Dance/NYC Junior Committee

Dance/NYC invites eligible New York City metropolitan-based dance workers between the ages of 21-30 to submit applications to become members of the Dance/NYC Junior Committee for the 2021 term. The committee was created as a counterpart to Dance/NYC’s Advisory Board to advocate specifically for early-career professionals in dance and to serve as a liaison between Dance/NYC and its emerging constituents. It has evolved into a professional development and networking program that serves dance workers across functions in dance ages 21-30 working in the New York City metropolitan area.

The Junior Committee executes its programming during the fiscal year, January to December annually. It values conversation and community and recognizes that “building a net that works” (People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond) is essential to the dismantling of systems of oppression in the dance field and beyond. The first half of the JComm year is focused on strengthening the internal network. This work takes shape in various formats, and can include peer mentorship, participation in trainings, hosting internal conversations around critical field-wide issues, exploring and imagining solutions, and creating space to spend time together in community.

The committee brings those skills and conversations to the wider dance community by offering spaces for the JComm community to develop further through public-facing events which may include a session at Dance/NYC’s annual Symposium and a Town Hall event over the second half of the JComm year. Though the community-building work is ongoing throughout the year, participating in the planning of public-facing events is an optional opportunity for members. Dance/NYC seeks a Junior Committee that represents a diversity of roles and perspectives in dance and that reflects the demographic makeup of the New York metropolitan area which is majority African, Latina/o/x, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA), is majority female, and includes trans/gender nonconforming/non-binary, disabled, and immigrant artists.

Membership Components and Expectations

This is an ad hoc committee and program of Dance/NYC. The Junior Committee has no oversight function with regard to Dance/NYC; Junior Committee members have the ability to contribute to Dance/NYC’s programs and provide recommendations only. As this is a volunteer committee and professional development program, members have the ability to step down with prior notice to the Dance/NYC Junior Committee Co-Chairs.

The members are expected to:

• Attend two (2) meetings per month in 2022 starting on January 18th. Meetings take place on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 6:30–8:00 p.m. and all meetings will take place via Zoom; approximate yearly commitment of 36 hours. (Due to the presence of COVID-19, all Dance/NYC events, including Junior Committee meetings are taking place via Zoom for the foreseeable future. When in-person gatherings resume, the Junior Committee will return to a schedule of alternating in-person and virtual meetings.)
• Participate in justice, equity and inclusion trainings, including but not limited to an Anti-Racism/Community Organizing Training, a Bystander Intervention Training, a Beyond Accessibility Training, a Sanctuary Space Protocol Training, and potential others; approximate yearly commitment of 18 hours.
• Attend and/or volunteer at as many Dance/NYC events as they are interested in/able to attend and act as positive representatives of Dance/NYC in their wider roles in the community (strongly encouraged); recommended 4-12 hours.

Requirements

Applicants are eligible to apply if they:

• Are between the ages of 21-30 years old;
• Are dance workers, as defined by the following: dancer, dance performer, choreographer, dance photographer, dance videographer, dance teaching artist, dance writer/critic, dramaturg, dance scholar, arts administrator and/or related artistic and technical personnel such as: technicians (lighting, stage management, production, etc.), dance musicians/accompanists, independent presenters, producers, agents and/or managers, dance theatre personnel (ushers, in-house vendors, etc.);
• Are based in the New York City Metropolitan area (including the five boroughs of New York City, including: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island; upstate New York; Connecticut; New Jersey; etc. Due to COVID-19 changes, applicants may be currently residing from any location as we will be meeting virtually. We ask that the candidate have a connection and commitment to New York City dance.
• Show a clear commitment to equity in terms of race, gender and sexuality, disability, and class issues;
• Have lived and learned experience in issues of justice, equity, and inclusion, especially matters related to race, disability, and/or immigration (Dance.NYC/equity/values);
• Are invested in leading change in their own communities;
• Represent the demographic makeup of the local population. Dance/NYC seeks a Junior Committee that is majority African, Latina/o/x, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA), is majority female, and includes trans/gender nonconforming/non-binary, disabled, and immigrant artists; and
• Have the capacity to meet expectations outlined above.

Applicants are not eligible to apply if they:

• Do not identify as an any of the roles listed above;
• Are based (reside) outside of the five boroughs of New York City; and/or
• Are undergraduate students during their year on the Committee;
• Will turn 31 during their year of service;
• Are unable to commit to the membership expectations listed above.

Application Instructions

Dance/NYC is using an online application portal dancenyc.submittable.com. Before completing the application form, interested applicants are asked to first complete a series of questions to determine baseline eligibility. If eligible, applicants will be prompted to complete the application.

Complete applications must be submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on December 10, 2021. Incomplete applications, hard copy submissions, and applications received after the December 10th deadline will not be considered.