Location: Burnaby School District, British Columbia
Position Type: Part-Time, Contract.
Schedule: Weekday afternoons (3:00–4:00 PM or 4:00–5:00 PM)
Compensation: $30–$35 per hour (based on experience)
About Mindora Learning
Mindora Learning provides engaging after-school enrichment programs for children in Grades K–7 across Burnaby schools. Our programs focus on science, arts, music, sport, and personal development — always delivered in an inclusive, child-centred environment.
About the Role
As a Dance & Creative Movement Instructor, you will lead joyful, inclusive, non-competitive movement sessions for children ages 5–12 (Grades K–7). Sessions rotate across different activity themes like creative movement, folk and cultural dance styles reflecting Burnaby’s community, hip hop basics, and child-led free expression. Mindora’s approach is unconditionally body-positive: no child is ever ranked, and every activity is adapted for all abilities. The goal is for every child to experience movement as enjoyable — because children who do are far more likely to stay physically active throughout their lives.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and deliver movement sessions rotating across six activity themes: creative movement, folk and cultural dance (reflecting Burnaby’s diverse community), hip hop basics, free expression, and cooperative movement games.
- Structure every session across four blocks: energising warm-up, activity focus (core block), child-directed choice play, and regulation cool-down.
- Facilitate cooperative warm-up games and movement challenges that raise energy, warm the body, and build a sense of shared purpose and laughter.
- Deliver the core activity block framed around effort, participation, and expression — never performance ranking or ability comparison.
- Facilitate the child-directed choice play block, allowing children to select their own movement activity to build intrinsic motivation and love of movement.
- Lead the cool-down with gentle stretching, breathing exercises, and brief group reflection to help children settle their nervous systems before transitioning home.
- Use inclusive, body-positive language in every interaction — no child is ever made to feel their body is a problem.
- Adapt all activities for children with physical limitations, varying coordination levels, or different movement abilities — every child participates every session.
- Set up and manage any music, props, or space requirements for each session.
- Communicate regularly with the Program Coordinator regarding student participation, wellbeing, and program outcomes.
- Follow all Burnaby School District policies, safety procedures, and child-safeguarding requirements.
Qualifications
Required
- Degree, diploma, certificate, or equivalent experience in Dance, Kinesiology, Physical Education, Early Childhood Education, or a related field.
- Minimum 2 years of experience leading movement, dance, or physical activity programs for children ages 5–12.
- Experience teaching or facilitating creative movement, child-directed play, or expressive movement activities.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt all activities for children with physical limitations or varying movement abilities.
- Trained or experienced in using unconditionally inclusive, body-positive language with children.
- Ability to manage a mixed-age, mixed-ability K–7 group with warmth, energy, and clear structure.
- Understanding of how physical activity supports children’s emotional regulation, social development, and sleep.
- Strong facilitation skills with the ability to build genuine fun, trust, and a sense of belonging within a group.
- Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening.
- Emergency First Aid & CPR Certification (or willingness to obtain before start date).
Preferred
- Training or experience in multiple movement styles — creative movement, folk/cultural dance, hip hop, or similar.
- Familiarity with nervous system regulation concepts and how cool-down and breathing support children’s emotional transitions.
- Experience incorporating culturally diverse dance traditions — particularly traditions relevant to Burnaby’s community.
- Experience working with children who are not drawn to competitive sport but benefit from joyful, expressive movement.
- Familiarity with OST (out-of-school time) programming models and child-directed play frameworks.
Why Join Mindora?
- Competitive hourly compensation.
- Flexible part-time schedule — 1–2 afternoons per week.
- Opportunity to help close the daily physical activity gap for children in one of the most impactful after-school windows.
- Supportive and collaborative team environment.
- All equipment, music resources, and curriculum support provided.
How to Apply
Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to email:
Subject Line: Dance & Movement Instructor Application
Important: If available, please include:
- Links to your portfolio, website, LinkedIn profile, or videos of movement or dance sessions you have led.
- Photos or descriptions of programs, workshops, or classes you have taught.
- Examples of how you have adapted activities for children with diverse physical abilities.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Pay: $30.00-$35.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
