Ballet & Identity Programs – Me & My Fairytale World
Fall 2026 | Plummer Park, West Hollywood
Inspire Young Children Through Classical Ballet
Ballet & Identity, Inc. is seeking a Classical Ballet Teaching Artist who believes that ballet is more than performance—it can be a powerful educational tool that helps children develop confidence, discipline, concentration, creativity, self-expression, social connection, and a healthy sense of identity.
The Teaching Artist will join our interdisciplinary educational team for the Fall 2026 session of Me & My Fairytale World, our nonprofit children’s theatre program for boys and girls ages 4–7.
This fall, children will explore Alexandre Dumas’s The History of a Nutcracker through classical ballet, theatre arts, literature, music, storytelling, and creative play while preparing an original children’s adaptation inspired by The Nutcracker.
About the Role
The Classical Ballet Teaching Artist will lead a 45-minute beginning classical ballet class each Saturday, introducing children to the fundamentals of classical ballet in a joyful, nurturing, structured, and age-appropriate environment.
The Teaching Artist will work alongside Ballet & Identity’s Program Director and Theatre Arts Educator, integrating ballet into a broader interdisciplinary learning experience.
The goal is not simply to teach ballet technique. Through movement and age-appropriate classical training, we want children to develop posture, coordination, musicality, concentration, discipline, confidence, creativity, self-expression, positive social interaction, and collaboration.
These abilities are especially important during the preschool years and can contribute to school readiness by helping children learn to focus, participate, communicate, collaborate, follow structure, and approach new experiences with confidence.
Our Educational Approach
At Ballet & Identity, classical ballet is the foundation.
We are developing an educational methodology for children’s healthy identity development in which classical ballet serves as the foundation, complemented by theatre arts, literature, music, storytelling, and other forms of creative expression.
We believe classical ballet can offer children much more than physical technique. Its combination of discipline, artistry, music, movement, imagination, and expression creates unique opportunities for learning and personal development.
Creative Collaboration
The Teaching Artist will work in collaboration with Elena Alexandra, Co-Founder and Program Director of Ballet & Identity and creator of the Ballet & Identity educational concept.
Elena oversees the integration of classical ballet into the larger educational and artistic framework of Me & My Fairytale World. At the same time, we value the Teaching Artist’s own professional knowledge, teaching experience, artistry, observations, and ideas.
Each Ballet & Identity project begins with a new creative idea and develops in response to the individuality of the participating children and the unique dynamics of the group.
For this reason, we see the Teaching Artist not simply as an instructor delivering a predetermined class, but as a creative and educational collaborator.
The Teaching Artist Will
- Lead a weekly 45-minute beginning classical ballet class for children ages 4–7.
- Introduce ballet fundamentals through developmentally appropriate exercises and movement.
- Develop posture, placement, coordination, musicality, spatial awareness, and expressive movement.
- Create a warm, encouraging, structured, and inclusive learning environment.
- Adapt instruction to the individuality and developmental pace of young children.
- Collaborate with the Program Director and Theatre Arts Educator to connect ballet with literature, music, characters, themes, and storytelling.
- Participate in rehearsals and the end-of-session presentation.
- Encourage confidence, concentration, creativity, cooperation, and positive social interaction.
Who We Are Looking For
We are interested in a Teaching Artist who:
- Has a strong foundation in the fundamentals of classical ballet and substantial classical training.
- Enjoys teaching and connecting with young children.
- Can translate classical ballet principles into age-appropriate instruction.
- Values artistry, musicality, imagination, and self-expression alongside technique.
- Brings patience and sensitivity to children developing at different rates.
- Is dependable, collaborative, creative, and open to interdisciplinary work.
- Is interested in the relationship between arts education, child development, and healthy identity.
Experience teaching young children is strongly valued.
Opportunity for Continued Collaboration
There may be opportunities to collaborate with Ballet & Identity on future programs of different lengths, formats, themes, and educational settings.
Because each project presents a new artistic idea and a new group of children, continued collaboration offers an opportunity for exploration, experimentation, and creative discovery.
We are especially interested in building relationships with Teaching Artists who share our curiosity about the educational potential of classical ballet and would like to contribute to the continuing development of the Ballet & Identity concept.
Program Information
Program: Me & My Fairytale World
Location: Plummer Park, West Hollywood
Fall Session: September 12–November 21, 2026
Schedule: Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Number of Classes: 8 Saturdays
No Classes: September 26 and October 17
Ballet Instruction: 45 minutes each Saturday
Age Group: Children ages 4–7
Position: Paid Teaching Artist opportunity
Our Vision
Ballet & Identity is a nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to helping children develop confidence, creativity, empathy, discipline, and healthy identity through ballet and the arts.
Our long-term vision is to help bring classical ballet more deeply into children’s educational experiences by demonstrating its value not only as a performing art, but also as a developmental and educational discipline.
Classical Ballet • Theatre Arts • Literature • Music • Storytelling
We invite Teaching Artists to become part of this exploration.
Ballet & Identity, Inc.
Developing Healthy Identity Through Ballet and the Arts
www.balletandidentity.com
lana@balletandidentity.com
(310) 717-6336