Executive Director 

Dorrance Dance | New York City, NY | $100,000 - $130,000/year | Full-Time | Hybrid/Remote 

Application Deadline: January 31, 2025 

Dorrance Dance seeks a visionary Executive Director to drive its next chapter as a preeminent hub for the artistry and advancement of tap dance. This dynamic leader will bring strategic insight, collaborative energy, and operational excellence to advance Dorrance Dance’s new mission, expand its impact, and strengthen its role as a leading advocate for the tap dance community.

We Are Dorrance Dance

Dorrance Dance is an award-winning tap dance company based in New York City, founded in 2011 by Artistic Director and 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance. Over the past 13 years, the organization has established itself as a trailblazer in bringing tap dance to concert stages worldwide. Rooted in the legacy of tap as a Black American art form, Dorrance Dance creates new work, and produces performances, tours, and educational programs that celebrate its history while pushing the boundaries of what tap can achieve as both music and movement.

In its first decade, Dorrance Dance was primarily a vehicle for the choreographic and creative work of Michelle Dorrance, performing acclaimed new works that have been praised for their innovative approach and emotional resonance. In recent years, Dorrance Dance has begun to evolve beyond this founding model, charting a path to become a broader platform that empowers and uplifts other artists in the tap and street dance communities. 

With an annual operating budget in excess of $1M, Dorrance Dance is the only professional nonprofit dance company in New York City dedicated to serving the field of tap dance creation and performance. The Company provides robust and consistent employment for artists in concert dance settings, performs at world-class venues across the globe, and shares the cultural significance of tap dance through education and community engagement programs. By celebrating tap dance’s rich history and exploring its potential, Dorrance Dance unites the artistic communities of music and dance, creating work that is, at once, rhythmically compelling and deeply moving.

The next chapter of Dorrance Dance will build on the ethos of Michelle Dorrance’s unique artistic leadership, while also establishing the organization as a hub for collaboration, resource-sharing, and artistic development within the field.

Dorrance Dance remains passionately committed to honoring the legacy of tap dance, supporting the creation of powerful new work, and ensuring a thriving future for tap and percussive dance both in New York City and throughout the world. Together, we will continue to engage and inspire audiences while supporting the growth of the artists and communities that make this art form so powerful.

Dorrance Dance has its home office in midtown Manhattan, with employees opting to work hybrid or remote office schedules. The team consists of three full-time employees, one part-time employee, various touring production and company managers, outsourced financial and development partners, and a Board of Directors of 10 members. 

The organization is currently led by Founding Artistic Director Michelle Dorrance and Board President Henri Benaim. You can learn more about the board and staff of Dorrance Dance on our website.   

The Job 

The Executive Director (ED) will serve as the strategic and operational leader for Dorrance Dance, working in close collaboration with Founder & Artistic Director Michelle Dorrance and the Board of Directors. Together, they will lead the organization into a vibrant new phase of impact and growth that supports and uplifts the tap dance community and the artists who intersect with it.

In addition to driving this transformative vision, the ED will oversee the Company's day-to-day administrative operations, focusing on fostering a positive organizational culture, driving fundraising and communications efforts, and ensuring operational excellence.

Since 2021, the Company has been reimagining its infrastructure, business model, and approach to sharing resources with emerging artists in the percussive dance field. The ED will play a key role in defining, refining, and implementing this vision, bringing fresh ideas and a collaborative approach to ensure its success. This position is ideal for a leader who thrives on creativity, strategic thinking, and working closely with others to build a dynamic and adaptable organization.

Your Roles and Responsibilities 

Strategy and Governance

• Acts as a strategic thought partner to the Artistic Director and Board of Directors, collaborating to develop and realize a reimagined mission, vision, and organizational model that holistically supports the tap and percussive dance communities.
• Champions the Dorrance Dance mission and vision.
• Guides the evolution of the Company’s programs, initiatives, and activities to deepen their impact and align them with the broader vision for the organization.
• Builds and nurtures strong relationships with the Board of Directors, partnering with the Board Chair and Artistic Director to engage current board members and recruit new board members aligned with the organization’s strategic goals.
• Represents Dorrance Dance in the tap dance and performing arts communities, actively fostering relationships and partnerships that advance the organization’s mission and expand its reach.

Development and Communications 

• Serves as a public-facing leader and frontline fundraiser, representing Dorrance Dance to donors and funders, media, presenters, peer sector organizations, and the general public to elevate the organization’s visibility and impact.
• Leads fundraising initiatives by designing and implementing innovative fundraising strategies to expand institutional giving, cultivate individual and major donors, and host high-impact donor events that drive revenue growth. 
• Expands the Company’s audience through innovative marketing and communications strategies, enhancing audience engagement and visibility. 
• Manages external marketing and development consultants to implement initiatives, perform day-to-day operations, and achieve ambitious fundraising and marketing goals.

