Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is hiring: Hip Hop Teaching Artist in N

Overview

Position Title: Teaching Artist - Hip Hop Dance

Reports To: Artistic Director

Department: Arts

Part-time / Non-Exempt

September 2025

About the Organization

Casita Maria is a youth, family and community serving organization in the Hunts Point/Longwood section of the South Bronx. We were established in East Harlem in 1934 by Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan and Sister Mary Imelda who observed waves of Spanish-speaking people pouring in from Puerto Rico and in desperate need of services. While settlement houses were in place to address the needs of the poor, this population was made up of predominantly European immigrants. Seeing the disparity and isolation that Latinos were confronting, Claire, Elizabeth, and Sister Mary provided essential nutrition, housing, childcare, and educational support. What they could not know at the time is that they were championing social justice for what would become one of America’s most historically marginalized groups.

Casita Maria’s mission is to enrich and elevate youth, families, and communities through arts, culture, and education.

About the Position

Reporting to the Artistic Director, the Hip Hop Teaching Artist will be responsible for following a Creative Youth Development framework informed by Expressive Arts and Social Emotional Learning to prepare Young Artists for high quality culminating events. This is a direct service position requiring strong teaching and group facilitation skills fueled by a passion for arts, culture and community. The Teaching Artist will be supported by a team of professionals including the Artistic Director, Teaching and Therapeutic Artist Coordinator, Group Facilitators, Education Coordinators plus the Executive Director and Director of Education and Programs.

The Teaching Artist will promote the values such as commitment, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creative innovation, confidence and celebration while preparing participants for culminating events, such as the: Winter Spectacular and the South Bronx Culture Festival.

Discipline: Dance - Hip Hop (6th-8th grades)

The Teaching Artist will teach the Hip Hop Dance Arts Club for 6th-8th grade participants at the beginner/intermediate level. All young artists will learn the history, cultural relevance, and fundamentals of Hip Hop dance. The Teaching Artist will attend rehearsals and events: Winter Spectacular and South Bronx Culture Festival.

Overall Responsibilities

• Teach young artists about and celebrate the history, cultures and communities of the South Bronx through the Arts while honoring Casita Maria’s 90 years of service to the community.
• Develop culturally relevant and tiered Syllabi, reflecting on Casita Maria’s identity and organized in 4-12 week modules. (The syllabi will build on artistic and life skills throughout the year to prepare young artists for high quality culminating events, auditions, higher education, and if inspired, a career in the arts).
• Create and implement CYD Lesson Plans combining structured activities that teach technique through tiered skill building based on age and opportunities where young artists can play and explore through an expressive arts model.
• Submit lesson plans no less than one week in advance.
• Collaborate with the Artistic Director, Teaching and Therapeutic Artist Coordinator when creating lesson plans and syllabi.
• Maintain a structured classroom environment focused on active participation that is conducive to learning while being flexible to respond to the needs of the young artists each session.
• Maintain clear safety protocols as per the design of the program.
• Set up and break down the assigned Studio each session, take attendance and pick up and drop off youth at assigned location.
• Attend professional development trainings and required meetings as necessary plus participate in all rehearsals and culminating events as assigned.
• Handle all administrative aspects of the program as outlined by the Arts Department.

Qualifications/Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Dance or a related field with a strong track record of 3-5 years of teaching young artists K-12 in an urban after-school environment.
• Experience creating culturally relevant syllabi and lesson plans.
• Expertise in presenting culturally relevant and engaging visual and performing arts events in a community-based setting.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Must be outgoing and love working with Middle School youth, with a strong interest in being a role model.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a sense of humor, integrity, and professionalism.
• Strong teaching and group facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with young artists in 6-8th grades.
• Experienced at guiding young artists to full-scale culminating events.
• Strong communication and classroom management skills are must-haves.
• Loves working with children and has a firm understanding of youth development.
• Passionate about the arts.
• Eager to work in a fast-paced arts and education environment with an energetic, positive and passionate team.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Must be organized, flexible and adaptable while teaching and during events. Must be able to make decisions and problem solve in the moment while maintaining composure plus provide follow up as needed.
• Integrity and professional discretion.
• Spanish language/writing skills are a plus but not mandatory.

Work Hours, Physical Requirements, and Working Conditions

• The TA will work during the after-school programming hours of 3PM to 6PM in an office, school, and community center environment. Summer Day Camp hours are more flexible. The number of days will range between 1-3 days a week at certain times during the year. An annual calendar will be provided.
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 30 pounds.
• Will be required to move and set up furniture/supplies/equipment in a room.
• Will require walking, lifting, stooping, and bending.
• Works in an office environment.
• Frequently speaks, reads, writes and uses a computer keyboard.

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation range is $45 per hour with a secondary meeting rate of $30. Casita Maria offers its part-time employees participation in the following benefits; Health and Dependent Care Savings Account; Commuter Benefits; safe and sick leave; and 8 paid holidays if eligible.

This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned.