Cincinnati, Ohio
Essex, MD
BOSTON, Massachusetts
East Lansing, Michigan
Duquesne University
Stony Brook, New York
Posted: 21-Mar-26
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Type: Full-time
Categories:
Internal Number: A-183513-1
General Description
Salary: $55,000-$80,000 depending on experience and teaching load
The Peabody Preparatory is pleased to announce an Associate Chair for Youth Dance position in the Dance Department at the Peabody Preparatory, a division of the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD commencing July 2026.
The Associate Chair's role is to support the daily operations, programming, and artistic initiative of the Dance Department. This role works closely with the Senior Department Chair and Academic Program Coordinator to serve students ages 2 to 18, including Early Childhood, Primary, Pre-Professional, and the Estelle Dennis/Peabody Dance Training Program for Boys. The position requires both administrative and teaching responsibilities.
The ideal candidate will have a background in dance education and strong experience in arts administration. They will be skilled at building relationships with families, dedicated to nurturing the goals of all dancers at all levels, and committed to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and safe learning environment for students of all abilities. They will be detail-oriented, responsive, consistent, reliable, and will thrive in a collaborative environment. The successful candidate will engage current best teaching practices, including developing and delivering meaningful and appropriate lesson plans, providing individual feedback and encouragement to all students, and building autonomy in the dancers to develop as artists. The successful candidate will willingly collaborate with the other teachers and the Department Chair to facilitate continued student progress and department wide performances and goals.
Duties:
Department Leadership & Operations
- Collaborate with department leadership to implement strategic priorities and uphold program quality.
- Partner with administration (business office and marketing) to support the program growth and sustainability.
- Initiate and facilitate outreach programs to serve the community.
- Foster the Preparatory's relationship with the Conservatory Dance Program.
- Participate in programming and curriculum development, documentation, and ongoing evaluation.
- Support daily department operations by meeting the demands of working across four campuses, working both in-person and remotely, as the situation requires.
Student, Family, and Faculty Engagement
- Serve as a primary point of contact for families, addressing questions related to curriculum, placements, and student progress.
- Guide prospective and current families through program offerings and the registration process.
- Coordinate and facilitate student placements, including individualized scheduling and follow-up with teaching faculty on recommended placements.
- Work with the Preparatory business office to complete registration.
- Foster a supportive, inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds and abilities.
- Work closely with faculty to support student development and program consistency.
- Help align classroom experiences with broader department goals and performance outcomes.
- Support department-wide initiatives and maintain strong communication across teams.
Performance & Artistic Programming
- Contribute to the artistic planning and execution of annual performances, including the Student Choreography Showcase, a site-specific winter performance, the Spring Showcase featuring concert length works, and the End-of-Year Ballet for over 150 students in the school.
- Choreograph and rehearse works for each show as needed.
- Communicate with guest artists and facilitate choreographic residencies for upper-level students.
- Develop, communicate, and implement detailed rehearsal and tech schedules.
- Organize production needs, including costuming, music, and program information.
- Track cast attendance and monitor student needs leading up to the performance.
- Provide support during events hosted by the department.
- Take students to community festivals and events as they align with the program's mission and goals.
Teaching
- Required to maintain a modest teaching load of Preparatory dance classes.
Required Skills:
- Passion, knowledge, and proven skills for helping dance students achieve their academic and professional goals.
- Ability to work with diverse student populations and foster an inclusive learning environment.
- Exceptional communication skills in person and virtually, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as needed.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to prioritize work effectively and within established deadlines and timeframes.
- Strong technological skills are essential, along with the ability to learn new software and systems as designated by the school.
- Excellent communication skills and a collaborative, responsive approach to problem-solving.
ABOUT US:
Established in 1894, the Peabody Preparatory boasts a rich history of nurturing artistic talent. With approximately 2,500 students passing through its doors every week, the school is Maryland's premier community school for music and dance.
The Peabody Preparatory welcomes students of all ages and levels of ability, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can discover and develop their musical potential. Offerings range from early childhood classes that spark a lifelong love of music and dance, to programs designed for adults and professional dancers and musicians seeking to hone their skills.
Located in downtown Baltimore and sharing space with the renowned Peabody Conservatory, the Preparatory also extends its reach through satellite campuses in the communities of Towson and Pikesville, Maryland.
The Preparatory's Dance Department, established in 1914, is one of the oldest-continuously operating dance training centers in the United States. Preparatory Dance has pioneered new dance forms throughout its remarkable life span, mounted numerous collaborative projects, partnered with prominent figures in 20th and 21st century American dance, and produced accomplished professional dancers, choreographers, directors, and teachers. Preparatory Dance is keeping in step with the progression of American Dance into the 21st century and remains committed to: offering high-quality dance training for students of all levels age 3 to adult; presenting imaginative professional-level performances; offering pre-professional ballet and modern dance summer intensives; partnering with our community through master classes, seminars, workshops, and other dance events - most offered free of charge; and training and supporting male dancers through the ground-breaking Estelle Dennis/Peabody Dance Training Program for Boys.
Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree in dance, choreography, or dance education is required. Master's degree preferred.
- Documented professional experience in dance performance and choreography is required.
- Documented successful teaching experience required. Success in teaching dance in a pre-professional program is preferred.
- Experience in arts administration, program coordination, or a similar leadership role.
- Experience choreographing for and preparing students for performances, including setting and acting as a rehearsal director for repertory pieces required.
- Experience directing performances preferred.
Application Instructions
Applications received before April 30, 2026 will be given preference, but the position remains open until filled.
Completed Applications should include:
- Cover Letter
- CV/Resume
- Statement of teaching philosophy
- Link to 5-10 minute teaching sample video
Salary Range
The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.
Total Rewards
Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.
Pre-Employment Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.
Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification.
EEO is the Law:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.
The following additional vaccine requirements may apply, depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more information. The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
