NDI seeks Assistant Dance Teaching Artists to join our team in NYC Public Schools for the 2026–27 school year!

National Dance Institute (NDI) is looking for dance educators and experienced performing artists who are ready to grow into the art of teaching — and who want to do it inside one of the most rigorous, supported, and dynamic dance education programs in the country.

Working as an NDI Teaching Artist is a rare opportunity in dance education. It provides reliable, structured work across the full school year. When you join NDI, you can count on a consistent schedule of work — typically three to four days per week — from October through June.

This is not a solo teaching role. Every NDI class is led by a team of three professional Teaching Artists: a Lead Dance Teaching Artist, an Assistant Dance Teaching Artist, and a Musician/Accompanist. NDI staff handles school relationships and administrative coordination, so you can focus on lesson planning and teaching. Teaching artists who have worked at other organizations consistently describe the level of mentorship, coaching, and day-to-day support at NDI as unlike anything they have experienced elsewhere in their careers.

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for teaching artists with a developed performance career — whether through professional company work, touring, dance captaining, sustained freelance performance, or significant professional training. Performance fluency, versatility across dance styles, and the ability to pick up movement quickly are essential, as the NDI Method requires artists to bring that artistry and dynamism into their teaching. Prior in-school or studio-based teaching experience is highly preferred.

Specifically, we encourage Dance Teaching Artists to apply who:

• Are strong, versatile performers with well-developed dance content knowledge across multiple styles
• Bring dynamism, theatricality, and an engaging presence into the room
• Are as passionate about the art of teaching as they are about dancing
• Possess confident, positive classroom management skills
• Will commit to creating inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments where children of all abilities can belong, participate, and succeed
• Thrive in a collaborative team dynamic
• Are ready to commit to a full school year with an eye toward growing into a full-time, lead teaching role

Teaching artists who can teach in multiple languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, and American Sign Language, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Responsibilities

Assist NDI programs in partner schools by working alongside a Lead Dance Teaching Artist and a Musician/Accompanist:

• Planning and teaching weekly classes
• Attending planning meetings with partner school educators
• Mounting culminating performances

Learn to teach using the NDI Method by participating in required and paid professional development:

• Three-day fall retreat
• Teaching Artist workshops held every other month during the school year
• All-staff equity trainings
• Complete a self-assessment and development goals with an NDI mentor

Minimal required administrative work:

• Maintain an NDI email account and communicate promptly and professionally
• Submit digital timesheets every other week, adhering to deadlines

Compensation

First-year NDI Teaching Artists are hired on a part-time basis at a rate of $50 per class. Classes typically run 45 to 50 minutes, and we schedule no fewer than three classes in succession at any partner school, meaning a single school day generates $150 or more in predictable, plannable income.

NDI commits to its teaching artists for the full school year. This is reliable, structured work, not short-term or project-to-project cycles that define most freelance teaching artist positions.

Additional compensation includes:

• Paid summer training: NDI Level One Intensive Training (July 27–August 7), $2,000 total (1st year of employment)
• Paid fall retreat: $150/day for three days ($450 total)
• Professional development paid at your teaching rate
• Yearly stipend for out-of-school time planning for each school assignment
• Additional compensation for evening performances and special projects
• Paid sick leave
• Eligibility for pay increases upon continuous employment

Professional Development

The NDI Method is a distinctive and acclaimed teaching methodology rooted in joyful, rigorous learning, teamwork, and the power of performance. Learning to teach in the NDI Method is a professional credential that opens doors across the dance education field.

If hired, your training begins immediately. The NDI Level One Intensive is two weeks of in-person training with real students present each morning. You will observe, teach, and receive coaching in real time as part of a cohort. It is rigorous and transformative. Throughout the school year, you will receive ongoing one-on-one mentorship and coaching from NDI master educators, participate in workshops every other month, and grow inside a community of teaching artists who hold each other to a high standard.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Ability to make a solid commitment to teaching during the school day, three to four days per week, for the duration of the school year (early October to mid-June)
• Reliability and punctuality
• Ability to travel within all of NYC's boroughs
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer (no visa sponsorship available)
• Successful completion of fingerprinting and a background check with the NYC Department of Education (paid for by NDI)

NDI is dedicated to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive workplace where people of diverse backgrounds can contribute and thrive. In order to fulfill our mission, NDI maintains a highly qualified workforce that represents the rich diversity of the children, families, and communities we serve. We are committed to removing barriers to opportunity and strongly encourage people from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups to apply.

NDI is an equal employment opportunity employer. Our policy is to select, place, train, and promote the best-qualified individuals based upon relevant factors such as work quality, attitude, and experience. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, familial status, military status, domestic violence status, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

What's Next?

1. May 27, 6-6:45 pm: Attend our optional virtual info session
2. June 1: Submit an application by this deadline
3. June 25, 5:30-6:45 pm: Select candidates will be invited to an in-person audition at NDI's Jacques d'Amboise Center for Learning & the Arts in Harlem, NY
4. Week of June 29: Select candidates will then be invited for an in-person interview

If selected:

• July 1–25: Complete fingerprinting, DOE background check, and hiring process
• July 27–August 7: NDI Level One Intensive Training, Monday–Friday, 9:30 am–4:30 pm in person at NDI ($2,000 total compensation)
• September 23–25: Annual Teaching Artist Retreat ($150/day, $450 total)
• October through June: Teach in NDI partner schools

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SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Compensation

First-year NDI Teaching Artists are hired on a part-time basis at a rate of $50 per class. Classes typically run 45 to 50 minutes, and we schedule no fewer than three classes in succession at any partner school, meaning a single school day generates $150 or more in predictable, plannable income.

NDI commits to its teaching artists for the full school year. This is reliable, structured work, not short-term or project-to-project cycles that define most freelance teaching artist positions.

Additional compensation includes:

• Paid summer training: NDI Level One Intensive Training (July 27–August 7), $2,000 total (1st year of employment)
• Paid fall retreat: $150/day for three days ($450 total)
• Professional development paid at your teaching rate
• Yearly stipend for out-of-school time planning for each school assignment
• Additional compensation for evening performances and special projects
• Paid sick leave
• Eligibility for pay increases upon continuous employment

Teaching artists who can teach in multiple languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, and American Sign Language, are strongly encouraged to apply.