www.theplace.org.uk
The Place, the UK’s premier centre for contemporary
dance, is where dance is going next
For over forty years The Place has been a driving force for
contemporary dance in England and Europe, and it remains one of the
world's key resources for dance development. We are a home for dancers
and dance-makers, nurturing artists from the earliest stage to mature
world-class talent.
The Place’s work is divided into four strands of activity:
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London Contemporary Dance School: a world-leading dance
conservatoire training around 180 students at undergraduate and
postgraduate levels
Richard Alston Dance Company: an internationally renowned
touring company led by Richard Aston
Recreational and Prevocational Dance: providing opportunities
for people of all ages and abilities to participate in dance, and
progression opportunities to realise talent
Theatre and Artist Development: presenting 150 performances each
year from UK and international artists in the Robin Howard Dance
Theatre, and providing extensive professional development support
for dance artists
Our mix of activities creates an ecosystem for contemporary dance
unlike any in the world, whilst the strong interdependence of our
different strands of activity, co-existing within a single
organisation, yields huge added value, both artistically and
financially. The Place’s holistic, 360-degree range of activity
creates a fertile artistic environment in which great dance can be
developed and experienced by everyone.
The Place has a vital role to play in dance development in the UK. It
is uniquely placed to enhance the sector’s ability to support
independent dance artists. We provide the space and conditions they
need to take the creative risks that keep the art form alive, and help
them attain greater profile and integration within the UK and European
dance communities.
The Place’s plans for the future build upon our history of
achievement, underpinned by our flexible business model that draws on
a range of public and private funding sources and self-generated
income, enabling us to continually adapt our activity to meet the
changing needs of the dance sector at all levels.
The Place currently employs 100 full and part-time staff – dancers,
teachers, producers and administrators – and works with nearly 300
casual staff. Our annual turnover is in excess of £6.5million, with
approximately two-thirds of our income from statutory funding, and
one-third earned and fundraised income. The Place’s building, which
incorporates 11 dance studios together with our theatre, is fully
accessible to disabled people, and The Place has a firm commitment to
equality and diversity for staff, students, artists and users of our
building and services.
We are committed to developing new and enhanced ways of engaging
participants and audiences whilst continuing to focus strongly on
building a sustainable future for dance as the UK’s leading supporter
of dance artists. Through all of our work we will continue to
transform and enrich lives through dance and to shape where dance is
going next.
London Contemporary Dance School
London Contemporary Dance School puts the future of contemporary dance
in its student’s hands.
A world-leading dance conservatoire that has been training exceptional
dance artists for over 40 years, London Contemporary Dance School
nurtures students to develop as creative, responsive dance artists.
The programmes of the School are among the most intensive and
practically-based anywhere in the world and students benefit from
working alongside some of the best international dance artists, within
the unique environment of The Place.
Students gain immediate access to the School’s faculty of leading
practitioners and thinkers in dance education and artistic practice.
“It is challenging, but in a very positive way. It's really
supportive, and everyone is always striving to do better. This has
changed my mentality, and given me a much more positive way of
thinking.”
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- Joseph Toonga, 2013 BA graduate
London Contemporary Dance School is part of The Place, and a founding
affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. The School's
degree programmes are validated by the University of Kent.
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London Contemporary Dance School
Costume Assistant (Trainee)
Fixed term contract Academic Year 15/16
Role of the Costume Assistant
The role of the Costume Assistant is to support the day to day running
of the costume room team including aiding students and staff to select
costumes from the costume store for a range of activities.
The Costume Assistant will assist in the construction and maintenance
of costumes for Edge, the Postgraduate Performance Company.
The Costume Assistant will report to The Head of Costume, Senior
Lecturer in Design.
Responsibilities of the Costume Assistant
1) Costume Room Operations
 Assist in the general maintenance and running of the day to day
operations in the department
 Help maintain and catalogue the costume store stock, including
carrying out any repair work as necessary
 Assist with costume requirements for workshops, LC3 and other
internal projects and performances as required
 Assist on the creation and maintenance of costumes for the
graduation performances
2) Costume Loans
 Carry out costume loans with guidance from the costume team.
 To assist with fittings, alterations and adaptations to existing
costumes where required
3) EDge, The Postgraduate Performance Company
 To support the costume team during the production period
regarding new and existing costumes as required
 To assist with sourcing and shopping for fabrics, trimming,
clothing and accessories
 To assist with pattern cutting
 To assist in the cutting and construction of costumes
 To assist with costume fittings and carrying out corrections /
alterations
 To maintain the costumes during the touring period
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To assist in packing the costumes and accessories before leaving
and check on their return
To assist with the archive and catalogue of costumes and
construction information per production.
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4) General
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To be involved in a programme of continuous professional
development
To demonstrate a commitment to the exploration of emerging ideas
as they affect the training of professional dancers
To maintain an active dialogue with the support services in the
interest to the student
To support the Mission Statement of LCDS as part of the wider
artistic and creative objectives of The Place.
