Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• IRA matching
• Health insurance stipend
• Employee discounts
• Paid time off

About Dance Without Limits

Dance Without Limits is a family-friendly, inclusive, non-competitive dance studio serving the Greenville and Simpsonville, SC communities. We offer classes for children ages 18 months to 18 years across a wide range of genres ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical/contemporary, and acrobatics as well as classes for students with disabilities and a growing adult program.

We are not a competition studio. We believe deeply that dance is for everyone, and that the experience we create inside our walls is every bit as important as the technical training we provide. Our core values are not just words on a wall they are lived out every day by our team:

Dance is for everyone. Regardless of age, shape, size, or ability, every child deserves the chance to dance. Every child has worth. Every student is worthy of our time, attention, and best effort. Let kids be kids. We protect childhood through age-appropriate music, costuming, and choreography. Encourage & build up. We cultivate an environment of validation and genuine encouragement. Seek to serve. We look for ways to give back to our community and foster gratitude in our dancers. Winning isnt everything. We develop dancers as people first.

The Opportunity

This is a rare and meaningful leadership role at Dance Without Limits. As Program Director, you will be the heartbeat of our instructional program responsible for the quality of teaching in every classroom, the development of our teaching team, and the ongoing strength of our curriculum. You will teach classes yourself, coach and mentor our instructors, lead hiring and onboarding, and write curriculum and lesson plans that reflect DWLs philosophy.

This role is for someone who is just as passionate about serving recreational dancers as they are about developing great teachers. You dont need to have a competitive studio background in fact, a heart for recreational, inclusive dance education is essential. You will report directly to the Owner/Director, directly supervise a teaching staff of 1520 instructors and 5-10 students assistants, and serve across both our Greenville and Simpsonville locations.

What Success Looks Like

At Dance Without Limits, the clearest sign that this role is working is simple: families stay. When students re-enroll semester after semester, it means they feel seen, challenged, and welcomed and that starts in the classroom. Heres what well be looking for:

• Families re-enroll at a high rate and cite the quality of teaching and studio culture as the reason they stay
• Teachers feel supported, developed, and invested in and it shows in their retention and classroom energy
• Every classroom, across both locations, reflects DWLs values and instructional standards consistently not just the ones you teach
• New instructors onboard smoothly and reach full effectiveness quickly because the systems youve built set them up to succeed
• The Owner spends less time putting out instructional fires and more time growing the studio, because youve got the program handled

Key Responsibilities

Teaching & Studio Presence

• Teach a weekly class load across genres and age groups (specific schedule TBD based on experience and studio needs)
• Maintain the highest standard of classroom culture: positive, encouraging, age-appropriate, and aligned with DWL values
• Serve as a model teacher that the entire instructional team can look to for guidance

Teacher Training & Development

• Design and lead regular teacher training sessions, covering instructional technique, classroom management, age-appropriate communication, and DWL culture
• Observe classes across both locations and provide structured, constructive feedback to instructors
• Serve as the primary mentor and go-to resource for teaching staff fostering a team culture of continuous growth and mutual support
• Develop and maintain a teacher training playbook and onboarding program so every new hire starts strong
• Oversee the S.T.A.R. assistant program, supporting and developing student assistants (ages 1315) and apprentices (ages 16+) as they grow into confident classroom helpers and future instructors

Hiring & Onboarding

• Partner with the Owner/Director and Director of Operations to recruit, interview, and hire dance instructors
• Lead the onboarding process for all new teaching hires, ensuring they are equipped with the tools, training, and cultural context to thrive
• Maintain hiring documentation and onboarding checklists to support a consistent, scalable process

Curriculum & Lesson Planning

• Serve as the steward of DWLs instructional standards across all class levels, ensuring curriculum is consistently implemented, current, and aligned with our philosophy
• Maintain and update DWLs in-house curriculum for non-preschool, non-acro classes; refine lesson plan frameworks each semester to reflect student progression and instructor feedback
• Oversee implementation of our licensed programs Twinkle Star Dance (preschool) and Acrobatic Arts (acro) ensuring instructors are trained and following program standards correctly
• Develop and maintain seasonal lesson plan templates that give instructors a clear road map while preserving room for their individual teaching voice
• Collaborate with instructors on choreography and showcase planning to ensure quality and consistency across both locations

Program Administration

• Assist with class scheduling and placement decisions in coordination with the Director of Operations
• Track student progress and flag opportunities to better serve individual students or families
• Attend and contribute to staff meetings, showcase planning, and other studio events
• Support communication with families related to program questions, class feedback, and student development

Who Were Looking For

The right candidate for this role doesnt just check boxes they feel it. They walk into a room of recreational dancers and light up. They love seeing a shy six-year-old find confidence, or a teen with special needs nail a combination shes been working on for weeks. They are as invested in the teacher in the room as the student.

You Are a Great Fit If You

• Genuinely believe that dance is for everyone not just the naturally gifted or competition-bound
• Have a track record of excellent, engaging, age-appropriate teaching with recreational or inclusive populations
• Naturally mentor and invest in the people around you you make others better
• Are highly organized, proactive, and can manage multiple priorities without dropping the ball
• Communicate warmly and professionally with students, parents, and colleagues alike
• Thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven small business environment
• Are committed to protecting childhood you use age-appropriate music, movement, and messaging without being told to
• Are genuinely excited about working with new, young teachers including teens just starting out and see mentorship as one of the most rewarding parts of the job, not an obligation

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 10 years of dance teaching experience across multiple genres and age groups
• Demonstrated experience teaching toddlers, preschoolers, and/or students with varying abilities
• Strong working knowledge of at least three of our offered genres: ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical/contemporary, acrobatics
• Experience in a mentorship, lead teacher, or supervisory capacity
• Strong written communication skills (lesson planning, curriculum documentation, parent-facing content)

Strongly Preferred

• Experience hiring, onboarding, or training dance instructors
• Formal training in dance pedagogy or child development
• Experience maintaining or updating structured curriculum frameworks or lesson plan systems
• Familiarity with Twinkle Star Dance and/or Acrobatic Arts programs
• Background in a recreational or inclusive studio environment
• Familiarity with studio management software (we use Jackrabbit)

This Role Is NOT for Someone Who

• Believes competition preparation is the highest goal of dance education
• Is uncomfortable with inclusive or adaptive dance settings
• Prefers a siloed, independent work style over team collaboration
• Prioritizes advanced technique over the overall student experience

How to Apply
We would love to hear from you. Please send the following via your chosen platform or to View email address on ziprecruiter.com with the subject line "Program Director Application":

• Your resume or CV
• A cover letter telling us why Dance Without Limits and this role feel like the right fit and sharing your personal philosophy on teaching recreational dancers
• Any links to video of you teaching, choreography samples, or curriculum examples youd like to share (optional, but encouraged)

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We look forward to meeting you.