by the School’s programming, performances, auditions, and special events.
• Ability to travel periodically for auditions, competitions, recruitment, performances, or other TBCDE/Tulsa Ballet activities, as assigned.

Commensurate with experience.

• Health, paid vacations benefits, matching 401k.
• Opportunities for professional development and international exposure.