Ballet Folklorico Program Leader - Hawthorne

Job Title: Club Leader – Specialized Program 
Salary Range: $25.00-$35.00 
Status:  Part-time, Non-Exempt 
Schedule: 20-25 hours/week, shifts may vary per location 
Reports to: Enrichment Coordinator 
Program hours of operation: 8:00AM – 5:00/6:00PM (varies per location) 
Areas of Specialty: Folklorico 
Locations: Hawthorne, CA

 
Are you passionate about giving back to your community and serving youth? Join us!   

 
Who We Are: 
In 1922, Woodcraft Rangers opened its doors in Los Angeles and began its mission of guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives. As a progressive organization, Woodcraft has always been responsive to the evolving needs of the communities served, and is notably inclusive, youth-led, and rooted in the Woodcraft Way, a holistic framework that develops body, mind, spirit, and service. Continuously at the forefront of expanded learning opportunities, Woodcraft Rangers has a rich history of making a significant impact in the greater Los Angeles area, believing that all youth is innately good, deserves the opportunity to realize their full potential, and should be an active participant in defining their own path.   

 
What We Do: 
Woodcraft Rangers provides TK-12 expanded learning programs, including before and after school, specialty enrichment, and summer learning. In the past few years, Woodcraft has expanded its menu of services beyond traditional afterschool programs and summer camps to include early learning, environmental and social justice, college access, and inclusion services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, we offer LifeCraft, a college and career advancement program to support the development of approximately 2,000 staff. Today, Woodcraft Rangers serves more than 30,000 youth ages 4 to 18 each year across 150 plus Title I schools in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, and continues to expand its reach. 

 
Job Summary: 
Club Leaders – Specialized Program are responsible for ensuring a fun and positive learning environment for youth and will support clubs of up to 20 participants. Club Leaders have the opportunity to grow, connect, play, and have the greatest impact on their participants' experience. Club Leaders are enthusiastic, love to learn and work with young people in an after school enrichment setting! Other support members of the team include a Site Coordinator, who oversees the program, and a Community Liaison who supports the Site Coordinator. 

This Club Leader will specialize in Folklorico, delivering authentic instruction in traditional folk dance — including regional choreography, rhythm, footwork technique, and the cultural history behind each style — while fostering participants' confidence, discipline, and pride in cultural heritage through performance-based learning. 

The Club Leader – Specialized Program position is an on-site position, including attending training at the Woodcraft Rangers main and school sites. 

Folklorico Skills & Focus Areas 

Demonstrated technical ability in traditional Folklorico dance styles and regional variations (e.g., Jalisco, Veracruz, Michoacán, or similar). 

Ability to teach and demonstrate proper footwork (zapateado), skirt work, arm movement, and partner choreography appropriate for youth skill levels. 

Experience teaching youth Folklorico or traditional dance in a classroom, studio, community, or performance setting. 

Ability to plan progressive, age-appropriate choreography and lesson sequences that build skill over a 6-8 week program cycle. 

Knowledge of the cultural and historical significance of Folklorico to share with participants alongside technical instruction. 

Ability to prepare participants for culminating showcases, recitals, or community performances, including costuming and staging basics. 

Comfort providing constructive, encouraging feedback to youth performers of varying experience and confidence levels. 

 
The Club Leader – Specialized Program position is an on-site position, including attending training at the Woodcraft Rangers main and school sites. 

 
Role Overview: 

• Ensure students are always in a safe environment (physical and emotional). Promotes an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment that embraces diversity for all program participants, staff, and families. 
• Develops and leads program activities that are FUN, engaging and aligned with whole-child approach (social emotional learning, skill building, self-esteem, leadership, etc....). WR has an activity catalog to support the development of activity plans. 
• Deliver high-quality specialized instruction in areas such as Mariachi, Folklorico, Instruments, Skateboarding, etc....  
• Monitors participant attendance and engagement to ensure participants are present and actively engaged in program activities. 
• Build positive relationships with program participants, colleagues, and all stakeholders. 
• Collaborates with colleagues and supervisor to develop culminating activities or events that showcase all participants work and accomplishments. 
• Requests required materials in a timely manner so Site Coordinator can ensure materials are available when needed and within budget. 
• Complies with all applicable safety requirements and emergency protocols, including, up to date on all trainings and required certifications.  
• May be required to attend off-site field trips.  
• Participate in staff development training, as required, approximately 15 hours spread out over multiple weekends/inter-sessional days throughout the spring. 
• Other related duties as assigned. 

Why work for Woodcraft Rangers: 

• Sick time 
• Lifecraft 
• Upward Mobility  
• Career development 
• The opportunity to create a lasting positive impact on youth within your community. 

Ideal Candidate: 
Ideally, we are looking for someone who is detail-oriented, energetic, ambitious, proactive, and positive, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Multi-tasking and attention to detail must be strengths this individual possesses. Individuals need to be comfortable to present and speak in front of staff and peers during in-person training. A strong Folklorico background and genuine enthusiasm for sharing this tradition with youth are highly valued. 

 
Requirements: 

• Certificate, portfolio, or demonstrable experience in Folklorico or a closely related traditional dance discipline. 
• Experience teaching youth Folklorico, traditional dance, or performing arts in a school, studio, or recreational setting is strongly preferred. 
• High School Diploma or equivalent 
• FBI & DOJ Livescan clearance 
• TB Test clearance 
• First Aid & CPR certification (provided by WR)  
• 6 months experience supervising a group of children in a school or recreational setting OR 
• Must successfully pass an assessment test evaluating skills in math, reading comprehension, and spelling.  

Physical Demands: 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: 

• Stand 
• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel and use a computer. 
• Frequently required to talk, hear, and reach with hands and arms. 
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. 

Work Environment: 
Woodcraft Rangers provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief, color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, transitioning status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. We also prohibit discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.