Attend Place, LCDS and CDD Staff Conferences
Keep abreast of development in dance and attend performances as
necessary (tickets will be reimbursed)
Any other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time
by the Director
Person Specification
Essential
At least six months experience
of working in a production
costume department
Some experience in flat
pattern cutting
Experience of machine and hand
sewing skills including safe
practice
Relevant degree level
qualification
Ability to problem solve, work
flexibly, and multi task even
under pressure
Ability to work in a team
Good communication skills
Ability to relate to students
Commitment to staff
development
Appreciative of The Place’s
artistic and educational
objectives
Desirable
Interest in dance, fashion and
historical costume
Knowledge of modelling /
draping
Interest in fabric dyeing
Appropriate trade
qualification
The ability to work
independently and with
initiative
Interest in contemporary dance
May 2015
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Salary
The salary will be £19,697 per annum.
Salaries are normally reviewed in April of each year for inflationary
increases. No increases are applied until six months service has been
completed and the probationary period successfully completed
Contract Details
This is a full time, fixed term contract from 1st September 2015 – 31st
July 2016.
Hours of Work
The Place has a 40 hour working week consisting of five days of eight
hours including a one hour lunch break. Hours of work will be agreed
with your line manager.
Holiday
Five weeks paid holiday is offered each year (of which one week may be
on dates determined by the Director of the School) plus public
holidays and bank holidays. Annual leave is not normally taken in
term time.
Benefits
Benefits include access to Stakeholder pension scheme, interest-free
season ticket loan (after three months), theatre ticket allowance,
free access (subject to availability) to The Place evening classes and
subsidised café and bar prices. We also operate a salary sacrifice
scheme for the purchase of bicycles and childcare vouchers. We also
run a subsidised weekly lunchtime yoga class and a staff choir.
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How to Apply
Completed applications (comprising of completed application form and
monitoring forms) (no CV’s) should be returned by: 12 noon, 10th July
Laura Naldrett
HR and Administration Manager
Email: jobs@theplace.org.uk
The Place
17 Duke’s Road
London
WC1H 9PY
The Place is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes
applications from all sections of the community. Monitoring
information is collected and processed separately to applications, if
you do not wish to disclose this information please return a blank
monitoring form.
The Place is an equal opportunities employer and we are keen to ensure
everyone applying for employment has an equal experience when
attending an interview. Should you have any queries about, or wish to
make us aware of, any support required to attend an interview or to
work at The Place or would like this pack in alternative format please
contact Laura Naldrett, HR and Administration Manager who will be
happy to discuss this with you in confidence on 020 7121 1002 or
email: laura.naldrett@theplace.org.uk
Interviews will be held at The Place in w/c 20th July 2015
We apologise that we are unable to respond to every application
individually. If you have not heard from us within one month of the
closing date please assume that your application has been
unsuccessful.
Thank you for your interest in The Place.
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July 2015
Date as download
Dear Candidate
Re: Application for post as advertised on the website
In accordance with our Equal Opportunities Policy I attach a form for
you to complete and return to help us in monitoring our recruitment.
Please would you complete and return the monitoring form along with
the job application form, and return this to me by email, by the
required closing date.
Email: jobs@theplace.org.uk
Yours faithfully,
Laura Naldrett
HR and Administration Manager
Please return this section indicating where you saw this position
advertised.
Position: Costume Assistant (Trainnee) Advertisement:
_______________________
Website (name): _______________________
_______________________
Other:
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Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
The Place is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity in its employment and
personnel practices. It aims to ensure that every employee or job applicant receives
equitable treatment on the grounds of his/her gender, marital status, sexual orientation,
race, religion, ethnic or national origins and nationality (including citizenship), age,
disability, HIV or AIDS status and trade union membership.
The Place wishes to monitor the effectiveness of this policy and to prevent any job
applicant being disqualified by conditions and requirements which cannot be shown to be
justified.
It is therefore important that you provide the following information by
ticking the appropriate boxes. This information will remain confidential to the HR
manager and will not be disclosed to those who are shortlisting and appointing to the
vacant position.
Surname/Family Name
………………………………………………………………
First Name(s)
………………………………………………………………
Post applied for
………………………………………………………………
Gender
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Male
Ethnic origin (if other, please
specify)
A
White
 English
 Scottish
 Welsh
 Northern Irish
 Irish
Other White origin ……………………………
Female
D Asian, Asian British, Asian
English,
Asian Scottish, Asian Welsh or
Asian Northern Irish
 Indian
 Pakistani
 Bangladeshi
 Other Asian origin
……………………………….…
B
Mixed
White
White
White
Other
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


and Black Caribbean
and Black African
and Asian
mixed origin
E Chinese, Chinese British, Chinese
English,
Chinese Scottish, Chinese Welsh or
Chinese Northern Irish
 Chinese
 Other origin ……………………………………………….
….………………..
C



Black, Black British, Black
English, Black Scottish, Black
Welsh or Black Northern Irish
Caribbean
African
Other Black origin
F
Other ethnic group (please
specify)

.………………………………………………………………………............
…..…………………..
Age
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16-25
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26-35
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36-45
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46-55
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56+
Do you consider yourself to have a disability?
 Yes
 No
Your answer should take into account the definition of