2026-27 African Dance Costume Assistant / Wardrobe

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: 2027 African Dance Costume Assistant / Wardrobe — mid-February through Mid-April 2027

Saint Ann’s School seeks an African Dance Costume Assistant to work closely with the African Dance Costume Designer in the final stages of preparing costumes for the Middle School and High School Dance Concerts. The assistant attends to the wardrobe needs backstage during all dress rehearsals, matinees, and performances. While backstage, the African Dance Costume Assistant will work with the designer, dance teachers, and drummers to maintain a calm and joyful experience for all. The work period for this position will run intermittently from mid-February to mid-April 2027, with a more condensed schedule during each dance concert.

This role will require nine work days. Eight days to be arranged with the African Dance Costume Designer prior to the dance concerts. Two half-days will also be required; one for striking the Middle School Dance Concert, and one for striking the High School Dance Concert.

ABOUT SAINT ANN’S SCHOOL

Since its founding in 1965, Saint Ann’s has embraced a commitment to education for its own sake, oriented to the capacities of each individual student and free of the encumbrances of formal grading, prizes, and rankings. At the same time, we are unabashedly committed to excellence in all that we do. With a faculty and staff numbering close to 400, and approximately 1100 students, Saint Ann’s is among the largest and most selective independent schools in New York City. The lives of our graduates speak powerfully to the potential of an education based on these principles to ignite a love of learning and sustain creative energy in every field of endeavor. We accomplish this by bringing together talented teachers with creative and motivated students. Saint Ann’s is committed to centering anti-racism in the life of the school. Seeking to create a community rooted in trust and equity, we invite each other to take risks, pursue knowledge, and celebrate growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Costume Assistance

• Assist Head Costume Designer with organization and labeling of costumes
• Prepare costumes for performances (ie iron and mend costumes as needed)
• Assist African Dance Costume Designer in student costume fittings
• Assist with pulling costumes

Duties for Wardrobe Work

• Assist with oversight of students and maintain a focused backstage environment during and after performances. This includes helping bring student dancers up and down the stairs between the C01 (basement) dance studio and the fourth floor theater for their performances.
• Assist with keeping C01 dance studio and 401 (and other backstage/rehearsal spaces) clean and ready for the next use of the space.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• A love of working with children and ability to embrace their imaginative impulses
• Experience working with students in middle school and high school grades
• Experience with altering and mending clothing
• Strong planning, organizational, and communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work space and in collaborative design work
• Knowledge of and experience with West African dance traditions a plus

REQUIRED AVAILABILITY

• Middle School Dance Concert Wardrobe/backstage dates (times are approximate)
  • Dress Rehearsal: Mon 3/15, 8:15 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
  • Matinees: Tues 3/16 and Wed 3/17, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
  • Evening Performances: Tues-3/16 through Thurs 3/18 — two shows each evening; one at 6:00 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m. — total hours per evening, 5:00–9:00 p.m.
  • Costume Strike: Fri 3/19, time TBD
• High School Dance Concert Wardrobe/backstage dates (times are approximate)
  • Dress Rehearsal: Sun 4/11, 10:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
  • Matinees: Mon 4/12 and Thurs 4/15, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
  • Evening Performances: Mon 4/12, Tues 4/13, Thurs 4/15, Fri 4/16, performance at 7:00 p.m. — total hours per evening, 5:00–9:30 p.m.
  • Costume Strike: Mon 4/19, time TBD

COMPENSATION

This is a part-time exempt faculty position with a stipend of $3,200-$3,400 depending on experience.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and resume to this link by October 19th, 2026. Candidates who identify as members of historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY

Saint Ann’s School hires employees of any race, color, religion, creed, gender, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local law, to all the rights privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to employees at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender (which includes a person’s actual or perceived sex, as well as gender identity and expression), age, marital status, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, familial status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local law, in carrying on its educational activities or in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.