Internships in DC: Non-Profit Arts Organization

Looking for internships in DC? Joy of Motion Dance Center has several internship opportunities in Washington, DC, and Bethesda, Maryland that give young professionals the opportunity to work with an established non-profit arts organization.

Why Intern with Joy of Motion?

Joy of Motion’s Internship Program is an excellent way to grow as an artist and educator while gaining experience in the production and operating systems of a large well-respected dance institution in Washington, DC.  All internships are unpaid and require a commitment of 20 hours per week over a session (10-13 weeks). In return, each Intern receives mentoring from their respective department head, access to world-renowned teachers with free unlimited classes, and 8 hours per week of studio rehearsal time, which includes two mentoring sessions with a Master choreographer or Master teacher within the Joy of Motion community.

Internship Dates

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for the following internship terms. Specific start and end dates are subject to
change and are dependent on departmental needs.

  • Summer: May through August, recruitment done from February – March/April
    **NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS**
  • Fall: September through December/January, recruitment done from July – August
  • Winter: January through April, recruitment done from November – December
  • Year-Long: offered on a case-by-case basis dependent on the needs of the department

Preferred Qualifications

  • Current college students or recent graduates from a relevant Bachelors or Associates Degree program;
  • Knowledge using Microsoft office suite, Gsuite, and Gmail;
  • <1 year of experience in the internship’s focus area, or relevant work experience in a professional and/or office
    setting;
  • Access to a laptop and reliable transportation;
  • An ability to work productively from remote workspaces.

Note: Preferred qualifications may vary depending on the internship. Please check each job description carefully for the most accurate and/or additional information.

Additionally, ideal internship candidates will be:

  • Enthusiastic, forward-thinking individuals with an eagerness to learn and an entrepreneurial spirit;
  • Passionate about creating and offering inclusive, accessible dance opportunities to the DMV area;
  • Creative problem-solvers with a positive attitude and a willingness to be flexible.

How to Apply

Email a resume and cover letter to jobs@joyofmotion.org to apply for an internship. Please use the name of the internship you are interested in as the subject line of your email (i.e. “Development Internship”).

**We are now accepting applications for Summer 2020 Internship Positions**

If you are interested in interning with us, please submit your materials for consideration no later than March 23, 2020.

All Internships also include hands-on training in each studio location with the basic aspects of customer service, curriculum oversight, and managing a large faculty schedule across multiple studio locations.

Arts Administration

The Arts Administration Intern will work directly with Joy of Motion’s Executive Director to support day-to-day tasks, as well as hone their leadership skills. Responsibilities of the intern include, but are not limited to:

  • Engaging regularly with Executive-level organizational leadership;
  • Supporting system development for partnership engagement; and,
  • Attending community events, meetings, and other external engagement opportunities as identified.

The ideal Arts Administration Intern will have a flexible work schedule, as weekly hours will likely be spread over evenings and weekends as well as weekdays. This internship is designed for a graduate student or recent graduate interested in pursuing a career in Arts Management leadership that exhibits strong writing and networking skills. Experience with public speaking and other external-facing communication techniques a plus, but not required.

Business Operations

The Business Operations Intern will support Joy of Motion’s Business Manager in the general and administrative functions of the organization. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Learning key systems management strategies for a large, busy non-profit;
  • Filing and general administrative tasks; and,
  • Guided mentoring in day-to-day accounting and business operations tasks including generating and creating reports, data visualization, human resource management, budgeting, filing, market research, and policy and procedure development.

Development

The Development Intern will work directly with Joy of Motion’s Director of External Relations to support their day-to-day tasks, as well as gain hands-on experience in fundraising for a fast-paced, varied nonprofit. Responsibilities of the intern include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting with donation processing and acknowledgment;
  • Serving as on-site representative for events, performances, and receptions;
  • Utilizing our donor database, PatronManager, on a daily basis to build out reports and dashboards;
  • Generating donor profiles and conducting in-depth prospect research; and,
  • Grant writing opportunities, as available and applicable.

The ideal Development Intern will have a flexible work schedule, as weekly hours may be spread out over evenings and weekends as well as weekdays. It is also preferred that this intern has a strong writing background and a keen eye for detail and accuracy. Further preference is given to candidates that are willing and able to engage in a year-long internship in this department. All Internships also include hands-on training in each studio location with the basic aspects of customer service, curriculum oversight, and managing a large faculty schedule across multiple studio locations.

Marketing

The Marketing Intern will work directly with Joy of Motion’s Marketing Manager, as well as the Director of External Relations, to support their day-to-day tasks, as well as gain hands-on experience in marketing and social media management for a fast-paced, varied nonprofit. Responsibilities of the intern include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting with content creation, social media planning & posting, website maintenance, and general and event support
  • Editing using Adobe Creative Suite & assisting with the maintenance of printed marketing materials
  • Assimilation of content for marketing documents and messaging, drafting marketing emails, market research, and conducting grassroots marketing initiatives
  • Completion of a final portfolio project that serves the student’s educational goals and furthers Joy of Motion’s organizational goals.

The ideal Marketing Intern will have a flexible work schedule, strong writing skills, and strong competencies across social media platforms. It is also preferred that this intern has a strong writing background and a keen eye for detail and accuracy. Further preference is given to candidates that are willing and able to engage in a year-long internship in this department.

Production

The Production Intern will gain a thorough understanding of the production process from start to finish: planning, booking, ticketing, pre-production, and technical production. Responsibilities of the intern include, but are not limited to:

  • Using our ticketing and venue-management database, PatronManager; and,
  • Assist with tasks related to contract writing, pre-production paperwork and information-gathering, securing industry-standard theatrical sound software and hardware, using theatrical lighting technologies, and establishing run crew duties.

The ideal Production Intern will have a flexible work schedule, as weekly hours will likely be spread over evenings and weekends as well as weekdays. It is also preferred that this intern has a basic background or experience in theatrical production, but not required.

Adult Programs

The Adult Programs Intern will work directly with Joy of Motion’s Director of Adult Programs to support their day-to-day tasks, as well as support the operations of all of our adult-targeted dance offerings. Responsibilities of the intern include, but are not limited to:

  • Administrative support for our adult session and drop-in programs;
  • Evaluating enrollment data and generating reports for the leadership team;
  • Scheduling and assisting with rehearsals for each of Joy of Motion’s Resident Companies;
  • Serving as an on-site contact and point person for guest artist workshops and masterclasses; and,
  • Assisting with the creation of the Fall schedule.

The ideal Adult Programs Intern will have a flexible work schedule, as weekly hours will likely be dependent on programming. It is also preferred that this intern will have a basic dance background, and experience with teaching and/or dance programming is a plus but not required.

Dance Institute

The Dance Institute Intern will work directly with Joy of Motion’s Director of Dance Institute to support their day-to-day tasks, as well as support the operations of our DI department. Responsibilities of the intern include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting staff with the fulfillment of programming needs;
  • Executing integral technical needs for our Youth Dance Ensemble, LEAP, and Broadway Dance Academy productions;
  • Working with staff to evaluate customer experience; and,
  • Participating in student teaching and/or mentoring, if desired and qualified.

The ideal Dance Institute Intern will have a flexible work schedule, as weekly hours will likely be spread over late afternoons, evenings and weekends. It is also strongly preferred that this intern have a dance background, and experience with theatrical production is a plus but not required. All Internships also include hands-on training in each studio location with the basic aspects of customer service, curriculum oversight, and managing a large faculty schedule across multiple studio locations. 

Youth Programs

The Youth Programs Intern will work directly with Joy of Motion’s Director of Youth Programs to support their day-to-day tasks, as well as support the operations of all of our youth-targeted dance offerings. Responsibilities of the intern include, but are not limited to:

  • Administrative support for our in-school programming, summer camps, and Step Ahead programs;
  • Evaluating enrollment data and generating reports for the leadership team;
  • Assisting with securing instructors for future sessions; and,
  • Establishing relationships with local schools and educators.

The ideal Youth Programs Intern will have a flexible work schedule, as weekly hours will likely be dependent on programming. It is also preferred that this intern have a basic dance background, and experience with teaching and/or dance programming for youth is a plus but not required.

 

ABOUT JOY OF MOTION

For 42 years, Joy of Motion Dance Center has solidified a reputation for creating excellent and inclusive opportunities for dance education and performance in the Greater Washington region. We serve thousands of students and artists annually at three studio locations and numerous community sites through our four “pillar” programmatic departments — Community Dance School, Dance Institute, Motion Exchange, Center Stage —and continually create new entry points for all to this dynamic art form.

Guided by our founding principle that “Dance is for Everyone”, Joy of Motion’s mission is to cultivate a diverse community of dance students, educators, artists, and audiences in the DC metropolitan area. We accomplish this by providing exceptional dance education and performances that open doors for learners of all ages and abilities. Whether a student is an established professional, committed avocational dancer, or a first-time performer, Joy of Motion provides the space and the opportunities for them to weave dance into their daily life. This mission supports our vision of making dance a celebrated component of life-long learning, well-being, and a thriving society.

Learn more about our HISTORY and our MISSION & VISION.

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