Youth Dance Instructor

Department: Parks & Recreation • Location: Northside Aztlan Center • Part-time hourly, non-exempt

Pay

$18.00 – $36.00 per hour, based on relevant experience.

About the role

The City of Fort Collins Recreation Department creates exceptional programs to serve an exceptional community. Our youth programs give children the chance to learn new skills, discover passions, stay active, and connect with peers and community members.

If you have a passion for dance and enjoy sharing it with others, this role lets you spend time with children, foster a positive and supportive learning environment, and inspire the next generation.

Schedule

Part-time, fluctuating hours year-round. Evening availability is required; morning and weekend availability is preferred. Program hours vary with the class schedule.

Responsibilities

• Maintain active supervision of children, ensuring safety and awareness of their whereabouts during all class times.
• Plan and prepare progressive, age-appropriate dance lessons; monitor participant progress to meet individual and group needs.
• Plan a yearly, end-of-season recital in collaboration with the dance team: choreograph pieces, select music and costumes, and coordinate dates, times, and locations with the program coordinator.
• Serve as a substitute for other dance teachers as needed or available.
• Use developmentally appropriate guidance strategies to redirect children and encourage participation and engagement.
• Conduct positive, respectful interactions with participants and families, including greetings, departures, and communication about skill progress or behavior supports.
• Manage classroom space: set up and clean up equipment and materials.
• Manage activity supply inventory and communicate purchasing requests to the Senior Supervisor.
• Communicate positively and respectfully with on-site recreation center staff and relay relevant information to the Senior Supervisor.
• Attend recreation staff meetings and required trainings as scheduled.

Requirements

• Minimum age: 18.
• At least two years of previous experience teaching dance to children ages 2–13.
• At least one year of previous educational or learning experience in dance (formal college coursework, independent certification, previous work experience, or similar).
• CPR and First Aid Certification must be acquired within 60 days of hire; maintain any certifications required for specialized instruction.
• Effective communication with children, families, co-workers, supervisors, and the public.
• Ability to give developmentally appropriate, verbal guidance to children ages 2–13.
• Ability to solve practical problems, interpret instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form, and proactively ensure program quality, customer service, and participant safety.

Physical demands

• Regularly sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, talk, and hear.
• Frequently crawl, kneel, jump, run, stoop, crouch, and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs from the ground.
• Capability to lead children in extended periods of exercise and movement and actively participate in scheduled activities alongside children in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Work environment

• May be exposed to various weather conditions (rain, snow, wind, hail, heat), allergy-causing conditions (cottonwood, dust, animals), and a variety of childhood illnesses.
• Noise level can reach high extremes at times.
• Must work effectively in environments with children exhibiting a variety of emotional states and possess a high tolerance for characteristic behaviors of children in indoor and outdoor recreation settings.
• Must be flexible with the demands and interests of children and able to work effectively in high-energy, chaotic, or disruptive situations.