Community Dance Practictioner - Older Adults Hip Hop

The Blair Academy is looking for energetic, compassionate and reliable community dance practitioners to join our growing teaching team across London and Essex. We use Hip Hop culture, music and movement to promote healthy, happy ageing, delivering joyful, inclusive dance sessions for older people in care homes, retirement communities, day centres and community settings. Our sessions are about so much more than dance. We help people move their bodies, build confidence, connect with others and have fun - regardless of age, ability or previous dance experience. About the role As a Blair Academy Community Dance Practitioner, you’ll lead 45-minute Hip Hop-inspired movement sessions for older adults in care and community settings. You don't need to be an expert in teaching older adults. We will train you in our approach and support you to become confident delivering our sessions. You may be working with participants with a wide range of physical and cognitive abilities, so being able to adapt your teaching, read the room and create a welcoming environment is essential. Most of our practitioners teach 1–8 sessions per week, with opportunities to take on more sessions as you become established within the team. Sessions are generally scheduled between 10am and 3pm, Monday–Friday, although occasional community sessions and events may take place at other times. What you'll be doing • Leading fun, accessible and engaging Hip Hop dance and movement sessions for older adults. • Creating a safe, positive and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. • Adapting movement, choreography and activities to suit different abilities, mobility levels and needs. • Encouraging participation without putting pressure on anyone to perform. • Building genuine and positive relationships with participants. • Working respectfully alongside care-home staff, activity teams and community partners. • Bringing your personality, creativity and energy to every session. • Following The Blair Academy's teaching approach, safeguarding procedures and professional standards. • Communicating clearly with the team and keeping accurate records where required. • Arriving prepared, punctual and ready to deliver an excellent session. Who we're looking for You might be a community dance practitioner, dance teacher, movement facilitator, performer, choreographer, fitness instructor, drama practitioner, movement therapist or creative practitioner looking for meaningful work in the community. 💙 Reliable – you do what you say you'll do. 💙 Warm & compassionate – you genuinely care about the people you work with. 💙 Energetic & positive – you can bring a room to life. 💙 Patient & intuitive – you can read a group and adapt your approach. 💙 Creative – you're comfortable thinking on your feet. 💙 Inclusive – you believe everyone should be able to participate. 💙 Professional & organised – you're punctual, prepared and communicate well. 💙 Passionate about people – you understand that connection matters just as much as the dancing. Experience with older adults is a bonus, but it's not essential. We're much more interested in your attitude, people skills, energy and willingness to learn. You don't need to have previously taught Hip Hop to older adults. Our training will introduce you to our teaching style, session structure and approach to working with older people. What we offer £37.50 per 45-minute session • Sessions are invoiced monthly and paid on the 1st of each month. • Most practitioners deliver 1–8 sessions per week. • Opportunity to take on additional regular sessions as our programme grows. • Work across a range of care and community settings in London and Essex. • Full training and ongoing support from The Blair Academy team. • The opportunity to be part of a growing social enterprise with a clear social mission. Training All successful applicants complete our 3–6 week training and onboarding programme before leading sessions independently. Training is designed to give you the confidence and practical skills to deliver The Blair Academy's approach safely and effectively. Please note: training is unpaid and must be completed before you begin delivering paid sessions independently. Requirements You will need: • The right to work in the UK. • An Enhanced DBS certificate (or willingness to obtain one). • A willingness to complete The Blair Academy's training and onboarding process. • Excellent communication and reliability. • The ability to travel independently to sessions across London and/or Essex. • A professional and respectful approach to working with older adults and care teams. Previous experience working with older people, people living with dementia, people with disabilities or people with additional support needs is welcomed, but not essential. Why join The Blair Academy? We're on a mission to change the way people think about ageing. Since 2018, The Blair Academy has brought Hip Hop, music and movement to thousands of older people across London, creating spaces where people can feel connected, confident and celebrated. You'll be joining a team that believes getting older shouldn't mean giving up the things that make you feel young, alive and yourself. If you want a role where you can dance, connect with people and make a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you. How to apply Please send: 1. Your CV 2. A short cover letter telling us why you'd like to join The Blair Academy 3. Your Enhanced DBS certificate, if you already have one to: theblairacademy@gmail.com You can find out a bit more about what we do on our website: www.theblairacademy.com