WINNIPEGS’ CONTEMPORARY DANCERS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
COMPANY HISTORY
Winnipeg ‘s Contemporary Dancers, founded in 1964 by Rachel Browne, is one of Canada’s founding modern dance companies. During its entire history, the Company has worked with scores of exceptional Canadian and international artists, establishing a reputation for presentation of dance of the highest quality.
Winnipeg‘s Contemporary Dancers’ goal is to create a place on the local, national and international arts landscape that enables vital intersections, linkages and exchange among dance creators, dance interpreters, spectators and communities. Our values, programs, and activities are based on respect for our history, the ongoing development of our artists, and to our place in the community.
We are an evolving, responsive arts system, which serves as a springboard for advancing the art form through the presentation of new and existing dance work that fosters and advances artistic vitality and excellence in dance.
We create, produce, teach, present and promote professional contemporary dance with a view to furthering the art form for professional artists and audiences alike.
Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers it is located on Treaty One Territory. Treaty One Territory is located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
To find out more about Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers please visit: http://www.winnipegscontemporarydancers.ca/company/
MISSION STATEMENT
Winnipeg ‘s Contemporary Dancers’ goal is to create a place on the local, national and international arts landscape that enables vital intersections, linkages and exchange among dance creators, dance interpreters, spectators and communities. Our values, programs, and activities are based on respect for our history, the ongoing development of our artists, and to our place in the community.
We are an evolving, responsive arts system, which serves as a springboard for advancing the art form through the presentation of new and existing dance work that fosters and advances artistic vitality and excellence in dance.
We create, produce, teach, present and promote professional contemporary dance with a view to furthering the art form for professional artists and audiences alike.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers’ Artistic Director (AD) is a full time seasonal position (September – May) and must be located in Winnipeg during this time. The AD is responsible for all artistic matters of the Company, creating and choreographing their own work on selected dancers and acts as curator, programming choreographers and performing artists into each season. The AD is expected to choreograph a minimum of one new full evening length work each year.
Reporting directly to the Chair of the Board of Directors, this position works closely with the Administrator, directly supervises the dancers, all other creative and performing artists and supervises the work of the Production Manager/Technical Director as it pertains to artistic matters. The Artistic Director is the spokesperson and face of the Company.
The individual in this position shall be an accomplished choreographer with a positive national profile, a strong artistic vision, ability to articulate that vision, and possess excellent leadership, interpersonal and oral communication skills. The Artistic Director oversees and manages the work of all artistic personnel, maintaining a high quality artistic output that achieves the Company’s goals and objectives. The candidate will maintain a high level of attention to detail in all aspects of the position and execute their accountabilities with the highest level of professional integrity.
Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers fosters a team-oriented environment in which all personnel may be required to participate in a wide range of activities and take on additional responsibilities from time to time that may be outside of their core responsibilities. The successful candidate will be expected to uphold the values of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers: Equity and Diversity, Respect, Anti-Oppression, Equality Across Gender Identities and Sexual Orientation, Maintaining Safe Work Environments, and Community Building.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and execute a new artistic vision that fulfills the organization’s overall mission.
- Annually select all artistic activities for approval by the Board of Directors.
- Selecting artists for all annual seasonal Company activities and providing the Administrator with all pertinent information for contracting.
- Manage and execute community engagement and outreach activities
- Supervising, directing and assessing the work of all artists annually.
- In collaboration with the Administrator, manage and execute all organizational planning.
- Provide regular updates to the Administrator and Chair of the Board to review artistic plans.
- In collaboration with the Administrator, prepare annual the operating budget for approval by the Board of Directors.
- Working closely with the Administrator achieve Company financial goals;
- Working closely with the Administrator on planning, preparing and execution of operating and project based applications to government agencies and departments.
- In collaboration with the Administrator, oversee and approve all communications content including but not limited to; press releases, house programs, digital platforms.
- Provide a written artistic report at meetings of the Board of Directors on progress on approved artistic activities and plans.
- Ensure all Company personnel are kept aware of artistic plans in advance.
- Attend and participate in all Company fundraising activities as required.
- Actively seek out opportunities to elevate the Company’s profile locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.
ARTISTIC GOALS
- Create and produce company work;
- Drive the creative development of the Company;
- Collaborate with choreographers in developing & producing a range of contemporary works;
- Support, train and nurture Company dance artists;
- Create professional development opportunities for all artistic company members;
- Foster a strong working relationship with the School of Contemporary Dancers;
- Collaborate with local, national and international artists and dance organizations;
QUALIFICATIONS
- Post-secondary degree in dance from a recognized institution or equivalent working experience in a company of a similar size
- Experience managing and executing annual artistic programming
- Proven capacity to work collaboratively and harmoniously with Boards of Directors, Management, staff, volunteers, community groups, funding agencies, donors and sponsors.
- A self starter who can work independently and collaboratively
- Experience meeting deadlines and adhering to schedules
- Demonstrable experience writing grants and funding proposals
- Motivated, decisive, an independent problem solver, and able to work under pressure
- Respect for timelines, schedules, contracts and budgets
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
ADDITIONAL INFO
- The successful candidate must reside in Winnipeg for the duration of each Company season.
- Strong understanding of the contemporary dance milieu in Canada and internationally
- Experience working with community groups, not-for-profit, and/or marginalized communities
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and remains technologically current
- Must demonstrate strong artistic relationships with contemporary dance and performance artists and companies
- Willing to travel on behalf of the company representing it and growing its national and international profile, and touring networks.
How to Apply:
Please submit the following:
- Cover letter 1- 2 pages maximum
- Curriculum vitae or resume with three references
- 2 Writing samples including; artistic statement and selection from a grant or funding proposal (ensure all private information is blacked out)
- 2 examples of artistic work no longer than 10 minutes each acceptable formats: Youtube, Vimeo.
Resumes accepted until May 18,2018 at 5pm Eastern Standard Time.
Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls or email inquiries.
Please forward resume to: duo@danceumbrella.net
