Call for Board Members

DanceWorks is a community-focused, artist-centered choreographic presentation platform based in Tkaronto, what is colonially known as Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1977, and led by Founding Dance Curator Mimi Beck until 2023, the organization is now stewarded by Co-Executive Artistic Producers, Dedra McDermott and David Norsworthy, with General Manager, Neetika Sharma. At DanceWorks, we curate vigorous and intentional choreographic performances that weave skillful physicality with a dedication to artistic practice and research; foregrounding a diversity of thought and expression.

Role of The Board of Directors

DanceWorks’ Board of Directors (BOD) is in a moment of transition. The BOD is comprised of a group of individuals who are passionate about the expansive practice of performance and are dedicated to the development, expansion and sustainability of DanceWorks. The Board is an advocate and ambassador of DanceWorks and the craft of choreographic performance in the public sphere. As we continue to navigate our recent leadership transition, we are invested in taking steps toward critically reconfiguring our organization to support DW’s new leadership model.

Expectations

As a board member, you will contribute to the strategic development of our organization in alignment with the artistic direction and values; ensuring the potent and sustainable development of DanceWorks through ethical, community-focused, and artist-centered governance practices. Board members will be active and present during the season programming of DanceWorks in order to understand and contribute to the impact and value of the organization in the artistic and civic community. Additionally, we are working towards bolstering our fundraising and development models to further solidify our ability to be a vital source of artistic support, innovation and play.

The Board meets monthly from September – June, inclusive of our annual general meeting, sub-committee responsibilities and our End of Year gathering. The incoming Board member can expect a time commitment of 2-5 hours per month and a minimum term commitment of two (2) years. All Board members are expected to cultivate resources that help sustain the function of the organization. Additionally, Board members are expected to participate in DanceWorks’ fundraising events and campaigns, and attend DanceWorks performances.

We aim to host Board meetings during the second week of each month from 6-7:30 pm EDT. These meetings mostly take place over a digital platform. An example schedule is as follows:

January 15 - Annual General Meeting

February 1 - Committee Meeting(s)

March 15 - Board of Directors

April 1 - Committee Meeting (s)

May 15 - Board of Directors

June 1 - Committee Meeting (s)

September 15 - Board of Directors

October 1 - Committee Meeting (s)

November 15 - Board of Directors

December 1 - End of Year Gathering

Contingency Planning: If the listed date falls on a weekend or holiday, we will reschedule the meeting for the following Wednesday.

Recruitment

At this time, we are emphatically recruiting new members who can fill roles such as Director(s), Treasurer and Chair who offer the following skills and/or values:

• Financial Accounting

• Human Resources and Organizational Infrastructure Support

• Strategic Planning and Development

• Government Grant Experience

• Sponsorship and Donor Relations

• Respect and Enthusiasm towards Dance and Movement Artists

• Knowledge of the Arts Community in Toronto and Beyond

Note: We are seeking artistic representation on our Board of Directors. If you are interested in joining us, please note that due to the conflict of interest, DanceWorks does not program or provide organizational resources to sitting Board members.

Submission Process

If you are interested in joining us, please send the following materials to the Nominations Committee via Secretary, Board of Directors, Belinda Ngai at belinda.ngai[at]gmail.com by March 15, 2024 at 11:59pm (extended deadline). Please copy dedra[at]danceworks.ca, david[at]danceworks.ca, and neetika[at]danceworks.ca on all correspondence regarding this submission.

• A short statement of interest that describes your relevant experience and why you would like to join our Board. (Maximum 250 words)

• Please indicate if you are interested in a specific role (such as Treasurer or Chair) and what skills you possess that would be useful in this role.

• Resume/CV

DanceWorks is dedicated to fostering an equitable workplace and empowering underrepresented groups by promoting their visibility. Equitable selection is at the core of our values. We proactively seek diverse talent pools and employ fair and inclusive hiring practices. We are committed to providing fair opportunities to all applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, abilities, or socio-economic background.