The School of Alberta Ballet is seeking a new Artistic Director to begin September 1, 2013. This position brings the opportunity for someone with extensive professional experience in ballet to help shape a new vision, provide inspired leadership and contribute to the strategic direction of both the School of Alberta Ballet as well as the Alberta Ballet Company.
Reporting to the Executive Director of the Alberta Ballet Company, the Artistic Director of the School works in close partnership with the School’s Managing Director as well as the Artistic Director of the Alberta Ballet Company. The School’s Artistic Director’s primary role is to set pedagogical and artistic direction among the School’s artistic faculty, ensuring that the School is aligned with the strategic direction of the Alberta Ballet Company. The School needs to operate and be seen as an integral, holistic operation within the School itself, cooperating and leading with the other business units of the School as well as the overall Alberta Ballet organization.
The School of Alberta Ballet is about to launch into its next era. The School of Alberta Ballet has quickly become a fast-paced, world competitor, requiring the new Artistic Director will need to be an outgoing, innovative and ambitious community networker with a strong background in the world of professional ballet.
The School’s Artistic Director will be responsible for the following 5 key areas: Integration, Community, Pedagogy, Coordination/Leadership and Growth.
LEADERSHIP
- Inspire and motivate School Artistic Staff to build the next era for the School of Alberta Ballet, working collaboratively and holistically with Administrative, Academic and Residence Staff at the School
- In collaboration with the Managing Director and the Academic Principal, build a cohesive school with a unified voice for all internal and external stakeholders
- As a core member of the Alberta Ballet’s Executive Management Team, attend all meetings and contribute to strategic discussions involving the School as well as the Company
- Lead the School’s Artistic team with a positive and ambitious attitude, ensuring the Artistic Faculty follow this lead
- Hire and supervise Artistic Staff, including teachers and musicians, empowering them to make decisions and to take initiative
- Inspire and motivate Artistic Staff in accordance with the Alberta Ballet strategic direction
- Adhere to decision and action deadlines, understanding the need for timely decisions within the quick pace of the School and the Alberta Ballet
- Facilitate weekly Artistic Staff meetings
- Provide monthly co-written Board reports with the School’s Managing Director
- Ensure enrollment targets are met
- Ensure expenditures within the Artistic Department fall within budget
PEDAGOGY
- Oversee and set pedagogical direction, ensuring core influences of Alberta Ballet repertoire influence pedagogical methods and delivery while maintaining strong classical ballet technique at the core
- Oversee Professional Division teaching staff
- Teach classes at the Professional Graduate level, ensuring student preparedness for employment with either the Alberta Ballet or other professional dance companies
- Select repertoire for School performances, working in collaboration with the Managing Director to seek performance opportunities and to set performance schedules
- Empower Artistic Staff to set rehearsals and casts for performances and events, providing artistic support and oversight to other staff
INTEGRATION
- Build connective tissue between School and Company Artistic Staff, including collaborative programming, shared resources and mutually beneficial opportunities
- Help foster and build Alberta Ballet III, working alongside the Executive Director of Alberta Ballet as well as the Director, Development and Communications for Alberta Ballet
- Understanding the complex nature of the School’s diverse programming, create and foster flexible and collaborative structures to accommodate the diversity of needs within the School
- Attend and contribute to weekly inter-departmental School staff meetings
- Work in collaboration with the School’s Manager, Development and Communications to produce timely and responsive communications materials for the School
COMMUNITY
- Lead the School’s Emerging Artists Outreach Program, using the School’s Artistic Coordinator to carry out the program, seeking opportunities to grow the program across Alberta
- Ensure students are available and prepared for Outreach events, Company performances and School performances
- Oversee the preparation of students for Development and Marketing events and attend when necessary
- Become the community bridge in Calgary and Alberta for the School of Alberta Ballet, enhancing the School’s profile at public events, artistic networks and other opportunities
- Provide exceptional customer service to all students, parents, donors and other stakeholders, ensuring that all customers feel personally welcomed and honored to be a part of the School of Alberta Ballet
- Seek national and international partnership opportunities to promote the School in effort to build the profile of the School as well as to enhance recruitment potential
GROWTH
- Work with the School’s Managing Director to set annual growth targets for Professional Division student recruitment, seeking innovative and bold opportunities for international auditions and recruitment
- Assist Executive Management Team in the realization of the Strategic Plan by implementing and achieving set targets, including student recruitment targets, outreach exposure and facility goals
Please forward your resume and cover letter to Nicola Dawes, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director by May 15, 2013. No phone calls please.
Alberta Ballet will acknowledge receipt of all interested parties and will inform all applicants if they have been selected for an interview.
