Chair of the Board of Trustees

The information below is provided in a PDF document

Voluntary unpaid position

As we register as a new charity, we are looking for a dedicated and passionate individual to join our Board of Trustees as the Chair (or 2 x Co-Chairs). A fantastic opportunity during an exciting time of growth. We are an organisation with bold ambition, to achieve this we need to grow our income, strengthen our governance, attract and retain strong people and grow our presence.

The Opportunity

TeesDance is a leading sector support organisation for dance in the Tees Valley, providing a world where everyone has access to high-quality, vibrant, diverse dance experiences – no matter who you are or where you live. We are looking for an exceptionally motivated person with a passion for dance to be the Chair of our Board of Trustees.

Becoming the Board Chair of TeesDance will allow you to engage in the evolution and development of dance in the Tees Valley. You will be responsible along with other trustees, for ensuring the strong and effective governance of the organisation and its financial sustainability and compliance with all relevant legislation. You will be involved in strategic planning and help shape the organisation's vision, advocating and championing the organisation to build on its successful track record and realise its goals and aspirations. 

Our trustees and Chair will be pivotal to the future sustainability and development of the organisation and the ideal candidate will not only contribute to the artistic and organisational vision of TeesDance but will also bring ideas and practical thought to the board.

We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with one or more of the following areas of professional expertise:

·       Senior strategic management

·       Education

·       Digital technologies

·       Fundraising

·       HR

·       Capital projects

·       Team management

·       Marketing & PR

·       Dance artists

·       Venue Management

·       Financing/accountancy

Commitment

You will be required to commit and chair four trustee meetings a year plus working groups (ad-hoc when needed, approximately two meetings per year) and to attend some performances and events where possible. Support and challenge the work of the Director and carry out their annual appraisal.

Trustee meetings are held online via Teams therefore Trustees can be outside of Tees Valley with one meeting in-person (AGM) annually. Papers are distributed at least one week in advance of meetings. Reasonable travel expenses may be claimed if required. Board membership is a voluntary position.

Eligibility

No experience of dance or the arts is required and you do not have to have held a trustee role previously. You will use your skills and experience gained from other sectors or roles, along with energy and enthusiasm in making a difference, to guide the organisation through exciting times. You will secure the governance of the organisation, contribute to our strategic future and act as an ambassador for all aspects of our work.

·       You must be at least 18 years old.

·       You may require a DBS check, and if required, any offer is made conditional upon the result of the check being satisfactory.

·       You must not act as a trustee if you are disqualified under the Charities Act, including if you:

o   have an unspent conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception (such as fraud).

o   are bankrupt or have entered a formal arrangement (e.g., an individual voluntary arrangement) with a creditor.

o   have been removed as a company director or charity trustee because of wrongdoing

TeesDance

“Everyone deserves equal access to high-quality dance experiences that are compelling, coherent, and progressive, helping people to live happier and healthier.” – Amy Swalwell, Director

We believe in ‘enriching lives through dance’, and that everyone regardless of age, creed, gender or background is entitled to access and enjoy the richness of art and culture in their lives. Everyone can dance, but not everyone gets the chance.

We increase equality of opportunity across our diverse communities by removing barriers to access dance. With the power to enhance the qualities of life and achieve social change, dance brings communities together, providing cultural and traditional appreciation. Dance offers a wide range of physical, psychological, social, and emotional benefits.

We are building and strengthening the dance workforce so artists can flourish and everyone; children, young people, adults, and seniors, can experience dance in all its diverse forms and settings, with deep and lasting effects. We are developing a bold dance sector where creative talent is met with opportunities that we provide.

Through our work, we are:

·       Profiling, celebrating and advocating the importance of dance in all its diverse forms and settings.

·       Making high-quality dance accessible to all.

·       Supporting the workforce to achieve excellence in dance performance, education and management.

·       Improving conditions for dance to be learnt, discussed and seen.

How to Apply

We are looking for expressions of interest at this stage with the envision of having a conversation about the role with our director. If you would like to express your interest, please email Amy Swalwell at [email protected] by Monday 4 November 2024, 10am.

For more information about our work, please see below an overview of our current programmes:

Children & Young People

MoveUP

A development programme for young choreographers aged 13 – 19. The 8-month programme allows young dancers to develop their choreographic skills and supports them to make their own dance piece that is showcased on Darlington Hippodrome’s main stage. 

This programme also includes an educational strand delivering choreographic workshops in Secondary Schools for Key Stage 3 and 4.

Community

MoveTogether

A co-created community project for families across East Cleveland.

This project works with children, babies and their grown-ups in Boosbeck, Loftus, Saltburn, Skinningrove and beyond including weekly sessions, social dance events and a screen dance project. Commission by Borderlands, a Creative People and Places project across the South Tees.

HOME

A spectacular large-scale, promenade performance taking place at this year’s Middlesbrough Mela (Sat 17 Aug 2024).  The colourful spectacle featuring people of all ages and abilities will incorporate dance, music, costume and site décor all based around the idea of HOME.  The performance includes six professional dancers alongside a community cast of over 100 people. Commission by Borderlands, a Creative People and Places project across the South Tees.

Professional Practice

MovePro

A programme for professionals which includes monthly pro-class and networking, as well as Continuous Professional Development (CPD) workshops. Our monthly pro-classes allow dance practitioners in the Tees Valley to take classes together followed by a chance to socialise and network, with refreshments provided. The CPD workshops provide a full day of bespoke training every six months to keep knowledge, skills and understanding up to date. 

Move: In Progress

Co-produced with Moving Art Management, Move: In Progress is our scratch performance platform for artists to showcase works in progress to get feedback from audiences to support and inform the development of the work.

MoveAhead

Funded by Local Authorities, MoveAhead provides commissions for artists to make new dance works. We have given four x £5,000 commissions to make work throughout 2025 for the following boroughs: Darlington Borough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

You can find out more about our work on our website: www.teesdance.org.uk