4450 Senior Seminar
Job Application Assignment
Due November 30, 2005

Apply for one of the following hypothetical student assistantship job postings, or alternatively, write your own job description for which to apply:

Graduate and Undergraduate Assistantships in Dance, 2006-07
Adams College, Department of Dance
Red Rock, Colorado 12345-6789

Students, who have completed at least two years of study in dance at the college level, may apply for the assistantships described below. The department will provide assistants with specific training on equipment as needed. Each assistantship will require approximately 15 hours per week throughout the academic year, from August 28, 2006, through April 25, 2007. The stipend is $3,000 (undergraduates) or $4,000 per semester (graduates) and is paid in bi-weekly installments. Continuation of the assistantship for the Winter semester is contingent upon the quality of work done in the Fall Semester. Notification of continuance will be made by November 30, 2006.

Basic requirements for all assistantship applicants:

• A minimum overall GPA of 2.5/4.0
• Professional commitment as demonstrated in such areas as: Service to the department, the arts or other organizations (please note whether or not the service was on a volunteer or paid basis); Rehearsal attendance leading to performance (please note if performed in a formal public setting, or an informal setting); Quality and timeliness of course papers and projects; Special honors, awards or citations based on a solid work ethic.
• Personal and professional characteristics, such as: Good communication skills, both verbal and written; Good interpersonal skills; Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with peers and teachers/supervisors; Ability to follow directions; Leadership skills; Ability to organize schedules for self/others and to meet deadlines.

Additional skills for each position are provided in the attached position descriptions.

Please submit the following to the appropriate supervisor (given below) no later than Nov. 30, 2005:
A letter of application which includes:

• The specific assistantship for which you are applying;
• your qualifications for the specific position, including basic requirements, job responsibilities,
  and required skills;
• the names of two references, (including the capacity in which each is familiar with your work).
• Your resume, biography and artistic statement must accompany your application letter. Other attachments are optional.

PUBLICITY ASSISTANT. Responsibilities include: writing press releases, public service announcements and calendar listings for all special activities of the department; coordinating the preparation, graphic design and printing of all posters, flyers, postcards and programs for all concerts. This position will be supervised by Judith Nelson, Promotion Coordinator for the department. Special skills: Excellent writing and editing skills; efficiency at word-processing; familiarity with various fonts and typeface; good eye for layout spacing and proportions.

MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT. Responsibilities include: handling ticket copy, ticket printing and box office sales (including preparing accounting forms, cash box and deposits) for all performances; training/supervising the house manager and ushers for all department performances; preparing registration forms and organizing registration for high school dance day, auditions (November, February, April), and master classes by guest-artists. This position is supervised by Kris Tarkanyi, Ticket Office Manager. Special skills: Excellent organizational skills and ability to anticipate problems; ability to handle last-minute emergencies in a calm but decisive manner; good writing and editing skills.

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT. Responsibilities include: Planning, organization and execution of fund-raising activities for the department (including alumni contributions; government, corporate and foundation grants; private donors; and special events). This position will be supervised by Elisabeth Hetherington, Department Chair. Special skills: Excellent interpersonal skills; excellent writing skills; excellent verbal communication skills; excellent mathematical skills; commitment to the department and its programs, and ability to express this belief to potential donors; good organizational skills; good understanding of budget; ability to direct other students in aspects of fund-raising activities.

LIGHTING/PROPS ASSISTANT. Responsibilities include: Drafting the light plot and related paperwork list for all concerts in a multi-purpose dance studio/theatre with limited lighting equipment; supervising set-up and strike (including flooring, lights and sound) for all concerts in the dance studio/theatre; assisting in set-up and strike for concerts in a flexible-seating, arena-style theatre and/or a traditional proscenium theatre; maintaining color media and gobo inventory; supervising students who have been recently introduced to the operation of a computer light board; assisting choreographers with locating props; depending upon experience, possibly designing lights for studio concerts for an additional stipend. This position will be supervised by Sean Murphy, Technical Director. Special skills: Excellent organizational skills; excellent detailed, cross-referencing skills; good drafting skills (neatness a must); familiarity with basic lighting equipment; ability to direct others in an efficient manner; general facility with electrical/mechanical equipment (quick study when being trained on unfamiliar equipment). Preference will be given to applicants who have experience in one or more of the following: lighting design, light board operation, stage managing.

GENERAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANT (AUDIO/VIDEO/TOURING): Responsibilities include: regular cleaning of all audio equipment in dance studios and recording studio; dubbing audio and video tapes for faculty and students for class and concert projects; maintaining inventories of audio/video equipment, supplies and recorded tapes; organizing all equipment and ensemble-member responsibilities for tours by performing ensembles, such as University Repertory Dance Theatre, or other student/faculty tours; accompanying all tours by department ensembles as technical assistant; flexible schedule in order to tour on alternate Friday mornings. This position will be supervised by Douglas Baxter, Assistant Technical Director. Special skills: Familiarity with audio/video equipment with facility as a quick learner (will be trained on specific department equipment); ability to direct others in an efficient manner.

REHEARSAL ASSISTANT. Responsibilities include: Maintaining repertory for touring ensemble (e.g., University Repertory Dance Theatre) and for Guest-Artist work. Must be able to: attend all rehearsals (generally three evenings per week, plus some weekends); to operate audio and video playback equipment, as well as video recording, for rehearsals; to tour with company on 5-7 Fridays per semester. This position will be supervised by Luretta McCray, URDT Director. Special skills: Excellent eye for movement detail, including rhythmic skill, dynamic nuance and body line; experience as a choreographer and/or rehearsal director for ensemble works; good organizational skills for determining rehearsal needs and limitations of student performer schedules; ability to direct others in an effective manner.

COSTUME ASSISTANT. Responsibilities include: Making costumes for individual student, faculty and guest-artist choreographers within established budget; organizing dressing rooms and costumes for all department performances; serve as wardrobe director during performances and/or train other students to do so; cleaning, storage and maintenance of costume inventory; maintaining sewing kit and supplies for all concerts and tours. This position will be supervised by Karen Flanagan, Costume Designer. Special skills: Ability to cut and sew basic leotards/unitards and skirts, pants, dresses, shirts which provide full movement capabilities as needed for dance; good communication skills to work with choreographers in designing costumes which meet their needs; familiarity with weight, movement flow, durability, cost and cleaning requirements of fabrics; good organizational skills. Preference will be given to applicants who also have experience in costume design.

TECHNIQUE TEACHING ASSISTANT (GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY). Responsibilities include: Planning and teaching courses for general (non-major) students in modern, ballet, jazz and/or tap according to basic syllabus established by Adams College; evaluating students according to Adams standard policies. This position will be supervised by Lulu Gamble, Director of the Graduate Program in Dance. Special skills: Ability to demonstrate proper technique with precision; ability to analyze movement and communicate proper execution from a good anatomical and kinesiological perspective; ability to evaluate students based on technical execution; excellent interpersonal and communication skills to make a dance technique course interesting and motivating for non-major students.