HR and Culture 

• Fosters an inclusive, values-driven workplace by setting and exemplifying high standards for performance, collaboration, respect, and accountability.
• Supervises and, as needed, builds out an administrative team appropriate for the organization; currently, this team consists of three full-time staff members and one part-time staff member, including one direct report (the General Manager).
• Supports staff professional development by facilitating regular feedback processes, identifying training opportunities, and allocating organizational resources to promote employee growth.
• Develops and guides the implementation of organizational policies and procedures.

Operations

• With the Company’s General Manager, manages general business operations, finances, and programs to ensure organizational stability and growth.
• Develops, monitors, and reports on the annual operating budget in collaboration with the Board of Directors and staff to align financial planning with organizational goals.
• Identifies opportunities for earned and contributed revenue, working with staff to advance initiatives that support the organization’s mission and sustainability.
• Works with the General Manager to steward touring engagements responsibly, ensuring that contractual obligations are met for both artists and presenters.
• Establishes and refines operational policies and procedures, evaluating and improving them to enhance clarity, efficiency, and equity.

Who Are We Looking For? 

The ideal candidate for the Executive Director role at Dorrance Dance is a visionary and people-centered leader who thrives on organizational transformation. They are a skilled administrator and strategic thought partner, adept at managing finances, operations, and development efforts while fostering a collaborative culture of inclusivity, equity, and professional growth. Passionate about the arts, this individual will bring creativity, empathy, and expertise to advance Dorrance Dance’s mission, elevate its visibility, and guide it into an important new chapter of growth and impact.

The qualifications denoted below are ideal. Individuals who don’t meet 100% of these ideal qualifications, but have transferable skills or experience, are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Leadership Experience: Proven success in executive or senior management roles, with demonstrated ability to guide organizational growth and transformation.
• Strategic Thinking: Experience as a strategic thought partner, skilled in defining, refining, and implementing long-term visions and organizational models.
• Operational Expertise: Strong skills in financial planning, budget management, and operational systems for organizations of similar size and complexity.
• Fundraising: A track record of generating contributed revenue through institutional giving, individual/major donors, and special events, coupled with strong donor stewardship skills.
• Commitment to Equity and Inclusion: Demonstrated ability to cultivate an inclusive, values-driven organizational culture that prioritizes collaboration, equity, and belonging.
• Passion for the Arts: A deep appreciation for the performing arts, with experience in or a willingness to learn about the rich history and cultural significance of tap dance, and advocate for its critical role within the percussive dance field.
• Adaptability and Creativity: A flexible, innovative leader who thrives in dynamic environments and embraces the creative process of organizational transformation.

The Executive Director will also embody the following personal qualities: 

• Curiosity: Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning, approaching challenges with openness and a desire to grow
• Humility: Leads with humility, valuing the contributions of others and fostering an environment of mutual respect
• Generosity: Embodies an ethic of service, prioritizing the needs of the organization while building trust and connection through empathy
• Resilience: Maintains composure and optimism during challenges, guiding the organization with steady leadership and confidence
• Transparency: Values open, clear communication and demonstrates integrity and transparency in decision-making

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $100,000-$130,000/year. 

Benefits package includes health, dental, life, & disability, 20 days of vacation, 20.5 paid holidays (inclusive of a week-long organizational break), 4 personal days/floating holidays and 5 sick days per year. 

Dorrance Dance has intentionally made this role flexible, allowing for remote work while offering access to the organization’s New York City office for candidates who prefer an in-person work environment. This role requires regular domestic and international travel for cultivation events, tour stops, and organizational needs. Candidates from outside the tri-state area should plan to visit the New York City office at least one week per quarter.

Dorrance Dance is committed to providing hiring-employment practices with equal opportunity for all without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, marital status, disability, political affiliation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. All applicants are evaluated based on personal skill and merit. Dorrance Dance’s policy regarding equal employment opportunity applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, job assignments, promotions, working conditions, scheduling, benefits, wage and salary administration, disciplinary action, termination, and social, educational and recreational programs.

How Do I Apply? 

Visit emcforward.applytojob.com/apply/ to submit your application. Your application should include:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Applications are due no later than January 31, 2025. 

Join Dorrance Dance at an exciting time of transformation and growth. Be part of shaping the future of tap and percussive dance by applying for this dynamic leadership role.