NORTHERN SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE
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JOB DESCRIPTION
POST:
VERVE Rehearsal Director
REPORTING TO:
VERVE Artistic Director
OTHER WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS:
Principal, Verve Technical Manager,
Theatre & Production Manager, Marketing Manager,
Development Assistant, Administrative & Finance Assistant,
Guest Choreographers and Teachers
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MAIN PURPOSE OF POST:
To assist the VERVE’s Artistic Director in rehearsing the School’s postgraduate company,
VERVE, ensuring the company creates and tours high quality contemporary dance
programmes and guide the artistic and professional development of the company members.
DUTIES:
1. Assist the VERVE’s Artistic Director to research, plan and schedule a programme of
appropriate and varied company classes and workshops over the year, working within
budgets and arranging contracts.
2. Assist the VERVE’s Artistic Director to plan and co-ordinate rehearsal and production
timetables and liaise with the Technical Manager and Technical Department on
management of the company, timetabling rehearsal periods, production and touring
schedules.
3. Work with the VERVE’s Artistic Director, Technical Manager, Marketing Manager and
Technical Department on developing and evaluating touring strategy.
4. Assist with audition planning, procedures and delivery for the postgraduate
performance company in collaboration with the VERVE’s Artistic Director and
contribute, as required, to the audition process across the School.
5. Work closely with and support guest choreographers during the rehearsal process and
ensure music composition, design and costume design are realised in a t imely fashion
for all concerned.
6. Assist the VERVE’s Artistic Director to lead and support the students in developing
their professional practice through all stages of the course, be responsible for ensurin g
optimum working conditions, engender a mutually supportive and respectful company
ethos and encourage independent learning.
7. Assist the VERVE’s Artistic Director in monitoring and supporting general welfare and
injury prevention, management and rehabilitation, in conjunction with the student
services and support functions.
8. Support outreach activities and support VERVE members to build skills, experience
and confidence in leading dance workshops and classes at community level.
9. Teach daily company class and creative workshops as necessary.
VERVE Rehearsal Director – Job Description May 2015
NORTHERN SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE
10. Ensure the provision of relevant teaching and support materials.
11. Participate fully in all formal assessment procedures (including the provision of written
profiles, assessments and reports on students’ progress) and deliver feedback to
students.
12. Act as personal tutor and keep the necessary documentation as per agreed
procedures.
13. Be responsible for VERVE achieving consistently high quality performances and
production values.
14. Inspire and encourage the performers to continue to invest in developing the work on
tour, managing the challenges of touring with increasing maturity, maintain ing and
increasing performance standards to the highest level.
15. Act as an ambassador for NSCD in the UK and internationally, representing VERVE at
key booking events, conferences and trade shows as necessary.
16. Ensure VERVE company members best represent the School through professional
conduct at all times.
17. Attend and contribute to staff and committee meetings as required and contribute to
the life of the School.
18. Keep abreast of developments and trends in the profession and to undertake staff
development where considered necessary.
19. Liaise and attend meetings, as requested, with colleagues in other affiliated institutions
of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD) to ensure that NSCD plays a full and
appropriate part in its development.
20. Provide regular oral updates to the VERVE’s Artistic Director, supplemented by written
show reports, detailing all relevant matters and issues encountered on tour. Circulate
the show reports on a timely basis to the relevant staff members.
21. Undertake staff development where considered necessary.
22. Follow the College Code of Practice in matters such as Health and Safety and Equal
Opportunities.
23. Support all agreed Quality Assurance Systems within the School.
24. Any other relevant duties as deemed appropriate by the VERVE’s Artistic Director.
VERVE Rehearsal Director – Job Description May 2015
NORTHERN SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE
Rehearsal Director
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Experience/Knowledge
Essential Criteria
Professional dance training at
conservatoire level.
Possession of relevant teaching
qualification or a willingness to
undertake a course of study
leading to an appropriate
qualification.
Experience of rehearsal direction
at professional level.
Professional rehearsal, production
and touring experience.
Skills required
Knowledge of current
choreographic and performance
developments within the
contemporary dance field,
nationally and internationally.
Ambition to aim for the highest
standards, and to work flexibly and
with dedication to assure they are
achieved.
Ability to teach Contemporary
Technique at an advanced
professional level.
Ability to mentor young dancers,
undertake assessment and give
feedback on progress and
achievement.
Ability to communicate and work
effectively with choreographers,
composers, designers and other
artists, and with venue
programmers and producers.
Personal requirements
Excellent organisational and
communication skills.
Willingness to work with the
Principal and Artistic Director and
other members of the creative
team, to support established and
developing artistic policy.
Ability to work effectively as a
member of a creative team within
an educational setting.
VERVE Rehearsal Director – Job Description May 2015
Desirable Criteria
Evidence of having undertaken
personal research and
development or possession of a
related undergraduate/postgraduate qualification.
Experience of teaching within a
conservatoire, an HE institution
or other relevant educational
environment.
Knowledge and understanding of
a professional training or
conservatoire environment.
Continuing involvement with
professional dance.
NORTHERN SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE
Terms and conditions
Full terms and conditions of employment will be supplied to the successful candidate, but in brief
these are:
Place of employment:
NSCD, 98 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4BH. Travel around the UK
and abroad will be a requirement due to the company touring
schedule.
Hours of work:
0.5 Full-time equivalent post [minimum of 18.5 hours per week]
There may be the potential for the contracted hours to increase if the
successful candidate was able to deliver into other courses offered
at the School
Remuneration:
£32,551 per annum
[£16,276 for 0.5 FTE - pro-rata for the term of the contract]
Contract:
Fixed-term from 01 September 2015 to 16 July 2016
Leave entitlement:
35 days, plus eight bank holidays and up to three discretionary days
between Christmas and New Year [pro-rata for the term of the
contract]
Period of notice:
Two months on either side
Pension:
A final salary pension scheme is available (Teachers’ Pension
Scheme).
.
Other benefits:
Relocation package of up to £1,000 (subject to conditions);
Staff training and development opportunities.
Free or reduced price tickets to many of CDD affiliate schools’
performances;
Ticket allowance for dance performances.
VERVE Rehearsal Director – Job Description May 2015