Jobs

Director of Dance

Lawrence Academy (LA) is a boarding and day school in Groton, MA, serving 400 students in grades 9-12. LA enjoys its heritage as one of the oldest independent schools in the country while embracing a contemporary student-centered approach that supports its mission. In LA’s tightly knit environment, students are supported and encouraged to exercise their minds, discover their voices, learn creatively, and take their own initiative. The academic program is uniquely hands-on and allows students to discover how their education can be applied in daily life.

LA has a full-time opening for an experienced, inspirational, and innovative Director of Dance starting in August 2025. Lawrence Academy is seeking a passionate dance professional with substantial teaching and choreographic experience – the ability to work with a wide range of dancers from novice to pre-professional is a must. A signature part of Lawrence Academy’s arts program is a commitment to the artmaking process with students and the development of material that is responsive to the world around us. A focus on cultural competence, equity, and inclusion expectations below, described for all positions at Lawrence Academy, will have particular application in dance and performance.

Teaching responsibilities for the position will focus on the building of skills (dance technique) and just as importantly, the harnessing of the young artist’s expressive voice, and with many LA students, the development and practice of performing skills. Lawrence Academy has a long history of producing an evening of original work for an end-of-term performance for each trimester. Course responsibilities range from a year-long Honors Dance (by teacher invitation only) to more beginning level classes such as Intro to Dance, and Choreography I, to Artistic Expression, our 9th grade collaborative arts program. Additional critical responsibilities include leading LA Dance “Varsity”, the afternoon commitment that is offered all three trimesters, and which is a central component of each trimester’s culminating Dance concert.

Candidates must have experience with and enthusiasm for working with adolescents both inside and outside of the classroom, in addition to bringing an active interest in collaborative work with colleagues both within and beyond the art department. Candidates should embrace a growth mindset in everything they do and be willing to support each student’s creative journey.

In addition to teaching responsibilities, candidates must be willing to engage in all aspects of boarding school life from curricular, co-curricular (primarily athletics), and extracurricular programs at the school. Campus housing is available for faculty positions. Interested candidates should expect to live in a dormitory, but on-campus (non-dorm) or off-campus housing might be an available alternative. All members of the faculty are part of our residential program and have regular weeknight duty and some weekend duties.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree and expertise in subject matter.
• 5+ years teaching dance and choreography or other related professional experience or graduate degree.
• Enthusiasm and desire to work with high school age students.
• Successfully complete required background checks (criminal, sexual offender and driving records and fingerprinting).

To apply for this position, please send your cover letter, résumé, and reference list in a single PDF document to Libby Margraf, at jobs@lacademy.edu. The email subject line should be “Director of Dance.” No phone calls please.

Cultural competence is an essential element of teaching and learning at Lawrence Academy. We are therefore seeking individuals who are committed to actively participating in professional development and engaging in our cultural competency programs that are structured to move our community forward equitably and inclusively. We encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply. The Academy does not discriminate and does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran or Uniformed Service status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

For more information on Lawrence Academy go to www.lacademy.edu.